Protection Solutions Manager - Leeds

Balfour Beatty; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure company in Leeds is seeking a Protection Solutions Manager to oversee the management of internal protection solutions for National Grid projects. You will manage resources, ensure project milestones are met, and engage with clients effectively. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in managing protection solution projects, strong leadership skills, and a degree in Electrical or Power Engineering. Competitive benefits are available.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

25 days paid annual leave

Family friendly policies

Pension and share incentive plan

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing large-scale protection solution projects.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Previous experience in the Power industry.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee management of protection solutions for National Grid projects.
• Collaborate with clients to ensure satisfaction.
• Manage resources effectively and ensure project milestones are met.
• Track project progress and report to the Senior Leadership Team.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Client engagement

Commercial acumen

Problem-solving

Education

Degree in Electrical or Power Engineering

Job description

About the role

Balfour Beatty Power T&D are looking for a Protection Solutions Manager to join their team in Leeds

Role Purpose

To oversee the management and coordination of Balfour Beatty's internal Protection Solutions for National Grid projects from inception to site delivery.

This includes managing resources (design, testing), manufacturing processes, factory slots/floor space, deliveries, and ensuring seamless delivery across the entire project portfolio.

The role is pivotal in enabling effective project execution while maintaining excellence, cost efficiency, and alignment with client expectations.

What you'll be doing

Key Accountabilities:

• Strategic Direction: Evaluate and decide on protection solutions to develop, in collaboration with the Head of Design, Protection Development Lead, and Design Discipline Lead (Substations P&C). Ensure solutions align with the pipeline of works and are feasible in terms of design, cost, and delivery timelines.
• Client Engagement: Collaborate with National Grid to assess the impact of policy and specification changes on existing solutions. Act as a key point of contact, ensuring client satisfaction while managing expectations regarding protection solutions delivery.
• Resource Management: Lead the team with responsibility for efficiently managing resources assigned for development, project-specific activities, panelisation, settings, and testing.
• Programme Management: Oversee and align the delivery of all elements of protection solutions across the entire project portfolio, ensuring milestones are met.
• Tendering: Take full responsibility for the accurate costing of protection solutions (design, manufacture, testing) into project bids, ensuring commercial competitiveness and profitability.
• Productivity and Performance: Set performance standards for the team, ensuring productivity, quality, and continuous improvement align with organisational goals.

Key Responsibilities

Ensure a high level of teamwork and cohesion between staff is maintained at all times regardless of location.

• Track and report project progress, key deliverables, risks, and issues to the Senior Leadership Team in a timely and comprehensive manner.
• Ensure succession plans are in place for their own role, as well for any other key roles within the team (test engineers, designer etc.).
• Promote innovation and address operational challenges to enhance team and project outcomes.
• Oversee coordination with the manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka for the timely production and delivery of protection panels.
• Coordination of the deliveries in and out of UK lab facility and management of lab floor space.
• Actively promote and demonstrate Group values and behaviours through day-to-day work.
• Promote cooperation between the different teams and wider stakeholders.
• Foster a proactive, solution-oriented team culture that promotes: Shared learning and implementation of best practices.
• Open communication and cross-functional alignment.

• Celebrating team successes and recognising individual contributions.

Who we're looking for

Skills Required:

• Proven experience in managing large-scale protection solution projects or similar technical portfolios.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to foster collaboration and drive performance.
• Degree or equivalent in Electrical or Power Engineering disciplines.
• Ideally a corporate member of, or working towards corporate membership of, an Engineering Institution (e.g. IET).
• Previous experience in the Power industry, coupled with familiarity with UK technical specifications.
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, being able to relate to people at all levels in an organisation and to establish and maintain respect both professionally and personally.
• Commercial acumen, with a strong understanding of costing, tendering, and budget management processes.
• Effective client-facing and stakeholder management skills at all levels, with the ability to nurture long-term relationships.
• A proactive, problem-solving mentality, with the ability to think strategically while remaining detail-oriented

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid, including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks.

From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and on-going maintenance, our in-house experts, flexible resources and industry-leading innovations support customers in the development of some of the UK’s most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/