Location and Communication
The role would ideally be based in Bedford or Southampton, with flexibility to work with Directors, colleagues and clients across the wider business. It is a visible, client-facing position with active involvement in delivery, technical leadership and business development.
Main Purpose of Job
Working closely with Directors and project teams, you will have the autonomy to lead commissions, shape technical approaches and help define how the civil engineering team develops. The role combines technical delivery, client contact, mentoring, business development and long-term service growth.
It will suit someone who enjoys responsibility, variety and influence, and who is looking for a clear pathway towards wider technical leadership, team leadership or senior management.
Main Responsibilities
- Technical leadership: Lead civil engineering input from feasibility and planning through to detailed design, construction support and completion.
- Prepare and review highway, access, drainage, SuDS, flood risk, levels, external works and infrastructure design information.
- Identify key constraints, risks and opportunities, including flood risk, access, services, ground conditions, buildability and authority requirements.
- Project delivery: Manage scope, programme, fees, resources, quality, risk and change control on civil engineering commissions.
- Review calculations, drawings, specifications, reports and design outputs prepared by engineers and technicians.
- Promote effective use of drainage, highway, CAD and BIM design tools, with consistent standards and workflows.
- Client and authority liaison: Coordinate civil engineering design with clients, consultants, contractors and wider project teams.
- Liaise with approving bodies, including planning authorities, highway authorities, lead local flood authorities, water companies and the Environment Agency.
- Represent the practice at meetings, site inspections and project workshops.
- Growth and team development: Support Directors with fee proposals, bids, appointments, client relationships and business development.
- Mentor engineers and technicians, sharing knowledge and helping to build team capability.
- Maintain clear project records, correspondence, calculations, design decisions and quality information.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required
- Degree qualified in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
- Chartered Civil Engineer, preferably CEng MICE or equivalent, with relevant UK consultancy experience.
- Strong technical capability in highways, drainage, flood risk, SuDS, external works and civil engineering design.
- Experience preparing and reviewing flood risk, drainage and highway submissions for planning and technical approval.
- Ability to lead projects, coordinate teams and communicate clearly with clients, authorities and consultants.
- Commercial awareness of budgets, programmes, scope, risk and fee proposals.
- Competence with relevant design software, including AutoCAD, Civil 3D or similar tools.
- Proactive and collaborative, with the confidence to lead, mentor and advise colleagues.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Benefits of working at SWH
Come and work in a flexible, friendly, stimulating and rewarding environment. We are an equal opportunities employer who is committed to the development and retention of staff and offer:
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Competitive salaries and benefits packages commensurate with experience.
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Flexitime, remote working and home working opportunities.
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Pension scheme and private healthcare (subject to conditions).
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A personal development appraisals process to identify opportunities to develop new skills, ensure career progression and for you to feedback to us.
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Discretionary (performance-related) bonus scheme and regular salary reviews.
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Excellent training opportunities and continuous professional development, including structured Training Agreements, such as ICE, IStructE, RICS and more.
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Great employee support for mental health and well-being.
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Excellent line management and established career paths, employing and promoting from within wherever feasible.
We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Apply for Civil Engineering Lead SP004_FM_HR_208_c
Notice to 3rd Party Recruitment Agencies
Please note that SWH does not accept unsolicited curriculum vitaes (CVs) from recruiters or recruitment/employment agencies unless explicitly stated to the contrary on the job role advertised. SWH will only accept CV’s from Agencies that relate to a role we have specifically contacted that Agency about.
In the absence of a “Recruitment Fee Agreement” (or equivalent) signed by SWH, the practice will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruitment fee. If a recruiter or agency submits a CV or candidate without a previously signed agreement, SWH explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited CV's, including those submitted to any SWH member of staff, are deemed to be the property of SWH.
Recruitment Agencies only submit to [email protected] otherwise applications/candidates will not be considered. CV’s are kept for 1 month after date of receipt.
