Engineering Manager presso The Riverside Group

Job Title: Engineering Manager
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Salary: £65,825.00 Per Annum
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday - Friday, Hybrid
Location: Liverpool

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

The difference you will make as an Engineering Manager

To manage the engineering design process from pre-development to completion ensuring drainage, highway, and external works designs are commercially viable and fit for purpose. During the construction phase ensure works are carried out in accordance with design and technical approvals. Post completion ensure that drainage and highways are adopted in line with programme and bonds cancelled.

About you

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience in a senior house building engineering position within an established house building organisation.
• Experience of undertaking engineering design works inhouse for a housebuilder or on behalf of an engineering consultancy.
• Experience of managing multiple developments at various stages of the development lifecycle.
• Experience of managing and leading on section agreement approvals.

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives. 

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension 
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside: 

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues. 

Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.

This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview.  If required

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered

Role Profile 

• Collaborate with and support the Head of Technical to lead the technical function supporting other departments where required. Work closely with architectural staff to achieve alignment between disciplines within the department. 
• Collaborate with and support the Head of Technical to identify areas of improvement. Make suggestions on new processes and systems where required. Assist with the development of improvement plans and their implementation.
• Collaborate with other members of the development team to ensure that the interests of the business and customers are always considered in all decisions. Challenge bad behaviours in a constructive manner that do not align to this culture. Ensure that technical matters are always considered and communicated to the development team. But not to the detriment of balancing programme, cost, quality, customer satisfaction, and health and safety
• Provide leadership to and motivate junior technical staff. Support the Head of Technical where needed to develop junior members of staff as part of their development plans. Ensure the business’s reputation is maintained and enhanced through your own actions.
• Develop and manage the business’s standard engineering strategies and specifications for earthworks, foundations, substructures, retaining solutions, drainage including surface water attenuation, and external works. Liaise with the commercial department to identify the most cost-effective designs, systems and materials. Always ensuring they are fit for purpose and in compliance with all relevant technical standards and legislation.
• Contribute towards the administration and development of the business’s electronic compliance system (Zutec). Attend co-ordination meetings with other departmental leads on matters of workflow and implementation
• Assist the Head of Technical with consultant appointments ensuring scope of works/ schedule of services are suitable and that rates are competitive. Ensure professional indemnity insurance levels are appropriate to the development value and any exclusions do not expose the business to risk.
• During the pre-development phase of a project contribute effectively to meetings on matters of design, planning and technical approvals. Support the land team in weekly land meetings to help the business secure immediate and strategic land opportunities. 
• At bid stage/ pre-planning and for strategic land options undertake engineering feasibility assessments identifying the most cost-effective solutions for earthworks/cut and fill, highways, drainage including surface water attenuation, and foundations. Work closely with the Company Estimator to ensure that cost assumptions are reflective of these and accurate. In addition, identify abnormal constraints such as service diversions, contamination, invasive plant species, possible relic structures, off site works and reinforcements and report these to the land team. Thereby ensuring that land offers and abnormal deductions are accurate and commercially viable.
• Ensure drawn information and reports are produced in line with timescales for bid submissions, planning submission, procurement send outs and start on site including highway and drainage technical approvals and NHBC approval. Ensure drawn information is checked for accuracy, coordinated with other designs, and in line with budget.
• Ensure third party engineering designs such as those for piled foundations are accurate, co-ordinated with other working drawings, and have obtained all necessary technical consents prior to installation on site. 
• Ensure that utility procurement is undertaken in line with programme requirements. Ensure quotations are accurate and reflective of works needed. Work closely with the Company Estimator to ensure costs are identified at bid stage and included in cost plans. Ensure orders are placed in line with programme to facilitate start in site and plot connections. Ensure developments are registered with the business’s preferred shipper.
• Ensure that engineering validation requirements are undertaken in line with programme requirements. Liaise with the site management team if works fail and remediation works are required. Ensure engineering warranty conditions are discharged in line with programme requirements and plot completions. Support the Design and Planning Manager with the production of information to discharge engineering and validation planning conditions.
• Ensure that surface water management plans and material management plans are put in place on all developments. Ensure these are regularly reviewed and strategies adjusted to suit site conditions liaising with the site management team and commercial department.
• Attend monthly development team meetings and contribute proactively to discussions on development performance. Ensure technical matters are discussed with cost and programme delivery being key considerations. 
• Attend site weekly and liaise with the site management team and commercial department representatives to review and remedy technical queries. Respond to requests for information from groundworkers in a prompt and concise manner. Regularly inspect foundation, substructure, drainage, highway and external works undertaken to ensure works are fit for purpose and in line with design, specification, and technical approvals.
• Attend regular meetings with local authority highway inspectors and water authority inspectors to address queries and obtain consents and agreements. Challenge requests that are not as per agreement which result in significant cost. 
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with consultants, subcontractors, highway and drainage adopting authorities, and regulatory bodies such as the environment agency. Ensure communication is effective and prompt where needed. Ensure accurate records are maintained and available to the Head of Commercial in the event of legal action being taken.
• Support the Head of Technical and Head of Construction to ensure the business complies with CDM requirements and any relevant HSE legislation. Ensure that engineering design works consider health and safety implications during the construction phase. 
• Support the Head of Technical and Head of Construction, liaising with the site management team, to ensure the business complies with temporary works legislation. Any temporary works designs associated with engineering works such as piling operations, deep drainage or deep excavations should be fit for purpose and designed to the relevant standards.
• Post completion ensure that drainage and highways are adopted in a timely manner and bonds cancelled. Liaise closely with the adopting authority to identify the scope of works required to achieve adoption ensuring works costs aren’t excessive. Liaise with the site management team, commercial department, and groundworker to ensure the required works are carried out to the agreed standard.
• Post completion ensure that land and structures intended for transfer to a management company are as per the agreed specification and in the correct condition/ location. Liaise closely with the management company to identify any outstanding works.  Liaise with the site management team, commercial department, and subcontractors to ensure the required works are carried out to the agreed standard.
• Post completion provide support to customer care on technically related defects or warranty claims. Where required attend meetings and obtain designs and reports to rectify or challenge claims.
• Undertake any other duties deemed required by the Managing Director or Head of Technical to ensure the effective operation of the business. 

Person specification

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Experience in a senior house building engineering position within an established house building organisation.
• Experience of undertaking engineering design works inhouse for a housebuilder or on behalf of an engineering consultancy.
• Experience of managing multiple developments at various stages of the development lifecycle.
• Experience of managing and leading on section agreement approvals.
• Proven ability to provide inspirational leadership.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and government regulations.
• Degree level or equivalent in an engineering discipline.
• High technical acumen with the ability to work at pace.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with a strong customer focus. 
• Results driven with the ability to manage conflicting stakeholder priorities. 

Desirable:

• Evidence of continued professional development.

Company