Civil Ducting and Trenching Construction & Assurance Specialist

ESB; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 72,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

ESB is seeking an experienced Civil Ducting and Trenching Construction & Assurance Specialist to provide technical leadership across underground electricity infrastructure. The role focuses on promoting standards, resolving complex technical issues, and strengthening assurance from planning through close-out.

Based in Dublin with nationwide travel, you will support decarbonisation objectives, ensure safe and high-quality delivery, and contribute to continuous improvement in civil ducting and

Qualifications

• Seven or more years’ relevant experience in civil construction and construction assurance.
• Level 8 degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management.
• Strong knowledge of underground ducting, trenching, backfilling and reinstatement.
• Experience in construction quality assurance, site inspection, auditing and non-conformance management.
• Knowledge of road-opening, traffic management and utility coordination.
• Chartered status or progress toward accreditation.
• Full driving licence and willingness to travel nationwide.

Responsibilities

• Act as ESB’s technical specialist for civil ducting, trenching, joint bays, chambers, crossings, backfilling and reinstatement for underground electricity infrastructure.
• Develop, maintain and promote construction and assurance requirements, specifications, inspection plans and good practice for civil ducting and trenching works.
• Provide expert technical advice to project teams during design development, constructability reviews, procurement, construction, handover and close-out, including resolving complex site issues.
• Plan and carry out risk-based site inspections, audits and surveillance of contractor works, ensuring compliance with designs, safety, quality plans and legislation.
• Review contractor documentation such as method statements, inspection/test plans, material submissions and handover dossiers; address issues to standard.
• Lead lessons-learned and continuous-improvement initiatives, analyze defects and support capability through training.
• Build relationships with project teams, designers, contractors, authorities and stakeholders to support timely delivery.

Skills

Civil construction

Construction assurance

Ducting & trenching

Quality assurance

Site inspections

Contractor oversight

Travel flexibility

Stakeholder management

Driving licence

Education

Level 8 degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management

Job description

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Civil Ducting and Trenching Construction & Assurance Specialist

Vacancy Number: 29414

Category: Engineering - Other

Job Type: Full-time

Position Description

We are looking for an experienced Civil Ducting and Trenching Construction & Assurance Specialist to provide technical leadership and construction assurance across the delivery of underground electricity infrastructure. The successful candidate will have significant civil construction experience, with strong expertise in ducting, trenching, reinstatement, quality assurance and contractor oversight in complex utility or infrastructure environments.

This is a new Band 6 specialist role in Networks Projects Delivery with responsibility for promoting consistent construction standards, resolving complex technical issues and strengthening assurance across civil ducting and trenching works from planning and design through construction, handover and close-out.

In support of ESB’s strategic objectives to decarbonise electricity and build resilient infrastructure, you will play a key role in assuring the safe, high-quality and efficient delivery of underground network infrastructure required to support Ireland’s energy transition.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as ESB’s technical specialist for civil ducting, trenching, joint bays, chambers, crossings, backfilling and reinstatement associated with underground electricity infrastructure.
• Develop, maintain and promote construction and assurance requirements, standard details, specifications, inspection plans and good practice for civil ducting and trenching works.
• Provide expert technical advice to project teams during design development, constructability reviews, procurement, construction, handover and close-out, including resolution of complex site issues and departures from standard.
• Plan and carry out risk-based site inspections, audits and surveillance of contractor works, confirming compliance with approved designs, specifications, safety requirements, quality plans and relevant legislation.
• Review contractor documentation, including method statements, inspection and test plans, material submissions, test results, as-built records, non-conformance reports and handover dossiers, and ensure issues are addressed to an acceptable standard.
• Lead lessons-learned and continuous-improvement initiatives, analyse recurring defects and construction risks, and support the development of contractor and internal capability through guidance, briefings and training.
• Build effective working relationships with project teams, designers, contractors, local authorities, road authorities and other stakeholders to support safe, consistent and timely project delivery.

Experience and Qualifications

• Seven or more years’ relevant experience in civil construction, engineering, construction assurance or delivery of major utility or infrastructure works.
• Level 8 degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Strong technical knowledge of underground ducting and trenching construction, including excavation support, utility interfaces, concrete and duct installation, backfilling, compaction, testing and permanent reinstatement.
• Demonstrated experience in construction quality assurance, site inspection, auditing, non-conformance management and review of contractor quality records.
• Sound knowledge of construction safety legislation and the roles and responsibilities of clients, designers, PSDP and PSCS.
• Strong communication, influencing, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to provide clear technical direction and work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Full driving licence, access to a car and flexibility to travel to project sites nationwide.
• Experience delivering underground cable, electricity network, telecoms, water, gas, transport or other linear infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of road-opening, traffic-management, utility-coordination and public-realm reinstatement requirements.
• Experience developing technical standards, specifications, inspection regimes or competency and training materials.
• Chartered status, or progress towards a relevant professional accreditation.

Location

This position will be based in the Sidings, Grand Canal, Dublin 2 or Eastgate Office, Cork. Travel to project sites nationwide will be an important part of this role.

Smart Working at ESB is designed to make ‘in-person’ time together as purposeful as possible while also enabling the effective use of digital tools and hybrid arrangements to preserve our commitment to flexibility. The successful candidate may work flexibly within the jurisdiction where they have been employed, with attendance at the workplace for in-person collaboration at least two days per week. All Smart Working arrangements are subject to regular review based on the operational requirements of the role, the team, and the business.

Reporting To

Why Work with Us?

• Opportunity to lead Ireland’s transition tonet zero carbon future
• Career developmentthrough mentoring andtraining
• Corporate Social Responsibility Opportunities
• Sports and Social Clubs
• Networking opportunities
• Credit Union
• Access to staff well-being programmes
• Generous parental leave entitlements
• Strong values-based and inclusive culture
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Great team environment working to our Core Values: Courageous, Caring, Driven and Trusted

€72,000 to €84,500 per annum

Closing Date

26th November 2026

Interview

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will complete a Behavioural Interview based on each of the following Behaviours, which underpin how we work at ESB and are critical to delivering our strategy:

Your application will be held in reserve for 6 months should you be suitable for the role.

The successful candidate will be required to evidence their right to work in the Republic of Ireland prior to commencement of employment.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

ESB is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sections of society and ensure that no one is discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion or belief, ethnicity or nationality, disability, age, citizenship, marital status, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other basis as protected by law.

Applicants who anticipate requiring assistance or reasonable accommodations for any part of the application or interview process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail].

About ESB

Join us in our mission to achieve a net-zero electricity system by 2040. ESB is Ireland’s leading energy utility, with activities spanning electricity generation, transmission and distribution, energy supply, energy services and international consultancy. Operating in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain, we invest over €1 billion each year to deliver a new energy future based on reliable, affordable zero-carbon electricity.