The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
From Regional Energy & Sustainability Manager (Level 5)
3-5 years in Level 5 roleSkills to master
- Mastering the P&L for a significant regional energy budget, building and leading a small team, successfully delivering multi-year regional programmes, and effectively influencing regional leadership.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeding regional EUI reduction and cost savings targets.
- Successfully leading complex regional energy procurement efforts.
- Demonstrating strong leadership and development of your direct reports.
- Being the 'go-to' person for energy strategy within your region, with high visibility to senior leadership.
- 2
From Lead Energy Strategist (Level 4) in a larger organisation
5-7 years in a Lead role, potentially with interim management experienceSkills to master
- Designing and implementing portfolio-wide programmes, becoming the technical authority, starting to manage significant budgets, and gaining experience in cross-functional leadership without direct reports.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully architecting and delivering 2-3 major energy programmes (e.g., global RCx rollout).
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive adoption of new initiatives.
- Recognised internally and externally as a leading expert in energy management.
- Taking on informal leadership roles and mentoring junior colleagues effectively.
- 3
From Energy Consulting Director/Principal
5-8 years in a senior consulting role focusing on corporate energy strategySkills to master
- Translating strategic advice into actionable internal programmes, navigating corporate politics, and building internal teams. Consultants often bring deep expertise but need to adapt to internal execution.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven track record of delivering successful energy strategy engagements for large corporate clients.
- Strong client relationship management skills, which translate well to internal stakeholder management.
- Experience in business development and team leadership within a consulting environment.
- A clear understanding of the difference between advising and owning execution.