Head of Techncial Excellence

United Infrastructure Power T&D Limited; Horsham, Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension scheme

25 days annual leave

Private Medical Cover

Professional membership and charterhip

Hybrid working

Job summary

United Infrastructure Power T&D Limited is seeking a Head of Technical Excellence to own the engineering excellence framework and provide strategic leadership across the UK UI project teams. You will guide SMEs in Substations, OHL, Civil, and Underground design while ensuring compliance with national standards.

You will report to the Engineering Director and shape world-class engineering standards, governance, and innovative practices across the business. Hybrid working is available in the UK.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 10 years of engineering design and leadership in high-voltage power transmission and distribution.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) with active professional registration.
• Active involvement with professional bodies (IET, CIGRE).
• Desirable: CDAE or Principal Designer experience.
• CDM 2015, Temporary Works, and Impressed Voltages knowledge.
• Knowledge of UK health, safety, environmental and waste legislation as it relates to major infrastructure design and construction.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Technical Leadership & Governance: act as the senior technical authority for UI’s T&D portfolios and lead SMEs across disciplines.
• Project Execution & Technical Assurance: provide governance, final technical sign-off, and ensure outputs meet standards and client specs.
• Industry Engagement & Professional Development: engage with professional bodies and translate industry best practices into UI standards.
• People & Capability Development: lead resource planning, CPD, mentoring, and staff performance reviews.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Civil Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration

Job description

Role Summary Job Title Head of Technical Excellence Reporting To Engineering Director Power T&D Business Unit United Infrastructure Power T&D Limited (UIPTD) Clients SSE, SPEN, NGED, National Grid Voltage Range 66kV – 400kV Contract Type Permanent Location Horsham, Glasgow, Warrington (hybrid working available)

Role Overview

The Head of Technical Excellence will own the engineering excellence framework within United Infrastructure (UI), providing strategic leadership, technical governance, and guidance to a high-performing team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). Reporting directly to the Engineering Director, you will work collaboratively to ensure your team is perfectly positioned to provide world-class engineering support across all UI project teams. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a multi-disciplinary technical team, driving industry-leading engineering standards and innovation across the UK energy landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Technical Leadership & Governance Act as the senior technical authority for United Infrastructure’s multi-disciplinary power Transmission & Distribution (T&D) portfolios. Lead and develop a high-performing team of technical Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) spanning Substations, Overhead Lines (OHL), Civil Engineering, and Underground Cable Design. Drive a ‘Safety by Design’ approach across all engineering disciplines, nurturing a culture of compliance, technical diligence, and lifecycle safety. Advance and develop departmental tools, advanced design techniques, and workflows to increase design efficiency, specification development, and project execution. Maintain project compliance with UI’s Management System, company QA policies, and UK regulatory frameworks.

• Project Execution & Technical Assurance Undertake senior technical governance and assurance roles on high-value, complex, multi-disciplinary project teams. Serve as the final technical quality sign-off and undertake technical quality assurance reviews on complex engineering designs when required. Ensure all engineering outputs meet client specifications, Eurocodes, British Standards, National Grid Technical (NGTS), SEE & NGED Specifications, and evolving industry best practices. Provide technical leadership and high-tier engineering input into bids, tenders, and work-winning strategies.

• Industry Engagement & Professional Development Act as an industry ambassador for UI, maintaining a prominent profile within leading professional bodies and global industry working groups (e.g., IET, CIGRE, IEEE). Translate wider industry best practices, global technical trends, and client requirements (construction, O&M, decommissioning) into actionable UI engineering standards. Lead innovation initiatives across design and delivery teams to improve safety, optimize construction costs / timelines, and enhance overall engineering efficiency.

• People & Capability Development Assume overall responsibility for resource planning, recruitment, onboarding, and competence management for the Technical Excellence division. Establish clear technical career paths and competence frameworks for the multi-disciplinary SME team. Provide supportive personnel management, focusing on continued professional development (CPD), mentoring, and identifying advanced training needs. Support other engineering managers to monitor staff performance through formal reviews and technical capability assessments.

Requirements

Essential Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 10 years of engineering design and leadership experience within high-voltage power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
• Professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) through a relevant institution.
• Active, high-level membership and involvement in professional engineering bodies (e.g., Fellow or Member of the IET, active contributor to CIGRE working groups).

Desirable

• Proven track record fulfilling the role of Contractor Design Approval Engineer (CDAE) or Principal Designer representative.
• Formal training in CDM 2015, Temporary Works, and Impressed Voltages within the electricity supply industry.
• Thorough knowledge of transmission & distribution procedures, technical guidance notes, and design handbooks.
• Deep understanding of UK Health, Safety, Environmental, and waste management legislation as it relates to major infrastructure design and construction.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to influence clients, government bodies, and senior executives.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to manage conflicting project deadlines and prioritize complex workloads autonomously.

What UIPTD Offers

• Competitive salary commensurate with level & experience
• Hybrid working arrangement (Dependent upon role)
• Structured career development pathway
• Professional membership and chartership support
• Company pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private Medical Cover

Join us at United Infrastructure and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK. Here at United Infrastructure, we invest in our people and firmly believe that our workforce is our most valuable asset. A driving force for success and the core to achieving our vision of creating a connected and sustainable future, our team is the heart of our organisation. Are you looking to be part of an exciting journey within an evolving business? Want to learn something new, every single day? Then you’ve come to the right place. A fast-paced, diverse, and hugely ambitious business, we welcome challengers, innovators and people who embrace change. Establish yourself in a creative environment that champions freedom of expression, and supports you in your personal and professional development – because together, we achieve more.