Costain Group PLC
Chief Engineer (HV)

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Job Description
This key role as Chief Engineer (HV) will be within our Technical Excellence team supporting Costain project delivery, with a focus on high voltage (HV) site construction operations, design oversight, assurance and compliance.
This is a High Voltage (working up to 400kV range) senior technical and compliance expert role.
You will be responsible for driving robust, safe, compliant and high-quality transmission designs and processes supporting substation construction / cabling development and construction works predominately.
You will be the company’s expert for HV transmission solutions and compliance; leading on processes and technical responsibility for project delivery.
You will also ensure technical assurance, safe by designs, compliance and stakeholder management throughout HV Infrastructure and Transmission projects.
You will own; processes, technical controls, assurance, competencies across the whole project lifecycle – tender, design, construction, commissioning and handover.
Role Location: London or Manchester office but mainly project based, with hybrid working options to promote well being. Travel expected to UK locations, such as suppliers, offices and similar.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership across all HV projects, supporting client sales, tendering, design delivery, supplier selection, construction, quality, commissioning and handover.
- Act as the main point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on HV Design matters including clients including National Grid
- Have a strong HV and wider infrastructure delivery safety and environmental focus
- Responsible for development and assurance of HV technical working procedures aligned to the project, Costain, client and Regulatory needs, ensure these integrate with other disciplines
- Responsible for their HV technical competency, both in discipline and for others involved in delivery, such as CDAE, LCDAE, PD and others on a HV site. Define training and competency needs for all roles on HV works, establish a career pathway in HV and succession plans
- Work with the design leaders to ensure all design output and scope is compliant with HV requirements including National Grid / other clients.
- Develop and maintain all HV and National Grid governance / Costain Way requirements so that align with best practice, client needs and Regulatory requirements.
- Have an in depth knowledge of the HV supply chain used in the UK, in particular National Grid.
- Able to resolve complex and multifaceted technical challenges in their discipline and recognize and manage interfaces with others
- Expert communicator and visible leader, supporting both on project and wider initiatives, expert in risk, value engineering and optioneering etc
- Driving quality control / assurance across the HV projects operations, focus on achieving right first time and predictable delivery. Independently review commissioning plans for live projects.
- Own the Impressed Voltage Management Plans, appoint Earthing Control Person and Earthing Application Persons
- Collaborate with project leadership, procurement, commercial and supply chain to drive delivery
- Expert in reporting status, including spend, risk, performance and similar
- Participate in design audits, technical queries and cross-check with third party designers where required.
- Mentor, develop and lead HV design engineers and multidisciplinary teams
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement; lessons learned, best practice, innovations
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QUALIFICATIONS
- Broad knowledge of UK HV (up to 400kV) project / construction operations at all stages
- Have detailed knowledge and experience of National Grid standards and requirements, and UK Regulations
- Forensic / investigation skills in their discipline
- Strong leadership skills
- Commercial / contractual awareness
- Safety and quality focused
- Risk and opportunity management
- Digital skills relevant to requirements
- UK Chartered Engineer
- Certified HV working skills / card and supporting CPD
- Eligible for UK SC (Security Clearance)
Desirable
- Line management and people development (depending on role)
- Connections to industry bodies / institutions
- Commercial / contractual training
- APM / project management / risk
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