Engineering Supervisor in Manchester

EQUANS are recruiting for an Engineering Supervisor to be based in Manchester (Manchester Town Hall). This is a permanent full-time role working 37 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package.

General Overview

EQUANS are seeking an exceptional Engineering Supervisor to support the Engineering Manager in the technical and operational leadership of a newly refurbished £550m Grade I listed building, guiding the asset through a soft landing phase into steady-state operation. This role is a flagship responsibility for all hard services, KPI’s, the coordination of a multidisciplinary workforce, and the supervision of specialist subcontractors, while safeguarding the historic, architectural, and cultural significance of one of the UK’s most prestigious buildings. It is a once-in-a-career opportunity to support the mobilisation and day-to-day running of a nationally significant building at a pivotal moment in its lifecycle. The Engineering Supervisor will act as the direct support to the Engineering Manager on site, ensuring building systems operate safely, efficiently, compliantly, and in alignment with the original design intent and conservation requirements in a complex, high-value, heritage environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Support the soft landing process, between construction, commissioning, design teams, and operational engineering.
• Supporting the review and validation of commissioning plans, test scripts, and integrated systems testing.
• Engaged in the full technical handover, including O&M manuals, asset data, drawings, control philosophies, and digital records.
• Verifying systems operate in line with design intent, performance criteria, and conservation requirements.
• Maintain contract KPI’s when in steady state.
• Support the soft landing strategy, ensuring systems, processes, and people are fully operational and aligned with design intent.
• Act as the supporting interface between construction teams, designers, commissioning engineers, and the client during handover and early occupation.
• Oversee/support commissioning, witnessing, snagging, and post-occupancy evaluation.
• Ensure all O&M manuals, asset data, warranties, compliance documentation, and training are complete, accurate, and handed over effectively.

Hard Services Management

• Take supervisory responsibility for all hard services, including but not limited to:
• HV/LV electrical distribution and standby generation
• Electrical power and lighting
• Life safety systems (fire detection, suppression, evacuation)
• BMS and smart building technologies
• Water, drainage, and specialist heritage systems
• HVAC Systems
• Review RAMS, method statements, and technical proposals prior to works.
• Ensure building systems perform efficiently, safely, and in compliance with statutory, regulatory, and conservation requirements.

Leadership & Workforce Management

• Supervise, motivate, and coordinate a multidisciplinary engineering and technical workforce, including in-house teams and external specialists.
• Supervise a complex supply chain of specialist subcontractors, many operating in sensitive heritage conditions.
• Ensure clear roles, responsibilities, and performance standards across all disciplines.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Heritage & Compliance

• Ensure all engineering activities respect the constraints and sensitivities of a Grade I listed building.
• Work closely with conservation specialists, heritage bodies, and stakeholders to balance operational performance with preservation requirements.
• Maintain full compliance with statutory regulations, conservation consents, health & safety legislation, and best practice standards.

Operational Readiness & Performance

• Supporting the development and embed operational procedures, maintenance regimes, and lifecycle plans aligned to the asset’s long-term value.
• Monitor system performance, energy efficiency, and resilience during early occupation and beyond.
• Identify risks, defects, or performance gaps and lead corrective actions promptly and effectively.

Technical Compliance & Risk

• Act as the technical support for statutory compliance, including:
• Building Safety Act obligations
• Fire safety systems and life-critical assets
• Electrical safety and pressure systems
• Water hygiene and environmental compliance
• Maintain asset registers, compliance schedules, and certification.
• Implement permit-to-work, isolation procedures, and safe systems of work.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Serve as a technical representative to the client, providing confidence, clarity, and expert leadership.
• Communicate complex engineering issues clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Support the reputation of the project and organisation through professionalism and technical excellence.

What can we offer you?

• Pension Scheme
• 24 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 1.5 times annual salary
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalised support programmes

Who are we looking for?

Essential

• Proven experience in a supervisory engineering role on large, complex buildings (£100m+) or supervising technical teams.
• Strong background in building services engineering and hard services operations.
• Proven ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and specialist subcontractors.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience working with Grade I or II listed buildings or culturally significant assets.
• Extensive experience in hard services engineering management within complex, high-risk, public or mission-critical environments.
• Experience in soft landing, commissioning, or major system handovers.
• Strong technical knowledge across mechanical, electrical, and life-safety systems.
• In-depth understanding of UK statutory compliance and building safety legislation.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer status (CIBSE, IET, IMECHE, or equivalent).
• Experience with smart buildings, BMS optimisation, and sustainability strategies.
• Knowledge of conservation-led refurbishment and heritage governance.

Personal Attributes

• Calm, authoritative leader comfortable operating in high-profile environments.
• Detail-oriented with a whole-life approach to asset performance.
• Collaborative, resilient, and solutions-focused.
• Passionate about excellence in engineering, heritage stewardship, and operational delivery.
• Strong technical judgement and problem-solving capability.
• Structured, methodical approach to risk and compliance.
• Clear technical communication with both operational and senior stakeholders.
• High attention to detail and asset-protection mindset.

Experience

• Up to date relevant industry related knowledge.
• Up to date relevant knowledge of Health and Safety legislation.

Qualifications

• 18th edition BS7671:2018.
• Level 3 NVQ in Electrotechnical Services – Electrical Installation Testing and inspection 2391 or equivalent.
• Level 3 5839 Part 1 Fundamentals FD&A.

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