Lead Engineers

Our Water company client are seeking two Lead Engineers to join their prestigious Havant Thicket Reservoir Project.

Key skills required for this role:

The reservoir is an environmentally-led project that will help to safeguard internationally-rare rivers in Hampshire by providing an alternative, sustainable source of water. As well as protecting some of the county's rare river habitats, it will also provide a new green, leisure facility for local communities, wetland habitats for local rehomed wildlife and a visitor centre. It will be the first new reservoir to be built in the South East since the 1970s and is being developed in collaboration with Southern Water, who are funding the project which sits at £340m (with scope and value increasing). The project will be mainly delivered through a main reservoir contract and two pipeline contracts, with some additional related contracts. The candidates will join the existing project office working directly with the FutureWater joint venture and other project partners. The project is due to run until at least 2030 with extensions expected.

Responsibilities:

• Manage design reviews for the approval of Designs Submissions by the main works contractors, engaging the services of the Design Guardian and involving the Panel of Experts and the Construction Engineer as required.
• Manage the response to Technical Queries raised by the main works contractors.
• Engage the services of the Design Guardian and involve the Panel of Experts and the Construction Engineer as required to advise on reservoir safety aspects.
• Holistic oversight of Specific Engineering Work Packages (The Pipelines, Process & MEICA or Reservoir).
• Ensure all Design Submissions and Technical Queries are tracked by the Assistant Engineer to ensure they are responded to in accordance with timescales identified in the Contract.
• Ensure that up-to-date information and data regarding Portsmouth Water's existing assets are made available to the main works contractors.
• Be the technical lead on smaller packages of works that will form part of the overall Havant Thicket Reservoir scheme.
• Take ownership of technical issues and champion recommended resolutions through the internal governance process.
• Engage with colleagues and stakeholders in the core Portsmouth Water business, especially Operations, Water Quality and Consents Teams to secure their engagement, support and agreement with all solutions adopted.
• Support and assist the Engineering Manager in developing new systems and processes to improve the Engineering assurance function.
• Chair regular meetings with the Design Guardians to discuss the lookahead, open actions and ongoing issues.
• Manage the response to Technical Queries and Design Submissions by the main works contractors and manage the liaison, input and expectations of all stakeholders.
• Monitor and assess the performance of the Design Guardian against KPIs and regularly review this with them and provide feedback.
• Coordinate general requests from and to contractors on engineering matters.
• Participate in collaborative planning with Main Works Contractors.
• Chair weekly meetings with PW Operations to discuss, answer and resolve outstanding queries and issues.
• Chair technical workshops between PW Operations, mains works contractors and the Design Guardian to ensure alignment and buy-in of proposed solutions.
• Provide engineering representation at Early Warning meetings to assist in either responding to them or take them away for later resolution.
• Provide regular updates and reports to the HTR Engineering Manager, on progress, forecasts and issues.
• Undertake monthly reviews of the Contractors Programme to inform resource forecasting.
• Manage and/or produce Engineering led papers to support stakeholder engagement and governance processes.
• Attend regular meetings with the HTR Engineering Manager.

Skills/experience/qualifications:

• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Good understanding and appreciation of the "design process" and its commercial implications.
• Strong team player with good communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• The ability to manage and coordinate inputs from multiple parties.
• Ability to work to deadlines with a focus on results and quality.
• High competency in Excel/PowerPoint/Word/Teams.
• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering related field of study.
• Experience of design management ideally with civils/process engineering background.
• Understanding of NEC contracts.
• Proven track record in the design, construction and commissioning of infrastructure projects in the UK Water Sector.
• Earthworks and/or pipeline project experience.
• Experience of design and construction development in a BIM, common data environment.

Benefits package:

• Salary in line with experience circa £75-95k.
• Holiday buy/sell due to be introduced.
• Enhanced company benefits - introduction of electric car scheme, additional discounts.
• Hybrid working will be discussed but 3/4 days on site/PW offices will be expected.