Location: Predominantly Home Based with occasional site visits to Derbyshire
Duration: October 2026 to December 2027
Time Commitment: Initially 1 day per week, increasing to potentially 2 days per week
About Long O'Donnell
Long O'Donnell is an established multidisciplinary engineering and management consultancy specialising in the energy, utilities and infrastructure sectors. We support some of the UK's and Ireland's leading organisations by delivering innovative engineering, project management, commercial and technical solutions to complex infrastructure challenges.
Our expertise spans electricity, gas, water, wastewater, hydrogen, renewable energy and major infrastructure projects. We work across the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and concept development through detailed engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning.
As a trusted delivery partner to major national clients, we play a key role in delivering critical infrastructure programmes that support the UK's future energy needs and sustainability ambitions.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Technical Project Manager to provide specialist technical oversight and support for a major National Grid substation programme in Derbyshire.
The role will support the delivery of a complex site strategy involving the rebuild of an existing substation to improve fault level resilience, together with subsequent extensions and future developments within the wider facility.
Working alongside the client project team, you will act as a senior technical advisor, ensuring robust technical governance, effective design assurance, and coordination between multiple project stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
This position would suit an individual with significant experience of National Grid substation projects who is looking for a flexible, part‑time engagement while remaining involved in high‑profile transmission infrastructure projects.
Key Responsibilities
You will provide technical leadership and independent challenge to the project team, supporting successful project delivery through:
- Acting as the primary point of contact for technical queries raised by the project team.
- Reviewing Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) outputs and providing independent assessment of technical suitability, risks and opportunities.
- Supporting the development and review of project-specific scopes and technical requirements.
- Providing technical input during contractor procurement and tender evaluations.
- Reviewing and responding to technical queries raised by contractors and suppliers.
- Challenging and advising Principal Designers and Principal Contractors during tender negotiations to ensure robust technical and delivery solutions.
- Supporting design assurance activities and ensuring alignment with applicable technical standards and governance processes.
- Liaising with operational asset teams to ensure designs remain operationally practical and maintainable.
- Coordinating technical interfaces between the project and other ongoing or planned works across the site.
- Reviewing project programmes from a technical perspective, identifying opportunities, risks, dependencies and potential efficiencies.
- Supporting the project team in managing technical risks throughout design, construction and commissioning phases.
- Providing informed technical challenge to project decisions to promote safe, efficient and cost‑effective delivery.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Extensive experience delivering or supporting National Grid transmission substation projects.
- Strong understanding of National Grid business processes, project governance and delivery frameworks.
- Working knowledge of National Grid Safety Rules and associated operational requirements.
- Proven experience supporting major infrastructure or transmission projects from design through to construction.
- Strong technical understanding of substation assets, systems and infrastructure.
- Experience reviewing engineering designs and providing technical assurance.
- Ability to manage complex interfaces between design, construction, operation and maintenance teams.
- Experience supporting contractor procurement, tender reviews and technical evaluations.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
Preferred Experience
The following experience would be advantageous:
- Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional qualification.
- Experience working directly with National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET).
- Background within HV transmission substations, transmission asset management or engineering consultancy.
- Knowledge of fault level studies, substation resilience programmes and transmission network expansion projects.
- Experience acting as Technical Authority, Design Manager, Technical Assurance Manager or Senior Project Engineer on major substation programmes.
What We Offer
- Predominantly remote working arrangement.
- Opportunity to contribute to a strategically important National Grid infrastructure programme.
- Work with a highly experienced engineering consultancy operating across key UK energy and utility sectors.
- Potential for increased involvement as the project progresses.
