Engineering Manager

Equans UK & Ireland; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Scheme

25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)

Employee discount shopping schemes

Job summary

Equans UK & Ireland is seeking an Engineering Manager in Manchester to lead technical and operational efforts in managing a significant heritage building. This role involves overseeing hard services, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring compliance with conservation and building safety legislation. The ideal candidate will have experience in engineering management for large-scale projects and a strong background in building services. A competitive salary and benefits package are offered, including a pension scheme and 25 days of annual leave.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior engineering management role on large, complex buildings (£100m+).
• Extensive knowledge of building services engineering and hard services operations.
• Experience working with Grade I or II listed buildings or culturally significant assets.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical operations and ensure efficiency in building systems.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams and specialist subcontractors.
• Ensure compliance with conservation requirements and statutory regulations.

Skills

Building services engineering

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Technical knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems

Understanding of compliance and legislation

Education

Chartered Engineer status (CIBSE, IET, IMECHE or equivalent)

Level 3 NVQ in Electrotechnical Services – Electrical Installation

Tools

Building Management Systems (BMS)

Project management software

Job description

EQUANS is recruiting for an Engineering Manager to be based in Manchester (Manchester Town Hall). This is a permanent full‑time role working 37 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, car allowance, bonus and benefits package.

General Overview

EQUANS is seeking an exceptional Engineering Manager to take full technical and operational leadership of a newly refurbished £550m Grade I listed building, guiding the asset through a soft landing phase into steady‑state operation.

This flagship role is responsible for all hard services, KPIs, coordination of a multidisciplinary workforce, and management of specialist subcontractors, while safeguarding the historic, architectural, and cultural significance of one of the UK’s most prestigious buildings.

The Engineering Manager will act as the technical authority on site, ensuring building systems operate safely, efficiently, compliantly and in alignment with the original design intent and conservation requirements within a complex, high‑value, heritage environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Support the soft landing process, acting as the technical focal point between construction, commissioning, design teams, and operational engineering.
• Review and validate commissioning plans, test scripts, and integrated systems testing.
• Ensure full technical handover, including O&M manuals, asset data, drawings, control philosophies, and digital records.
• Verify systems operate in line with design intent, performance criteria, and conservation requirements.
• Maintain contract KPI’s when in steady state.
• Support the soft landing strategy, ensuring systems, processes, and people are fully operational and aligned with design intent.
• Act as the interface between construction teams, designers, commissioning engineers, and the client during handover and early occupation.
• Oversee/support commissioning, witnessing, snagging, se, and post‑occupancy evaluation.

Hard Services Management

• Take supervisory responsibility for all hard services, including but not limited to:
• HV/LV electrical distribution and standby generation
• Electrical power and lighting
• Life safety systems (fire detection, suppression, evacuation)
• BMS and smart building technologies
• Water, drainage, and specialist heritage systems
• HVAC Systems
• Review RAMS, method statements, and technical proposals prior to works
• Ensure building systems perform efficiently, safely, and in compliance with statutory, regulatory, and conservation requirements.

Leadership & Workforce Management

• Lead, motivate, and coordinate a multidisciplinary engineering and technical workforce, including in‑house teams and external specialists.
• Manage a complex supply chain of specialist subcontractors, many operating in sensitive heritage conditions.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance standards across all disciplines.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Heritage & Compliance

• Ensure all engineering activities respect the constraints and sensitivities of a Grade I listed building.
• Work closely with conservation specialists, heritage bodies, and stakeholders to balance operational performance with preservation requirements.
• Maintain full compliance with statutory regulations, conservation consents, health & safety legislation, and best practice standards.

Operational Readiness & Performance

• Develop and embed operational procedures, maintenance regimes, and lifecycle plans aligned to the asset’s long‑term value.
• Monitor system performance, energy efficiency, and resilience during early occupation and beyond.
• Identify risks, defects, or performance gaps and lead corrective actions promptly and effectively.

Technical Compliance & Risk

• Act as the technical support for statutory compliance, including Building Safety Act obligations.
• Fire safety systems and life‑critical assets
• Electrical safety and pressure systems
• Water hygiene and environmental compliance
• Maintain asset registers, compliance schedules, and certification.
• Implement permit‑to‑work, isolation procedures, and safe systems of work.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Serve as a technical representative to the client, providing confidence, clarity, and expert leadership.
• Communicate complex engineering issues clearly to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Support the reputation of the project and organisation through professionalism and technical excellence.

What can we offer you?

• Pension Scheme
• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2 times annual salary
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalised support programmes

Who are we looking for?

Essential

• Proven experience in a senior engineering management role on large, complex buildings (£100m+)
• Strong background in building services engineering and hard services operations.
• Proven ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and specialist subcontractors.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience working with Grade I or II listed buildings* or culturally significant assets.
• Extensive experience in hard services engineering management within complex, high risk, public or mission‑critical environments.
• Proven experience leading soft landing, commissioning, or major system handovers.
• Strong technical knowledge across mechanical, electrical, and life‑safety systems.
• In-depth understanding of UK statutory compliance and building safety legislation.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer status (CIBSE, IET, IMECHE, or equivalent).
• Experience with smart buildings, BMS optimisation, and sustainability strategies.
• Knowledge of conservation‑led refurbishment and heritage governance.

Personal Attributes

• Calm, authoritative leader comfortable operating in high‑profile environments.
• Detail‑oriented with a whole‑life approach to asset performance.
• Collaborative, resilient, and solutions‑focused.
• Passionate about excellence in engineering, heritage stewardship, and operational delivery.
• Strong technical judgement and problem‑solving capability.
• Structured, methodical approach to risk and compliance.
• Clear technical communication with both operational and senior stakeholders.
• High attention to detail and asset‑protection mindset.

Experience

• Up to date relevant industry related knowledge
• Up to date relevant knowledge of Health and Safety legislation

Qualifications

• 18th edition BS7671:2018
• Level 3 NVQ in Electrotechnical Services – Electrical Installation
• Testing and inspection 2391 or equivalent.
• Level 3 5839 Part 1 Fundamentals FD&A