Drilling Manager

RSK Group; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental and engineering services company is seeking an experienced Drilling Manager in Normanton, UK. This role is accountable for providing drilling services and operational support, managing a team of approximately 40 staff. Responsibilities include effective planning, ensuring safety and quality in service delivery, project management, and compliance with health and safety regulations. The role offers a competitive salary starting at £50,000, a contributory pension scheme, and other flexible benefits, including professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Salary £50,000+

Contributory Pension Scheme

Car allowance

Flexible benefits programme

Digital GP Service

Gym and lifestyle discounts

Life cover protection

Optional private healthcare

Cycle to work scheme

Volunteering days

Career development opportunities

Wellbeing support services

Qualifications

• Experience in the supervision and management of ground investigation contracts.
• Experience in compliance with CDM regulations and production of H&S documentation.
• The post holder is expected to pass internal and industry-recognised training courses.
• Maintenance of ground investigation equipment.

Responsibilities

• Effective planning of drilling staff and resources throughout the country.
• Safe delivery of drilling services and risk assessments.
• Management of drilling personnel and project pricing.
• On-site supervision and adherence to SHEQ plans.
• Conducting safety checks/audits and risk assessments.

Skills

Ground investigation contract management

Risk assessment

Leadership

Technical problem-solving

Job description

Central Alliance part of the RSK Group have an exciting new opportunity for an experienced Drilling Manager to join their team in Normanton, UK. The Opportunity: Accountable to the Director Ground Investigation, this role provides drilling services and operational support to the business, helping in the delivery of our 5-year Business Strategy. The role holder is to provide sound drilling knowledge and expertise across the business, to support:

Responsibilities

• Effective planning of drilling staff, activities and resources throughout the country and further afield,
• Safe and high-quality delivery of drilling services to clients, which includes but is not limited to, risk assessing drilling activities and implementing appropriate controls, upskilling and training staff to ensure best practice drilling methods are employed, in order to recover and deliver quality soil and rock samples,
• Management and leadership of drilling personnel (approx. 40 staff) and fitters (3 staff),
• Input to pricing and compilation of bids and tenders, that require an element of drilling related services., Manage the works Planner with regards to scheduling and assigning drilling personnel and equipment to projects. Manage in a way that maximises utilisation, with a particular focus on supplying the correct drilling resources (type and number of rigs / support equipment, staff etc.) to jobs and sites, for effective, efficient and safe execution.
• Undertake site walkovers on jobs that are deemed challenging, this is to ensure appropriate equipment and staff are resourced to job.
• Project management and expert support to the Ground Investigation (GI) department, ensuring our GI jobs throughout the UK are managed efficiently and cost‑effectively, delivering the best service to our clients. Includes being aware of project budgets, to inform daily decision making.
• Support departments to remain agile to respond to, or pre‑empt the needs of clients, in terms of quick response times, reacting swiftly to emergency works, always delivering a professional and technically sound drilling service that exceeds the client's expectations. This includes but is not limited to, arranging Temporary Work Designs and managing Temporary Works Supervisors.
• Lead the drilling division staff (:40 personnel), which includes providing operational advice, as well as team management and leadership.
• On‑site supervision, aligned to project plans, including SHEQ plans (Safety, Health Environment and Quality) with a focus on safe, timely and quality delivery.
• Liaise daily with Drilling Supervisors, to support them in delivering of timely and effective support to operational crews throughout the UK.
• Conduct safety and site checks / audits, competency assessments and upskilling where appropriate (including Risk Assessments, Method Statements, Task Briefing Sheets.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies.
• Manage and coordinate biannual LOLER inspections and certification records.
• Ensure compliance with PUWER regulations and that there is an appropriate maintenance (preventative and ad‑hoc), servicing and repairs schedule for all drill rigs and support equipment / tooling, to prevent downtime / extend lifespan. Ensure adherence to the schedule by the fitting staff, reporting any non‑compliance to Director: GI (BH) for addressing.
• Manage drilling equipment stock levels.
• Approve employee timesheets and expense reports, once first pass checks undertaken by Admin and Accounts.
• Quickly develop and maintain respectful, professional and high‑performing working relationships across the business and with clients, to facilitate excellence in the management and delivery of projects.
• Establish a sound understanding of Central Alliance's and RSK's ways of working (processes, procedures, guidelines etc.) for drilling, logistics, project planning, execution, etc.
• Supported by the company, maintain and develop technical knowledge, such as British Standards and industry standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in the supervision and management of ground investigation contracts.
• Experience in compliance with CDM regulations and production of H&S documentation.
• The post holder will be expected to attend and pass internal and industry recognised external training courses. These may include, PTS, NRASWA, CCNSG, towing license, CAT, First Aid and manual handling training.
• Maintenance of ground investigation equipment.

Benefits

Your new benefits will include:

• Salary £50,000+, depending on experience.
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Car allowance
• A flexible benefits programme including the option to buy additional holidays
• Digital GP Service
• Gym and lifestyle discounts
• Life cover protection
• Optional private healthcare
• Cycle to work and electric vehicle schemes
• Volunteering days
• Retirement and mortgage advice
• Active committees driving Diversity & Inclusion
• Access to our industry‑leading Wellbeing Hub, plus mental health support services
• Regular training and career development

Company Overview

Central Alliance is a UK-based ground engineering technical services business providing site investigation, surveying, instrumentation, monitoring and technology‑led solutions alongside innovative remedial techniques for slope stabilisation and dewatering. Our innovative support and solutions are provided to infrastructure organisations, asset owners, utility and energy companies, mining companies, government, consultants and construction projects both in the UK and worldwide. The company's ground investigation services include all aspects of drilling, in situ testing, monitoring, reporting and laboratory testing. We own and operate a full range of drilling rigs, encompassing multipurpose rotary, cable percussion, dynamic sampling and cone penetration testing rigs. Some of Central Alliance's clients include Network Rail, Aarsleff, National Highways, Rio Tinto, Associated British Ports, the Welsh Government, J. Murphy & Sons, AmcoGiffen, BAM and Morgan Sindall. Central Alliance is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then. At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees. Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues' growth. We're committed to preserving RSK's people‑first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company. By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office‑based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities. If you're passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all.