Project Leads for Grid Expansion, Heat Planning and Funding — Staffed for the Duration of the Project

A selection of two to four profiles is typically available within 24 to 36 hours. Three factors are key: the network level, the project status, and whether the person will be required to interact with government agencies and service providers. From our network of over 23,000 vetted experts, positions in project management, planning, and grant acquisition can usually be filled on short notice.

Yes. The filtering is based on planning initiatives that have reached the decision-making stage, not on seminar participation: which municipality, what scale, what data set, and what public engagement format. Nearly one-third of the municipal utilities surveyed have not yet begun their heating planning—experience in this area is therefore limited and should be sought out specifically.

The median rate across all assignments is €1,050 per day. The rate depends on the role and level of responsibility: an Interim CFO earns more than a project engineer, while a program manager falls somewhere in between. Costs are typically 30 to 60% of those of traditional management consultancies.

Whether external services are eligible for funding depends on the program and the grant award notice, not on the role. In practice, project management and planning services are often recognized as eligible indirect costs if they can be clearly attributed to the funded project. We provide the supporting documentation in a way that aligns with the review of the statement of funds used. The assessment is made by your funding agency.

The interim manager assumes a temporary line management role—in engineering, finance, or program management—with the authority to issue instructions and accountability to the supervisory board and the local government. The freelance management consultant prepares decisions regarding investment programs, financing structures, and heating strategies. The technical expert provides expertise in planning, safety engineering, or metrology.

Yes, and the size is specified in the briefing because it determines the decision-making processes. A municipal utility with 80 employees makes decisions differently than a regional utility with a thousand. When the utility is municipally owned, the supervisory board, the budget, and public procurement law come into play—if you’re not familiar with these, your planning will be out of touch with reality.

Publicly funded utilities are subject to public procurement law above certain thresholds; short-term direct contracts are therefore not permitted. We clarify the procurement process with your procurement department before making a proposal to ensure that staffing does not fall through due to procedural issues. Separate deadlines apply to framework agreements and call-offs.

Typically, with a notice period of 5 to 10 days, depending on the agreed-upon term. Because grid and heating projects have a defined end date, fixed-term staffing aligns well with the nature of the project. Extensions are common when the project transitions into an operational phase.

Before we begin, we’ll work with your legal or procurement department to clarify the contract type, reporting structures, work equipment, and documentation. For municipal agencies, we’ll also need to address the form of contract award and the budget line item. This does not replace legal advice: The assessment of each individual case remains the responsibility of your legal team.

Yes. Operational technology (OT) is subject to the security requirements for critical infrastructure, but it differs fundamentally from office IT: different protocols, different availability requirements, and different maintenance windows. OT and ICS security roles are staffed by individuals who can distinguish between the two.

The most in-demand positions are project engineers and project managers for grid and heating projects, consultants specializing in renewables and energy efficiency, roles in grant funding and corporate finance, as well as electrical and building systems engineering. In addition, there is demand for Interim CFOs and OT security roles.

Each profile undergoes an interview with a subject-matter expert and is evaluated against the job requirements: projects managed at the network level and on a comparable scale, results achieved, and references from similar mandates. The placement rate across all mandates is 95 percent.