Solutions Manager

To continue with our growth plans for 2024 and beyond we are searching for a Solutions Manager to join our Solution Development team in our Pre-Contract department, based in the Midlands region for our Severn Trent framework. Reporting to the Regional Pre-Contract Manager, you will lead multidisciplinary teams working on the development of technical solutions and commercial proposals to enter agreeable contracts for potable water treatment, sewage treatment and bioresources projects, considering sustainability and carbon footprint of optimum and competitive solutions. As a Solutions Manager, you will be responsible for a portfolio of future projects (directly allocated or competitively tendered) that need to be secured by means of agreeable contracts.

Client Management:

• Foster and develop positive client working relationships that enable efficient identification of project solutions leading to successful contract agreement.
• Manage Client and stakeholder expectations in relation to time, cost and quality of the production of proposals and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) delivery.
• Accountability for the successful delivery and fulfilment of ECI orders, working closely with other departments and the client to communicate progress and facilitate acceptance of proposed solutions.
• Drive effective contract negotiations that meet the technical and organisational governance requirements, as well as having an acceptable risk profile that is approved by the business in a timely manner.
• Attendance to sites and client offices as required in relation to the development of projects.
• Obtain client feedback and integrate lessons learned to future projects.

Develop Solutions/Tenders/Proposals:

• Identify, document and communicate the client project requirements to enable the teams to develop project solutions.
• Actively lead multidisciplinary teams to provide competitive tenders that meet client’s requirements.
• Ensure solution options address affordability, design, planning, sustainability, construction, enabling factors, procurement, and operations.
• Assess the value and impact of acquiring additional data if gaps or deficiencies are identified.
• Coordinate engagement from the regional Engineering, Estimating, Operations, Planning, SHEQ teams to assure the viability and deliverability of project proposals.
• Accountability for tenders/proposals to meet all governance and quality assurance requirements.
• Accountability for tenders/proposals to have a high degree of business confidence on scope, cost, programme and risk profile in line with the regional and business strategy.
• Coordinate the business legal, technical and commercial teams inputs into the proposed client Works Orders to clarify the project scope, define an agreeable risk profile and enable timely contract execution.

Support Department development and administration:

• Collaborate with the Pre-Contract Manager to identify, plan and acquire the departmental resources needed for the solution development and proposals preparation that respond to the demands of the Framework portfolio of work.
• Line management duties, ensuring team progression, development and wellbeing.
• Responsible for proposals to be delivered within the agreed timescales and tender budget.
• Contribute to the department cost and budget reporting.
• Assist with department performance reviews and identifying areas of improvement.
• Collaborate with the Pre-Contract Manager and others to identify innovative ways of work.
• Obtain and communicate business feedback from project delivery in relation to performance against tender budget and programme.
• Support continuous improvement of the solutions process and team.
• Integrate innovations and lessons learned to realise efficiencies in projects and in team performance.

You are a natural leader, providing line management for the team, and can confidentially manage activities to achieve efficient outputs to ensure quality procedures are followed, mitigating risk where necessary.

Essential: Degree in an Engineering Discipline (Mechanical/Civil/Chemical/Environmental/Process) or equivalent qualifications; or Project Management qualifications. Experience working and managing under NEC4 Conditions of contract. UK Water Industry experience leading projects in design and/or delivery of water treatment, wastewater treatment or bioresources projects, sufficient to influence the design and buildability of a project, choice of materials and be able to contribute to optioneering. Experience in the processes, equipment and services that are used within the water industry. Experience in the development of project programmes. Experience in risk management techniques. Excellent written and verbal communication and team working skills. Self-starter, self motivated, flexible and reliable with good problem-solving skills. Ability to think clearly under pressure. You will have a strong client service focus. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to multi-task. Excellent computer skills and a good understanding of Microsoft Office.

Desirable: Membership of a professional institution. Experience in tendering or managing medium to large projects within the water industry (capital value >£10M), or batches of projects, or design only projects. Full UK driving license.