Chief Engineering Manager in Cheshire, Warrington

We provide full training and continuous development to help you reach your potential. Due to continued growth, Avove is seeking to appoint a Principal Engineering Manager to work on our United Utilities framework. The role will lead the development and management of a water and wastewater non‑infrastructure design team, with responsibility for people leadership and project financial performance.

The Principal Engineering Manager will foster a strong project delivery culture, underpinned by technical excellence, efficient design, and balanced client, staff, and commercial expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with construction and commissioning teams to ensure seamless project delivery.
• Define and agree the scope of design deliverables, including design fees, assumptions, exclusions, and risks/opportunities, and incorporate these into a priced programme of work.
• Ensure delivery of all design requirements across the full project lifecycle, meeting time, cost, quality, and carbon targets.
• Provide technical advice on regulatory compliance and other specialist subjects.
• Provide guidance on best practice design methods to meet technical and project requirements.
• Advise on technical and procedural aspects of projects.
• Manage project administration, including design programmes, resources, and budgets.
• Lead, motivate, and inspire team members to deliver high‑quality project outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Proven experience in leading project design delivery.
• Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Previous people or line management experience.
• Strong management, coordination, and organisational skills.
• Broad experience of water and wastewater non‑infrastructure design delivery.
• Sound technical and commercial awareness, including statutory processes and technical standards.
• Client‑focused approach to service and project delivery.
• Strong focus on health, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Computer literate, with experience working in a multidisciplinary design environment.
• Proven track record of successful project delivery, supported by clear evidence.

Please note that candidates with qualifications that do not fully match the above criteria but have relevant equivalent experience are invited to apply. In addition to this, we understand that one size doesn’t fit all so everyone has access to a variety of flexible benefits that work for you:

• ~25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• ~ Company car or allowance
• ~ Company pension scheme
• ~ Life assurance
• ~ Family friendly policies
• ~ Financial wellbeing programme
• ~ Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing and onsite mental health first aiders to support our colleagues
• ~ Volunteering days in your community and charity matched giving where we will boost your fundraising.

We design, build and maintain the UK’s utilities infrastructure to help transform local communities for the better. We provide cutting-edge and sustainable engineering solutions and play a critical role in helping to keep the water running, the lights on and people connected. We are an expert, responsible and agile partner, providing vital services to water and power sectors. We work closely with our clients to help protect and improve their assets, enhance customer experience and protect the natural environment. We are proud to work in partnership with leading utility providers, including Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Northern PowerGrid, Northumbrian Water Group, and Scottish Power Energy Networks. We welcome applications from candidates of all races, genders, disabilities, religions, ages and sexual orientations. When it comes to inclusion, we’re making sure we keep up the progress with our Communities of Practice, who help us do just that. We recognise talent waits for no one, so we progress candidates individually through all stages of recruitment process.