Principal Highways Engineer (Liveable Places) in Reading

We are seeking a Principal engineer to join our Liveable Places team in multiple locations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in design management and project management, with a proven track record of successfully leading design delivery and implementation of sustainable transport and public realm improvement projects from inception to completion primarily in London.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Management: Oversee the design process, ensuring that all design work is completed to the highest standards and meets the client’s requirements. This includes managing the design team, coordinating with other departments, and ensuring that all design work is completed on time and within budget.
• Project Management: Manage the overall project, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation. Ensure that all project milestones are met and that the project is completed on time and within budget.
• Client Liaison: Act as the main point of contact for clients, ensuring that their needs are met and that they are kept informed of progress throughout the project.
• Risk Management: Identify and manage risks associated with the project, ensuring that any issues are resolved quickly and effectively.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure that all design work meets the highest standards of quality and that any issues are resolved quickly and effectively.
• Team Leadership: Lead and motivate the design team, ensuring that they are working effectively and efficiently.

A Typical Week Would Include

• Preparation of highways designs for construction projects and coordinating with other disciplines input into the design.
• Design includes drawings, design details, specifications, bill of quantities and design calculations.
• Attendance at client and internal progress meetings and maintaining actions trackers.
• Liaison with discipline leads and preparing updates to scheme programmes ensuring inter-dependencies and programme logic are applied.
• Implementing the correct QA/QM procedures for projects, assisting with the completion of Project Execution Plans and carrying out any resulting actions.
• Maintaining project commercial risk registers.
• Supporting the preparation of design H&S risk management plans and schedules.
• Coordinating inputs from technical disciplines and ensuring that project information is disseminated throughout the teams.
• Coordinating technical decision logs.
• Overseeing the preparation of fee proposals and change control documents.
• Compilation of task assignment documents and arranging internal approvals.
• Supporting the management of internal processes for financial reporting including forecasting.
• Preparation of Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) for site surveys and participation in site visits as required.
• Taking ownership of updating project plans and managing document control using SharePoint.
• Planning and delivery of project deliverables and milestones.
• Raising orders for supply chain partners’ technical support.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field.
• Experience in design management and project management.
• Holder of a relevant professional qualification (IENG or CENg) or close to obtaining one.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to report to senior level.
• Proven track record of successfully leading design projects from inception to completion.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work under pressure.

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team.

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

Work-Life Balance

Our hybrid working policy offers flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you. We provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need and offer a comprehensive menopause support package.

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.