Overview
In this role you will provide strategic technical leadership for complex civil engineering designs in the water and utilities sector. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, act as the technical authority, and align design work with programme and client goals. You will drive safe, buildable, and sustainable solutions while advancing capability and knowledge sharing. This is an opportunity to shape technical strategy and improve design assurance across major water and utilities programmes.
Responsibilities
- Set the technical direction for discipline-specific and multidisciplinary design delivery
- Approve and assure designs, calculations, specifications, technical reports and design risk assessments
- Act as the technical authority and escalation point for complex or high-risk engineering decisions
- Support project teams with design planning, sequencing, resource allocation and multidisciplinary coordination
- Ensure engineering disciplines are properly integrated to produce coordinated and buildable designs
- Ensure solutions meet agreed programme, budget, quality and client requirements
- Maintain technical quality and compliance with UK legislation, engineering standards, client specifications and CDM 2015
- Lead technical assurance activities, including design reviews, HAZID, HAZOP and risk-management processes
- Promote safe-by-design principles and ensure engineering risks are identified and managed effectively
- Coach and mentor engineers at all career stages
- Contribute to capability planning, succession planning and knowledge management
- Drive digital engineering, automation, low-carbon design, innovation and knowledge sharing
Key requirements
- An ICE-accredited civil engineering degree or equivalent recognised qualification
- Chartered Engineer status with ICE, CIWEM or an equivalent professional institution
- Typically ten to twenty years of civil engineering design experience, including significant water or utilities infrastructure exposure
- Proven experience leading multidisciplinary design teams on complex engineering projects
- In-depth knowledge of relevant UK standards and legislation, including CDM 2015 and applicable water-sector standards
- Ability to make authoritative technical decisions and produce clear, concise technical reports
- Strong stakeholder-management, coaching and communication skills
- Health and safety training, including IOSH Managing Safely
- Eligibility to obtain the necessary certification for site access
- Stakeholder management
- Coaching
- Communication
- Technical leadership
- Design assurance
- HAZID/HAZOP
Principal Engineering Manager - water/wastewater in Cheshire employer: Morson Group
Morson Group is an exceptional employer, recognised as one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, offering a supportive family-run culture that prioritises employee well-being and development. With 26 days of holiday, bespoke training programmes, and comprehensive mental health support, employees are empowered to grow and thrive in their roles, particularly within the dynamic Payroll team at our Salford office.
