Senior Engineer (Structures), Pullar House, Perth - PKC13909

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of something meaningful. It's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

The Senior Engineer (Structures) role is a key professional position within Perth & Kinross Council’s Structures Team, providing senior technical leadership and management across the Council’s bridges and structures portfolio. The post holder will play a central role in delivering high‑value, high‑priority capital projects, ensuring that bridge and structures assets remain safe, resilient and fit for the future.

The role involves acting as Project Manager and/or Lead Engineer on complex capital schemes, providing expert technical judgement, managing consultants and contractors, and overseeing programme delivery, budgets and risk. The post holder will also be responsible for the line management and professional development of Engineers within the team, together with supporting and providing technical oversight to Technicians. The role includes deputising for the Structures Manager when required and representing the service at committees, briefings and other formal meetings.

The post is based at Pullar House, Perth, with a hybrid working approach that offers flexibility and supports a positive work‑life balance. The role provides significant opportunities for professional development, leadership experience and involvement in shaping how bridge and structures services are delivered across a diverse local authority area.

Applicants will require strong professional experience in bridges and structures engineering, with the ability to lead complex projects, manage budgets and staff, and apply sound engineering judgement. Chartered status with a relevant professional body, excellent communication skills, and experience of working within a public‑sector or similarly regulated environment are essential.

Perth & Kinross Council offers a supportive working environment, competitive pay and conditions, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, and the opportunity to work on meaningful infrastructure projects that make a real difference to local communities. This is an excellent opportunity for a senior engineer seeking career progression, job security and the ability to influence the future management of critical infrastructure assets.

Skills & Experience Required

Applicants must have strong professional experience within a bridges and structures engineering environment and be able to lead the delivery of complex capital projects safely, efficiently and to a high technical standard. You will be confident applying sound engineering judgement, managing competing priorities and providing clear technical leadership within a regulated public‑sector context. You will be a proactive and well‑organised individual with strong leadership skills and a collaborative approach to working with others. A clear commitment to health and safety, quality and professional standards is essential, along with the ability to work flexibly, manage pressure and contribute positively to service improvement.

• Essential requirements include:

• Chartered Civil Engineer and member of a relevant professional institution (for example ICE or I.Struct.E)
• Proven experience of delivering complex civil, structural or bridge engineering projects
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical matters to non‑technical audiences
• Ability to manage workload, priorities and budgets with minimal supervision
• You must have a valid UK driving licence as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross

• Desirable experience includes:

• Significant experience within a local authority bridges and structures team or a comparable public‑sector environment
• Experience of supervising, mentoring and developing professional or technical staff
• Experience acting as a Technical Approval Authority for structures projects
• Experience of in‑house design and/or checking work in accordance with relevant standards
• Experience acting as Principal Designer and Client under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
• Good working knowledge of NEC contracts and practical contract administration

Essential Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent qualification) in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering
• Chartered Engineer status with a relevant professional institution (for example ICE or IStructE)
• Full current driving licence

How to Apply and Further Information

Applications should be submitted via MyJobScotland, in accordance with the instructions set out in the job advert. Shortlisting and interviews will be based on the criteria detailed in the job description and person specification.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Derek Davidson, Structures Manager Tel: 01738 477386 Email: DTDavidson@pkc.gov.uk

Interviews will be held following shortlisting, with timescales communicated to candidates as part of the recruitment process.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours.

Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree.

Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found here Hybrid working FAQs. We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

All new employees have a four-month probationary period. Further details are available in the FAQs at “How to apply for a job or apprenticeship with us”.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Derek Davidson, Structures Manager on 01738 477386 or at DTDavidson@pkc.gov.uk to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW” External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments.

Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process. Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check. If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.