Head of Discipline (Tunnel Civil and Underground Engineering)

To sustain the growth of our UK business, we are looking for a Head of Discipline for our Tunnel, Civil and Underground Engineering team. Working in our York office, you will be responsible for managing a team of civil and structural engineers as part of our UK&I Tunnel, Civil and Underground Engineering discipline management team. Staff from the discipline are involved designing solutions for a range of tunnel and below ground structures across multiple sectors, including water, rail, utilities, highways and energy.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of civil and structural engineers as part of our Tunnel, Civil and Underground Engineering discipline. You will have responsibility for their technical and professional development outside of their project work, and for performance management.
• Support the UK&I Head of Discipline in aligning the capability and capacity of your office team with the current and future needs of the wider discipline team, and in ensuring the effective utilisation of their time and skills day-to-day.
• Lead on the recruitment of new employees into your team as a hiring manager, in alignment with the discipline growth strategy.
• Work closely with our linked team, permanently on the Lower Thames Crossing project, to align skills and integration.
• Support our Discipline Leadership Team by communicating and role‑modeling leadership messages and encouraging a high-performance, diverse and inclusive culture.

Technical Responsibilities

• Technical leadership across a range of current projects.
• Technical custodianship of heavy civil engineering competencies, developing and ensuring consistent application of best practice across projects and directing on technical innovations.
• Mentoring and development of engineering staff in your areas, including developing and delivering training, undertaking knowledge-sharing activities and supporting succession planning.
• Promote our position as an established name within your area through involvement in relevant industry bodies, technical publication, and facilitating the same in others.
• Technical approval of designs and deliverables on your projects in accordance with internal management systems.
• Support in the pursuit of relevant business development opportunities and input into bids and tenders as required.

Qualifications

• Achieved Chartered Engineer status (CEng or equivalent), working towards or having also achieved Fellowship of a professional body.
• A bachelor’s or MSc degree in Civil engineering.
• Experience in a similar role with technical, commercial, business development and line management responsibilities.
• Expertise in a design environment working on major or complex heavy civils projects in the UK & Ireland or internationally at a senior/leadership level.
• Knowledge of the application of engineering standards.
• High level knowledge of and experience in the use of industrial sector codes for highways, rail, energy, and water sectors.
• A good understanding of construction and site processes.
• Significant experience guiding project teams and handling the technical delivery of projects, either as client’s or contractor’s designer.
• Experience as an effective people leader, able to communicate effectively, engage and lead a team of civil, structural and tunnel engineers, supporting their performance and professional development.

Benefits

• 28 days’ holiday (plus bank and public holidays).
• Formalised development plans and yearly promotion opportunities.
• Private health care for you and your immediate dependents.
• Flexible and hybrid working conditions.
• Annual subscription fees paid for your membership of two Professional Institutions.
• Life assurance.

Equal opportunity employer. COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.