Sub-Agent

Balfour Beatty plc; Grays; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Pension savings schemes

Incentive plan

Volunteering leave

Refer a friend bonus

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is seeking a Sub Agent to support the Design Engineering team on the Lower Thames Crossing project. You will oversee safety, programme delivery, engineering oversight, QA, and stakeholder communications, while mentoring engineers and apprentices.

The role requires an engineering or construction management qualification, leadership and strong communication, NEC 3/4 contracts experience, and a full UK licence with BPSS/CSCS. Attractive salary, pension and staff benefits.

Qualifications

• Engineering or Construction Management qualification.
• Proven experience in a similar role on large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Experience with NEC 3 / 4 contracts.
• Knowledge of construction regulations and best practices.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Full UK driver’s licence.
• BPSS Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Health, Safety & Wellbeing: Develop a safe working culture and oversee safety compliance with the BB 4 Golden Rules; conduct weekly safety tours.
• Programme: Produce fully resourced stage programmes and ensure resources are in place and trained.
• Engineering & Design Management: Oversee and coach Section Engineers in engineering and lean production best-practice; arrange training as needed.
• Quality Assurance: Lead QA processes and ensure standards are understood across the team.
• Community: Liaise with communications to inform stakeholders and the public as per plan.
• Environmental Sustainability & Carbon: Ensure compliance with Environmental Management Plan and carbon targets.
• Procurement: Support sub-contractor procurement, pre-award/pre-start meetings, and training on requisition/logistics.
• Handover: Ensure handover deliverables are included in stage programmes.
• Management/Leadership: Mentor Section/Site Engineers and Apprentices; set targets and oversee onboarding.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Problem solving

Education

Engineering or Construction Management qualification

Tools

NEC 3/4 contracts

CSCS

BPSS Security Clearance

Job description

About the Role

Our Balfour Beatty Highways business has a terrific opportunity for a Sub Agent to support the Design Engineering team in delivering projects related to our Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project. The LTC is one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects, connecting Kent and Essex via a tunnel beneath the River Thames and creating six times more green space than a road. The role supports the delivery of schemes for this flagship project, fostering an inclusive culture and advancing our purpose, principles, and cultural pillars.

Responsibilities

• Health, Safety & Wellbeing: Develop a safe working culture compliant with health and safety regulations, best practice and the BB 4 Golden Rules. Conduct weekly safety tours and ensure corrective actions are closed out.
• Programme: Produce fully resourced stage programmes and ensure agreed resources are in place and trained before work commences.
• Engineering & Design Management: Oversee, advise and coach Section (Senior Production) Engineers in engineering and lean production best‑practice. Arrange training as needed for all engineers working on the package.
• Quality Assurance: Lead the quality management process, establishing required standards and ensuring the project team—including foremen, engineers, and subcontractors—understand specification and reporting requirements.
• Community: Liaise with the communications team to ensure stakeholders and the public are informed in line with the communications plan and DCO requirements.
• Environmental Sustainability & Carbon: Ensure compliance with the project’s Environmental Management Plan and carbon targets. Approve related documentation and integrate environmental and carbon considerations into site inspections.
• Procurement: Support demonstration of competencies, pre‑award, and pre‑start meetings for subcontract works. Train site and section engineers on the requisition and logistics process and monitor their compliance.
• Handover: Ensure handover deliverables—including construction certificates, redlines/as‑built, O&M manuals, and H&S files—are incorporated into the stage programme.
• Management/Leadership: Manage and mentor Section Engineers, Site Engineers, and Apprentices. Set individual targets, communicate performance expectations, and oversee onboarding/off‑boarding.

Qualifications

• Engineering or Construction Management qualification.
• Proven experience in a similar role, preferably on large‑scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Experience with NEC 3 / 4 contracts.
• Knowledge of construction regulations and best practices.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Full UK driver’s licence.
• A fit‑for‑work medical.
• CSCS.
• BPSS Security Clearance.

Benefits

• An attractive/negotiated salary.
• 25 days annual leave.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
• Pension savings schemes.
• A shared incentive plan.
• Volunteering leave.
• Recognition schemes.
• Family‑friendly policies including 28 weeks full pay maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay paternity/partner leave.
• Whole host of other BB staff employee benefits (discounts, exclusive offers etc).
• Refer a friend bonus scheme.

About Balfour Beatty Highways

Balfour Beatty’s Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We focus on safety, reduce carbon emissions and add social value to the communities within which we work.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to a successful workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing a diverse workforce and developing an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive. For more information, visit our diversity website.

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 to employment. We also offer applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Application Feedback

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all applicants. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail].