Head of MEICA - water/utilities

Head of MEICA – Engineering Design

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Head of MEICA to join a dynamic Engineering Design team. This role can be based in Manchester, London, or Aberdeen, supporting a strong pipeline of secured work across multiple sectors.

As part of an ambitious growth strategy to become a leading engineering-led organisation, this role will lead the Mechanical, Piping, Electrical, and Control & Instrumentation (C&I) disciplines within an in-house Engineering Services function.

The Role

You will lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team, delivering complex engineering and design solutions across the Energy, Water, Nuclear, Defence, and Transportation sectors.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role, requiring not only strong leadership capability but also deep, credible engineering design experience and the ability to oversee and assure technical delivery both internally and across external partners.

You will work across the full project lifecycle—from tendering and pre-construction through to delivery and handover—ensuring engineering excellence, compliance, and commercial performance.

This role reports to the Group Director of Engineering Services and offers a hybrid working model, with occasional UK travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Mechanical, Piping, Electrical and C&I engineering disciplines across multiple projects
• Act as the senior technical authority, ensuring engineering designs are robust, compliant, and fit for purpose
• Manage and coordinate internal teams and external design partners, ensuring alignment with project requirements
• Oversee third-party designers and subcontractors, ensuring:
• Technical approvals are robust and consistent
• Designs meet client specifications and regulatory requirements
• Resource capability and competency align with project complexity
• Drive delivery against scope, budget, and programme
• Forecast and manage resource requirements across disciplines
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders on progress, risks, and delivery outcomes
• Lead resolution of complex technical and delivery challenges
• Embed best practice in safety, sustainability, and digital engineering
• Support work-winning activity through technical input and value proposition development
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and lessons learned

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Critical Requirements (Key Differentiators)

• Significant, hands-on engineering design experience within a relevant discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Piping or C&I) — this is essential to establish technical credibility
• Proven experience managing third-party designers and subcontractors, including:
• Technical governance and approvals
• Ensuring compliance with client specifications and industry standards
• Assessing and assuring resource capability and competency

Essential

• Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams on complex infrastructure projects
• Strong track record delivering engineering scopes to budget and programme
• Experience in change management and value engineering
• Ability to manage team workload, resource planning, and capability development
• Strong technical understanding across multiple engineering disciplines
• Experience engaging with stakeholders across project lifecycle phases
• Demonstrated commitment to safety in design, sustainability, and/or digital innovation

Desirable

• Experience developing engineering delivery models, workflows, or systems
• Familiarity with information management and quality assurance frameworks

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer status (ICE, IMechE, IStructE, IET, CIOB, CIHT or equivalent)

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