Quality Supervisor in Edinburgh

Our client is a national multi-service provider delivering electrical, drainage, pumping and lighting solutions across the UK. They are a developing Independent Connection Provider (ICP) capability under the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) to design and deliver contestable grid-connection works that are adopted by UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs).

Location: Office-based in Gravesend with hybrid working and regular travel to client sites across the UK.

The ICP / NERS delivery scope may include (subject to accreditation scope):

• LV and HV distribution network construction activities (e.g., trenching/ducting, cable installation, joint bays, reinstatement)
• Cable laying and cable jointing (LV and HV, live or dead as authorised and within scope)
• Substation installation works (including switchgear, transformers, earthing, LVAC/DC auxiliary supplies as applicable)
• Testing, commissioning, and handover documentation to enable DNO adoption
• Project delivery under DNO specifications, safety rules, and NERS-required management systems

This Qualified Supervisor (QS) role is a key competency position within the NERS management structure. The QS provides technical supervision and assurance that ICP works are planned, delivered, inspected, tested and recorded in line with DNO requirements, applicable legislation/standards and the NERS Requirements Document.

Purpose of the Role: To own the day-to-day commercial and customer management of renewables contracts, ensuring accurate quoting, timely resolution of escalations, and clear communication between customers, the delivery team and project managers. The Contracts Manager will act as a trusted advisor to existing clients, identifying and developing organic opportunities that improve asset performance, reduce risk and expand our clients' scope of work.

Main duties:

• Provide technical supervision of ICP site activities within the NERS scope (construction, commissioning and handover as applicable), ensuring work is delivered to DNO specifications and approved designs.
• Verify that safe systems of work are in place: review and approve RAMS, permits and switching / outage plans as required by the project and authorisations.
• Confirm competence and authorisation of operatives and subcontractors undertaking ICP works; ensure supervision levels are appropriate to risk, complexity and experience.
• Undertake routine and targeted site audits/inspections, capturing findings, corrective actions and lessons learned in an auditable format.
• Ensure inspection, testing and commissioning activities are planned, completed and recorded correctly (including pre-energisation checks and as-built documentation).
• Support the NERS management system by maintaining accurate technical records: supervision logs, ITP sign-offs, test results, non-conformance reports (NCRs) and close-out evidence.
• Provide technical input into planning and delivery (constructability, sequencing, temporary works interface, materials/plant selection and QA hold points).
• Act as a technical point of contact during internal and external audits (NERS/LRQA and DNO/IDNO), supporting evidence packs and responding to findings and corrective actions.

Essentials:

• Demonstrable experience supervising electrical distribution works on LV/HV networks (DNO, IDNO, ICP or equivalent regulated environment).
• Strong working knowledge of quality assurance and audit-ready record keeping (project files, ITPs, test sheets, as-builts, NCRs and close-out packs).
• Proven ability to lead safe delivery: confident challenging unsafe practices, stopping work where required, and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience supervising subcontracted works and labour-only resource, ensuring standards, competence and controls are maintained.
• Ability to interpret and apply DNO/IDNO specifications, approved designs, standards and manufacturers instructions.
• Calm, clear communicator with the confidence to coordinate site teams, client representatives and commissioning / authorising personnel.
• Competent with Microsoft 365 (Word/Excel/Outlook) and digital QA / document control systems.
• Full UK driving licence.

Technical requirements:

• Practical knowledge of LV and HV distribution construction activities relevant to the accredited scopes (e.g., cable installation, joint bays, terminations/jointing interfaces, substations/plant install, earthing and bonding, reinstatement).
• Understanding of inspection, testing and commissioning requirements and the ability to review/verify test results and completion documentation.
• Working knowledge of utility safe systems of work and electrical safety management (permits/safety documents, isolations, proving dead, cable identification, control of energisation).
• Ability to implement and assure quality hold points using Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), check sheets, material certification and traceability.
• Competence in identifying non-conformances and defects, raising NCRs, driving root-cause analysis and verifying effective corrective/preventative action.
• Understanding of CDM duties at site level and how construction controls integrate with NERS-required management systems.

Training & Certifications:

• Recognised electrical apprenticeship and/or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in Electrical Power Engineering / Electrotechnical Systems.
• Current BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) qualification (18th Edition) where applicable to scope.
• Inspection & Testing qualification appropriate to role (e.g., City & Guilds 2391 or equivalent) and ability to evidence recent practical application.
• Formal authorisation training aligned to the Safety Rules used (e.g., Authorised Person / Senior Authorised Person pathways) where the role requires switching/safety document interface.
• SMSTS or SSSTS (as applicable) and IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent H&S supervision competence).
• Desirable (scope-dependent): HV cable jointing competencies, cable identification/proving dead training, first aid at work, NRSWA/Street Works and temporary works awareness.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Supervision & On-Site Assurance: Provide visible, proactive supervision of ICP works, ensuring activities remain within approved design, method statements and NERS scope. Carry out planned inspections and quality hold points (ITPs), including verification of materials, workmanship and as-built accuracy.
2. Competence, Authorisations & Workforce Control: Confirm that all personnel (employees and subcontractors) have the required training, competence and authorisations for the tasks they undertake. Brief and coordinate teams on scope, hazards, controls and quality expectations; ensure supervision ratios are appropriate to risk and experience. Support competence assessment and ongoing monitoring by providing feedback, evidence of performance, and development needs to management.
3. Safety, Compliance & Safe Systems of Work: Review and assure RAMS, permits and site controls; verify that risks are assessed and controls are implemented and maintained throughout the work. Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards, including CDM requirements, and adherence to DNO specifications and safety rules applicable to the work. Stop work and escalate where conditions are unsafe, out of scope or non-compliant; ensure corrective actions are implemented and verified before restart.
4. Inspection, Testing, Commissioning & Handover: Ensure inspection and testing is completed to the required standard, recorded correctly and reviewed for completeness and accuracy. Coordinate technical inputs to commissioning activities (including pre-energisation checks and readiness reviews) in line with authorisations and agreed switching arrangements. Support compilation of handover packs (as-builts, test sheets, material certificates, photos, permits and sign-offs) to facilitate DNO adoption and traceability.
5. Audit Readiness, Records & Continuous Improvement: Maintain auditable supervision and quality records to support NERS assessments and surveillance visits, including evidence of competence, supervision, inspections and corrective actions. Participate in internal audits, management reviews and lessons learned, supporting continual improvement of procedures, templates and controls. Support external auditor and client/DNO interactions by presenting clear evidence packs and responding promptly to findings with effective corrective action plans.