Senior Section Manager

Laing O'Rourke; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke is recruiting a Section Manager to lead safe, efficient delivery of substation construction on the GWNC project between Grimsby and Walpole. You will supervise site teams, coordinate subcontractors and work with engineering, commercial and planning colleagues to hit programme milestones.

Based on the GWNC project in Grimsby with travel along the 114km route, you will champion safety, quality and value while enabling efficient construction through early planning and robust risk

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• Proven experience as Section Manager or Construction Manager on HV substation or major infra projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating subcontractors.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe, efficient delivery of substation construction activities.
• Coordinate site teams and subcontractors to programme and budget.
• Work with National Grid and delivery teams to drive outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety and environmental standards.

Skills

Civil Engineering

Construction Management

Section Management

Health & Safety

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

HNC/HND or equivalent

Tools

MS Project

Primavera P6

Job description

Want to work on engineering projects that will shape the future?

Do you thrive on delivering complex construction works while championing safety and quality?

If you're ready to play a key role in delivering one of the UK's most significant infrastructure projects and help strengthen the nation's electricity network, this is your opportunity.

When you join Laing O'Rourke, you'll become part of an industry‑leading engineering and construction team delivering some of the UK's most complex and rewarding infrastructure projects. We are committed to investing in our people through structured development, continuous learning and long‑term career opportunities, supporting you to build a rewarding career with us.

The Great Grid Upgrade

The Great Grid Upgrade is the largest overhaul of the UK's electricity transmission network in generations. Led by National Grid, the programme involves upgrading and expanding the high‑voltage electricity network across England and Wales to transport increasing amounts of renewable energy, improve energy security and support the UK's transition to a low‑carbon future.

The Grimsby to Walpole (GWNC) Enabling Works project is a key part of this programme, supporting the delivery of a new 114km overhead transmission line (OHL) running south from a new 400kV substation and 19‑bay AIS substation.

The project will deliver the enabling works required ahead of the main transmission line construction, including ecology mitigation, site clearance and establishment, temporary access roads and crane platforms, temporary bridges, tower foundations (including piling) and reinstatement works. Ground investigations are currently underway, with the enabling works phase running through to the end of 2027 and overall project delivery continuing to approximately 2033.

What is the role?

We're looking for an experienced Section Managerto lead the safe, efficient and -quality delivery of substation construction activities on the GWNC project.

Reporting to the Construction Manager, you'll provide leadership for a defined section of works, ensuring construction activities are delivered safely, on programme, within budget and to the highest standards of quality. You'll coordinate site teams and specialist subcontractors, manage day‑to‑day construction operations and work closely with engineering, commercial and planning teams to drive successful project outcomes.

Working collaboratively with National Grid, designers and the wider delivery team, you'll play a key role in delivering this nationally significant infrastructure project while championing Laing O'Rourke’s commitment to safety, operational excellence and innovation.

What You'll Bring

• Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• Proven experience as a Section Manager, Construction Manager or equivalent delivering high‑voltage substation, transmission or major infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary construction teams and specialist subcontractors on complex civil engineering or energy projects.
• Strong understanding of health & safety, quality, environmental management and construction best practice.
• Experience planning and coordinating construction activities to achieve programme milestones while managing risk and driving productivity.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across project teams, clients and the supply chain.
• A collaborative approach with a commitment to delivering projects safely, on programme and to the highest quality standards.

Location: Based on the GWNC project in Grimsby with travel across the 114km route between Grimsby and Walpole as required.

About Us

Laing O'Rourke are an international engineering and construction company delivering state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long‑term conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme’. This supports applicants who meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to this scheme and if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [e-mail].