Head of Civil Engineering in Nottingham

Are you a hands-on civil engineering leader who still enjoys running projects, reviewing designs and working directly with clients?

Caulmert is looking to appoint a Head of Civil Engineering to lead and grow an established service line, strengthening day-to-day delivery, technical oversight, commercial performance and team capability.

The immediate emphasis is on development infrastructure, highways and drainage, water and wastewater, utilities, earthworks and multidisciplinary site development, with the opportunity to influence Caulmert’s wider business and future growth.

Who will I be working with?

Caulmert is a progressive multidisciplinary consultancy. You will work with our civil, structural and geotechnical engineers, environmental and planning specialists, technicians and project managers, alongside clients, contractors, developers, utilities and approving authorities. This is a visible senior appointment with both the expectation and opportunity to coordinate across the wider business, shape the service line and help capable people succeed.

What will the role entail?

Service-line leadership and improvement

• Lead and progressively grow the civil engineering service line, setting clear priorities and improving delivery, technical standards, commercial performance and team capability.
• Provide visible day-to-day leadership to engineers, technicians and project managers, creating clarity around priorities, responsibilities and commitments.
• Lead change and continuous improvement across workflows, design standards, templates, checking, digital delivery and lessons learned.
• Work with Directors and other service leads on workload planning, recruitment, investment priorities and the practical development of the wider business.

Project delivery and technical oversight

• Lead civil and multidisciplinary commissions from feasibility and planning through design, approvals, construction and completion, personally running selected major, complex or strategically important projects.
• Maintain oversight of the live portfolio, supporting project managers and technical leads with priorities, coordination, risk, resourcing and difficult delivery issues.
• Establish clear scopes, programmes, responsibilities, deliverables and review points so projects are properly planned and controlled from the outset.
• Provide senior technical leadership and review across highways, drainage, SuDS, utilities, earthworks and development infrastructure.
• Guide option development, value engineering, approvals and adoption, and provide responsive construction-stage support, including contractor queries, design changes and site issues.
• Coordinate effectively with structural, geotechnical, environmental, planning and digital-delivery colleagues to provide joined-up multidisciplinary solutions.

Commercial, client and business contribution

• Prepare and review scopes, fees, programmes, resources and commercial assumptions, and manage performance, change and risk.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of WIP, invoicing, forecast workload and commercial recovery across the civil engineering portfolio.
• Build trusted relationships with existing and new clients, contractors, developers, utilities and authorities, supporting repeat business, frameworks and focused growth.
• Contribute directly to bids, interviews and client-development activity where civil engineering insight can shape opportunities and strengthen Caulmert’s wider offer.
• Provide practical strategic input on markets, clients, recruitment, capability and service-line growth, without the role becoming predominantly sales led.

Team leadership and capability development

• Set clear priorities, balance resources and delegate work at the right level across engineers, technicians and project managers.
• Provide constructive review and coaching that develops judgement, accountability, commercial awareness and client confidence.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, professional development and succession, helping Principal and Associate-level colleagues take greater ownership.
• Represent the civil engineering team in wider business discussions and align service-line plans with Caulmert’s multidisciplinary objectives.

What experience would be particularly valuable?

Candidates do not need every specialism. Particularly valuable experience includes:

• Water and wastewater infrastructure, including drainage, pumping stations, developer services, utilities and AMP or similar programmes.
• Residential and mixed-use development infrastructure, including roads, drainage, SuDS, levels, utilities, Sections 38, 278 and 104, SuDS approval requirements in England and SAB requirements in Wales.
• Industrial, commercial, manufacturing and logistics development, including access, servicing, platforms, drainage and earthworks.
• Public-sector infrastructure, highways, active travel, flood and surface-water management, public realm and minor capital works.
• Rail and transportation interfaces, multidisciplinary site development and contractor-led delivery.

What are we looking for?

Above all, we are looking for a hands-on civil engineering leader who combines technical credibility, reliable job-running capability, commercial discipline and supportive people leadership, with the ambition to lead and grow the service line.

• Degree or equivalent qualification in civil engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer through ICE or an equivalent recognised body.
• Typically 15 years or more of relevant experience, with breadth, capability and responsibility more important than years alone.
• A strong record of leading civil and multidisciplinary projects from definition and planning through approvals and construction support.
• Broad practical capability across development infrastructure, highways, drainage, SuDS, utilities and earthworks.
• Experience reviewing designs, resolving interfaces and providing proportionate technical assurance.
• Experience leading change, developing teams and improving service-line performance.
• Commercial and client-facing experience covering fees, programmes, resources, WIP, invoicing, change and risk.
• Credible contribution to bids, existing and new client development, and service or business planning.
• Familiarity with relevant design and digital-delivery software such as Civil 3D, Causeway Flow, AutoTrack and comparable tools.
• Sound judgement, clear communication, strong knowledge of UK standards, adoption and approval processes, CDM and consultancy QA, plus a full UK driving licence.

What de we offer?

You will join a friendly, professional and ambitious business where your contribution, ideas and results are recognised.

• Varied multidisciplinary work across relevant infrastructure, development and environmental sectors.
• Flexible working arrangements, balanced with the needs of clients, projects, offices, fieldwork and team development.
• Competitive remuneration, 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with length of service.
• Private medical care, company pension and investment in professional and technical development.
• The opportunity to join an employee-owned business and, where appropriate, potentially purchase Company shares.
• A genuine opportunity to lead and grow the service line and develop broader Director-level responsibility as the team and business grow.

If you enjoy running projects, leading change, developing people and building trusted client relationships, we would like to hear from you.

The Company is an equal opportunities employer and aims to ensure a workplace where people are treated with dignity and respect, and where trust and empowerment are encouraged.

Location: Flexible across North Wales and the North West

Contract Type: Full-time, permanent

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