Senior Associate Director – Substations (Primary Design) - UK Grid Network

Jacobs; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free single medical cover

Enhanced parental leave pay

Access to employee assistance programs

Professional development reimbursement

Paid volunteering time

Matched funding for volunteering/don Ч

Volunteering time and charitable gifts

Professional development support

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK is seeking a Senior Associate Director specializing in Substations (Primary Design). You will provide strategic leadership on high-profile projects in the Power & Energy sector, oversee quality assurance and resource planning, and lead technical reviews of HV plant aspects. The ideal candidate has a degree in Electrical Engineering, extensive experience in HV substation engineering, and proven leadership skills. A competitive benefits package is offered, with opportunities for hybrid working.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in HV substation engineering (132kV–400kV).
• Proven leadership in delivering complex, multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of UK transmission and distribution standards.
• Strong understanding of UK transmission and distribution standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on FEED and detailed design workstreams.
• Oversee quality assurance and resource planning across projects.
• Lead technical reviews of HV plant aspects.
• Coordinate with back-office engineers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to ensure seamless delivery.
• Manage and contribute to tender packages, including technical and commercial submissions.
• Chair design and hazard review meetings and ensure technical assurance of HV plant design.
• Attend site visits, FAT and SAT as required.
• Mentor senior engineers and contribute to succession planning and capability growth.
• Maintain and grow client relationships, supporting strategic business development and market positioning.
• Represent Jacobs in industry forums and contribute to shaping technical standards and best practices.

Skills

Leadership in engineering

Client relationship management

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Team leadership

Business development

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering

LCDAE/PD (TP137) and/or TP141 authorisation

Job description

Overview

Senior Associate Director – Substations (Primary Design) - UK Grid Network. Jacobs is seeking a Senior Associate Director – Substations (Primary Design) to support a range of high-profile projects across our Power & Energy portfolio, including high voltage AIS and GIS Substations, transmission system assets, HVDC interconnectors, and energy storage systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on FEED and detailed design workstreams for National Grid and DNO clients
• Oversee quality assurance, resource planning, and capability development across multiple projects
• Lead technical reviews of HV plant aspects including layouts, earthing design and reports, mechanical interlocking, HV busbar calculations, and equipment specifications
• Coordinate with back-office engineers, sub-contractors, and suppliers to ensure seamless delivery
• Manage and contribute to tender packages, including technical and commercial submissions
• Chair design and hazard review meetings and ensure technical assurance of HV plant design
• Attend site visits, FAT and SAT as required
• Mentor senior engineers and contribute to succession planning and capability growth
• Maintain and grow client relationships, supporting strategic business development and market positioning
• Represent Jacobs in industry forums and contribute to shaping technical standards and best practices

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• LCDAE/PD (TP137) and/or TP141 authorisation ideally
• Extensive experience in HV substation engineering (132kV–400kV), including AIS/GIS and HVDC systems
• Proven leadership in delivering complex, multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects
• Strong understanding of UK transmission and distribution standards and client expectations
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership skills
• Strategic thinking with commercial acumen and a track record of business development

Why Jacobs

Jacobs is committed to safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent. UK employees receive benefits including free single medical cover and digital GP service, family-friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay, access to employee assistance and parental programmes, and reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships. We also support giving back through our Collectively program with matched-funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations.

Work-life balance and flexibility are a focus at Jacobs. We’re open to hybrid, part-time and flexible working patterns and locations to suit you and our business.

Additional information

We are an inclusive employer and partner with organizations to improve accessibility. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all listed requirements. We support hybrid working and provide reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process on request.

Employment type: Full-time • Seniority level: Not Applicable