Professional Head

Professional Head & Technical Authority\n\nAct as the Professional Head and senior technical authority for Buildings & Civils across all projects and frameworks.\n\nSet and maintain engineering strategy, design philosophy, and assurance requirements for buildings, stations, depots, operational structures, and associated civils.\n\nProvide authoritative decisions on technical compliance, constructability, temporary works, engineering risk, and acceptance.\n\nApprove or oversee approval of key engineering deliverables including design submissions, temporary works, handback packs, and technical deviations.\n\nMaintain and continuously improve engineering standards, specifications, and governance arrangements in line with client and regulatory requirements.\n\n2. Engineering Governance, Assurance & Compliance\n\nEstablish and lead the engineering governance framework for Buildings & Civils works.\n\nEnsure compliance with Network Rail standards, statutory legislation, and best practice (e.g. NR/L2/RSE/02009, CDM Regulations).\n\nEnsure full compliance with temporary works governance, including TWC/TWS roles, categorisation, and independent checking in accordance with BS 5975.\n\nOversee structured engineering assurance including design reviews, IDC/IDR processes, assurance plans, audits, NCR management, and decision traceability.\n\nEnsure robust configuration and documentation control including TQs, RFIs, technical approvals, and design change management.\n\nProvide senior technical oversight of commissioning, handback, and operational acceptance.\n\nLead derogation/variation/deviation management.\n\n3.

Contractor's Engineering Manager (CEM) Leadership\n\nAct as, or hold overarching accountability for, the CEM function for Buildings & Civils.\n\nEstablish and approve Contractor's Engineering Management Plans and discipline‑specific assurance plans.\n\nLead multi‑disciplinary engineering coordination across internal teams, designers, and supply‑chain partners.\n\nEnsure effective engineering risk identification, mitigation, and formal acceptance throughout delivery.\n\nInterface with client engineering assurance and asset teams to secure and maintain technical approval.\n\n4. Contractor's Responsible Engineer (CRE) Oversight\n\nAct as, or appoint and control, CRE (Buildings/Civils) roles across projects.\n\nApprove scopes of responsibility, delegation, and limits of authority for CREs.\n\nEnsure delivered works are safe, compliant, complete, and fit for handback.\n\nProvide mentoring, technical direction, and challenge to CREs and senior project engineers.\n\n5. Design, Construction & Buildability Leadership\n\nProvide leadership across design development, construction methodology, sequencing, and temporary works strategy.\n\nEnsure solutions are practical, efficient, safe to build, and aligned with programme and commercial constraints.\n\nDrive early contractor involvement (ECI) to reduce risk and improve buildability.\n\nEnsure inspection regimes, access for maintenance, and asset longevity are embedded into design.\n\n6.

Programme & Project Technical Oversight\n\nProvide senior technical oversight across major projects and frameworks, including complex interfaces with track, signalling, M&E, telecoms, and operations.\n\nSupport bid, tender, and early‑stage project development with technical strategy, risk reviews, and value engineering.\n\nLead resolution of high‑impact technical issues, non‑conformances, and changes affecting safety, time, or cost.\n\nEnsure engineering risks and assumptions are clearly communicated to project and commercial leadership.\n\n7. Safety & CDM Leadership\n\nChampion a strong safety and engineering excellence culture across the workforce and supply chain.\n\nDischarge Designer and Principal Designer duties where required under CDM Regulations.\n\nProvide leadership on temporary works governance and high‑risk construction activities.\n\nLead or support technical investigations, lessons learned, and continuous improvement initiatives.\n\n8. Client, Regulator & Supply‑Chain Interface\n\nAct as senior technical interface with Network Rail Asset Engineers, Engineering Assurance teams, and Independent Assessors.\n\nSupport audits, reviews, and external assurance activities.\n\nProvide technical leadership to designers, subcontractors, and suppliers, ensuring alignment with standards and client requirements.\n\nBuild and maintain effective working relationships that underpin client trust and repeat business.\n\n9.

Commercial & Operational Contribution\n\nProvide technical input to commercial decisions, procurement strategies, and contract negotiations.\n\nSupport cost control through early risk reduction, value engineering, and scope clarity.\n\nEnsure engineering decisions support whole‑life asset value, maintainability, and operational resilience without transferring unmanaged risk.\n\n10. Competence & Capability Management\n\nOwn the competence framework for Buildings & Civils engineering roles.\n\nImplement and maintain a formal engineering authorisation system for CEM, CRE, and engineering roles aligned to NR/L2/RSE/02009.\n\nEnsure all personnel and supply‑chain partners are competent, authorised, and suitably experienced.\n\nPromote continuous improvement in technical capability, behaviours, and engineering leadership.\n\nEssential Qualifications & Experience\n\nChartered Engineer status (e.g. CEng, MICE, MIStructE, MCIOB or equivalent).\n\nExtensive experience delivering buildings and civils works for Tier 1 contractors in a regulated, safety‑critical environment.\n\nProven experience acting as or leading CEM and/or CRE (Buildings/Civils) roles.\n\nDemonstrable track record of major project or framework delivery within rail or comparable infrastructure sectors.\n\nStrong working knowledge of Network Rail standards, CDM Regulations, temporary works, ALO management, and engineering assurance.\n\nExperience leading handover, HOTO, commissioning, and asset acceptance.\n\nCSM‑REA knowledge.\n\nExcellent leadership, communication, and senior stakeholder management skills.\n\nDesirable Attributes\n\nExperience on large, complex rail stations, depots, or major civils interfaces.\n\nExperience shaping engineering governance for multi‑project delivery organisations.\n\nFamiliarity with digital engineering, BIM, collaborative planning, and modern assurance systems