Chartered Principal Civil Engineer

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A major water utility company is seeking a Chartered Principal Civil Engineer to lead the Engineering Solutions Team. This hybrid role involves managing a £25 million annual CAPEX programme within the wastewater infrastructure sector. Candidates should possess extensive civil engineering experience and a Chartered status, with a focus on project management and compliance. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Annual bonus opportunity

Private medical healthcare

Generous pension scheme

26 days annual leave increasing with service

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in design and construction delivery, particularly in wastewater infrastructure.
• Proven skills in project management, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Knowledge of pipe replacement methods, including open-cut and trenchless techniques.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver an annual CAPEX programme worth approximately £25 million.
• Lead health and safety management and ensure CDM compliance across projects.
• Oversee the supply chain and collaborate with contract managers to deliver projects on time and on budget.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting and forecasting

Technical specification assurance

Health and safety compliance

Problem-solving

Education

Chartered Civil Engineer

Degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

CDM regulations

Risk mitigation strategies

Job description

Job title Chartered Principal Civil Engineer Ref 41134 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time or part-time Hours 36 hours per week Salary Offering a salary between £60,000 - £80,000 per annum depending on skills and experience Job grade C Closing date 12/08/2025

Location: Reading (Hybrid role with travel to operational sites)
Salary: £60,000–£80,000 + £5,800 car allowance plus bonus and benefits.
Hours: 36 hours/week, Monday to Friday.

Thames Water is seeking a Chartered Principal Civil Engineer to lead our Engineering Solutions Team within the Waste Network Operations department. This role is key to delivering our Infrastructure Capital Efficiency plan across AMP8, managing a £30m+ portfolio within the UK’s largest capital programme.

In this entrepreneurial and hands-on role, you will drive efficiency by identifying opportunities where Directly Managed Capital can outperform traditional stage-gated processes.

You’ll lead a small but high-impact team, coordinating critical infrastructure projects ranging from sewer rehabilitation to pressure monitoring installations, working closely between Operations and Major Capital teams.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage and deliver an annual CAPEX programme worth approximately £25 million.
• Lead health and safety management and ensure CDM compliance across projects.
• Assure the quality of project briefs, programmes, and technical specifications.
• Oversee the supply chain and collaborate with contract managers to deliver projects on time and on budget.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and innovative engineering solutions.
• Build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.

What you will bring:

• Chartered Civil Engineer with a degree in Civil Engineering.
• Extensive experience in design and construction delivery, particularly in wastewater infrastructure.
• Proven skills in project management, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Knowledge of pipe replacement methods, including open-cut and trenchless techniques.
• IOSH or NEBOSH qualification.
• Full UK driving licence and access to own transport, with willingness to visit operational sites regularly.
• Passion for solving complex problems and driving continuous improvement through collaboration.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary of £60,000 to £80,000, plus £5,800 car allowance.
• Annual bonus opportunity based on performance.
• Private medical healthcare and a generous pension scheme managed by AON.
• 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays.
• Enhanced family leave, including maternity and paternity benefits.
• Access to a wide range of wellbeing and lifestyle benefits through our "Benefits on Tap" programme, including health MOTs, physiotherapy, counselling, cycle to work, shopping discounts, and life assurance.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world's water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process . We aim to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support .

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.