At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the backfill programme for a major nuclear project, ensuring successful delivery and compliance.
- Company: Join a leading alliance of top contractors in the UK's nuclear sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a chance to work on groundbreaking projects.
- Other info: Inclusive recruitment process supporting candidates with long-term conditions and disabilities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on one of the UK's largest nuclear projects while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in excavating, backfill activities, and leading large civil engineering teams.
The predicted salary is between 42750 - 52250 £ per year.
Project Lead – Backfill
Join the exciting journey of one of the UK's largest nuclear projects at Sizewell C!
The Civil Works Alliance (CWA) is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Project Lead to support the successful delivery of the Backfill scope on the Sizewell C Project.
CWA, appointed by the Sizewell C client, brings together three leading delivery contractors — Laing O'Rourke, Bouygues, and Balfour Beatty — to deliver the civils scope including Enabling Earthworks, Main Civil Works, and Marine and Tunnelling.
We are seeking a Project Lead to take ownership of the pre‑construction development and delivery of the backfill programme within the Main Civil Works of Sizewell C.
This critical enabler of the entire nuclear build involves placing more than 3 million m³ of engineered backfill following the ‘big dig', establishing the platforms, interfaces and access routes needed for all subsequent structures.
The role demands strategic leadership across design, 4D planning, temporary works, logistics, monitoring and delivery; the individual will own the strategic leadership, technical authority and delivery oversight required to enable successful construction across the nuclear island and safeguard programme certainty.
Key Responsibilities
- Leads all pre‑construction and delivery activities for the backfill scope, ensuring rigorous technical preparation, planning, coordination, and compliance before construction begins.
- Collaborates with the client’s consultant, alliance design teams, and engineering function to shape permanent and temporary works designs that meet safety, sustainability, buildability, and quality requirements.
- Provides expert guidance to the excavation and backfill technical team, ensuring designs, temporary works, and technical solutions are robust, coordinated, and fit for purpose.
- Manages the Technical Lead and oversees technical support to the development of backfill designs by the Responsible Designer, temporary works for ramps, accesses, and retaining structures, material quality control, monitoring schemes, and site trials.
- Owns and updates the 4D backfill model, ensuring construction rates, assumptions, sequencing, and methods are valid, integrated, and approved by CWP and RD.
- Contributes technical judgement within the Backfill Steering Group, supporting decisions on material types, suitability, constructability, and pragmatic solutions.
- Leads cost estimation activities with alliance estimators and the TOC Manager, contributing to the TOC process and ensuring planning and execution strategies are accurate and achievable.
- Monitors budgets throughout delivery, investigates variances, identifies mitigation measures, and escalates issues where required.
- Develops subcontract scopes of work, compiles required documentation, and leads tendering activities, including technical evaluations and clarification processes.
- Participates in subcontractor negotiations with the alliance purchaser and supports final contract formation with the alliance commercial team.
- Defines the delivery strategy for the backfill package during pre‑construction and authors the Project Execution Plan, supporting the TOC Manager in securing Notice to Proceed.
- Establishes and integrates the logistics strategy into overall delivery planning.
- Leads delivery performance, ensuring works are executed safely, on programme, to budget, and in compliance with business, technical, and quality standards.
- Tracks progress against milestones, deadlines, and budgets, providing reporting and analysis to key alliance stakeholders.
- Reviews and authorises subcontractor and supplier payment applications.
- Ensures appropriate resource levels—technical, operational, and logistical—are provided to meet delivery demands.
- Works with the CWA head of quality to determine the appropriate inspection structure and manages the CWA quality inspection team on day‑to‑day issues, escalating problems as needed.
- Identifies, manages, and resolves issues and risks within the package; updates budgets and forecasts and escalates concerns where necessary.
- Ensures construction schedules are developed, maintained, and aligned with programme requirements.
- Ensures all List of Deliverables (LOD / MIDTP / TIDP) related to the scope are completed and compliant.
- Embeds lessons learned and knowledge capture as part of routine delivery processes.
- Ensures all contractual obligations are met and manages potential compensation events in collaboration with alliance commercial.
- Manages interfaces with adjacent works and coordinates activities across earthworks, temporary works, and construction of neighbouring structures to ensure cohesive, conflict‑free delivery.
What skills & experience are we looking for?
Essential
- Expertise in excavating and backfill activities on site
- Leading a large project team on large civil engineering projects
- Working transversely with wider project teams to achieve shared desired outcomes
- NEC4 SC and ECC contract experience
- Member of APM, PMI or similar project management bodies
Desirable
- Experience working in alliances/joint ventures within construction
- SMSTS or IOSH managing safety
As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long‑term conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme’.
This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position.
We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all.
Project Leader in England employer: Laing O'Rourke group
Laing O'Rourke group offers exciting opportunities to work on significant infrastructure projects, such as the Sizewell C clean energy project, which aims to power over 6 million homes. The company fosters a collaborative work environment, encouraging professional growth and innovation through advanced technologies like AI in construction. Employees benefit from hybrid working options and travel support, making it an attractive employer for those seeking to make a meaningful impact in the engineering and construction sectors.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Leader in England
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Laing O'Rourke group, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Project Leader at Laing O'Rourke group.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Leader in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Laing O'Rourke group
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
