Regional Engineering Lead

United Utilities; Clayton-le-Woods; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26-30 days + 8 bank hols

Pension scheme (up to 14% employer) +

Bonus up to 20%

Company car allowance £5000

Healthcare plan

Job summary

United Utilities is seeking a Regional Engineering Lead to drive engineering delivery across a defined region, aligning with AMP8, and to manage a portfolio of projects while ensuring value and compliance.

You will lead Senior Project Engineers, develop resource plans, mentor teams, and collaborate with consultants to optimise risk, time, cost and quality, including CDM duties.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate experience and a professional engineering qualification
• Experience leading complex change initiatives in a senior management role
• Proven experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams
• Proven end-to-end delivery of complex engineering projects
• Strong communication skills with senior stakeholders
• Ability to recruit and develop high-performing teams
• In-depth knowledge of UU operating environments
• Experience in schedule, risk and budget management
• Experience with commercial/contract management
• Ability to lead through ambiguity and drive change
• Demonstrated resilience and prioritisation under competing demands
• Track record of adopting innovation

Responsibilities

• Create portfolio resource plans and secure competent Project Engineers to meet demand
• Lead and manage engineering delivery within the region
• Undertake project status reviews focusing on risk at project/program/engineering levels
• Recommend and implement engineering actions as appropriate
• Manage engineering budgets for the region
• Apply risk management to drive opportunities or threat reduction
• Engage with consultants and specialists across the supply chain
• Ensure CDM compliance throughout the project lifecycle
• Act as Principal Designer for the region when required
• Develop design contracts with appropriate scope considering time, cost and quality

Skills

Engineering leadership

Change management

Multi-disciplinary teams

End-to-end delivery

Stakeholder communication

Talent development

Risk & budget management

Contract management

Innovation

Resilience

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Job description

The role:

The purpose of the Regional Engineering Lead is to drive the delivery of engineering outputs for our customers and stakeholders, which are affordable and bring environmental and social benefits, whilst leaving an enduring legacy. The Regional Engineering Lead (REL) will lead and manage a portfolio on behalf of a distinct business region. The REL may be required to work across regions depending on business needs.

What you'll do:

Aligning with the AMP8 approach in United Utilities, there are two key parts to the role:

Functional duties:

• Accountable for functional line management and career development of Senior Project Engineers and Project Engineers within the Region.
• To create portfolio resource plans whilst actively securing appropriately competent and capable Project Engineering resources to meet demand.
• To create the environment to ensure Project Engineers embrace collaborative conscious risk taking, embrace thinking differently / innovate to add value.
• As required, deputise for other members of the regional team.

Regional duties:

• Responsible for leading the engineering delivery within the region
• Ensure projects are delivered to respective drivers
• Undertake project status reviews with a focus on project, programme and engineering levels of risk
• Recommend and implement engineering actions as appropriate.
• Manage engineering budgets for the region
• Apply risk management to drive the delivery of opportunities or threat reduction.
• Engage with consultants and specialist across the supply chain
• Ensure CDM compliance throughout the project lifecycle
• Act as Principal Designer for the region, when required.
• Develop design contracts with appropriate scope considering time, cost and quality

What we’re looking for:

• Significant post graduate experience and Professionally Qualified within an Engineering Degree or equivalent
• Proven experience of leadership of complex change initiatives in a senior management role, including the ability to integrate input from different technical areas and other functions or departments
• Proven experience of managing multi-disciplinary Teams
• Proven experience of end-to-end delivery of complex engineering projects
• Proven communication skills with an ability to engage with senior stakeholders and colleagues to develop solutions to complex problems
• An ability to recruit, build, nurture and develop high performing teams
• In depth awareness of the UU operating environments
• Proven experience of schedule, risk and budget management
• Proven experience of commercial / contract management
• Proven experience of conflict management
• A demonstrable ability to deal with significant ambiguity and lead teams through, and to embrace, change
• Evidence of resilience and the ability to prioritise yourself and others against competing demands as well as being able to pre-empt and manage issues before they escape
• Strong market awareness and the ability to bring and adopt new ideas to benefit UU
• A track record of adopting innovation

What we offer:

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service, in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• Up to 20% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• £5000 company car allowance
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme

At UU, we champion flexible ways of working. In-person attendance is required three days per week to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

About United Utilities:

United Utilities’ (UU) mission is to deliver high-quality water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society. We are proud to be ranked #11 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List. We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.