Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

Salary; £52,495 to £54,721

25 days holiday – increased to 30 after 5 years service. Plus 8 Bank Holidays

Pension scheme- with a generous employer contribution

Buy additional leave top up scheme

Flexible working options

Our Client is looking for Principal Engineer to join their team on a permanent basis.

You will provide an efficient, safe & effective Head of ‘Engineering’ function within the Docks to ensure that the infrastructure of the Docks is correctly maintained. Provide professional & practical expertise and strategic direction to all engineering & dredging matters within the Docks and the engineering team.

To provide systems & advice for Health & Safety regulations & EMAS/ ISO14001 considerations within the Docks.

Key job outcomes/accountabilities

• Undertake the duties of Principal Engineer to ensure the effective functioning of all the Docks machinery, equipment & infrastructure ensuring, as Harbour Authority, the legal obligations are met in respect of all Harbour Acts & Orders & Byelaws.
• Be accountable for, control & define tasks duties & work programmes for staff & contractors under your control to ensure point 1 is achieved – including oversight of and managing maintenance and capital works on docks hydraulic, electrical and mechanical operational assets.
• Undertake Health & Safety responsibilities for the Docks Team by researching & applying current legislative requirements on risk assessments, COSHH assessments, safe working practices, systems of work, safety training & record keeping.
• To organise the systematic inspection, repair, servicing & maintenance of the dock installations & bridges to ensure safe & reliable operation, and ensure that any breakdowns become operational with a minimum of delay.
• To provide the harbour manager with accurate & detailed information pertaining to Docks asset condition, risks and issues pertaining to engineering infrastructure and flood risk management (including emergency response requirements), and
• budgetary/capital expenditure pressures applying best-practise as appropriate.
• Ensure that the ‘Engineering’ element of the Docks budget is kept within the limits defined & set in agreement with the Harbour Manager through effective budget management and forecasting.
• Carry out the procurement & purchasing of contract services, technical goods, equipment & consumables, and maintain an effective storage & stock control system for raw materials, consumable & spare parts obtaining the best value.
• Establish, review & maintain a library of instructions, manuals & safety audit systems & procedures pertinent to engineering, swing bridge & dredging matters. Ensure these cover all engineering infrastructure to enable system resilience; and that these are
• tested, inspected & updated as required – working with Highways team on bridge maintenance and operations.
• Recruit, select & induct new recruits; input and lead any associated team restructure; and provide staff with CPD opportunities and performance reviews

Essential Experience

• Minimum BEng (Hons) or equivalent demonstrable industry experience in related engineering discipline.
• Proven track record of significant post degree experience in a related engineering discipline including site experience & experience of financial & personnel management.
• Must have a Health &Safety qualification equivalent to NEBOSH certificate, and experience of the operation of Safe Working Procedures & Permits to Work.
• Team leadership/supervisory experience of a multi-disciplined team, including experience in capital and revenue budget management and task management & control with skilled/semi-skilled workers & contractors working on mechanical, hydraulic and electrical engineering infrastructure.
• Experience/qualifications in: FLT/telehandler/chainsaw/plasma cutting/gas cutting/welding/milling/drilling/fabrication/lathe work/carpentry.
• Experience of Planned Preventative Maintenance & QA systems.
• Experience of Swing Bridge maintenance or Dredging techniques.
• Experience/qualifications in: Confined space working, First Aid provision.
• Must be able to swim.
• A full driving license.
• Working knowledge of and skills in mechanical/hydraulic/marine/electrical maintenance in a docks environment.
• Have a demonstrable ability to work with complex task management controls & asset management software systems, and apply Health & Safety standards & risk assessments and risk management (incl. RAMS protocols) in a docks environment.
• Have a demonstrable ability to problem solve in unexpected & unplanned situations, involving multiple agencies/individuals, showing a decisive & confident approach.
• Must be willing to respond to out-of-hours emergencies on a call-out system.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and/or experience of equalities and diversity issues.
• Have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications or equivalent including the following: Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, and have a willingness to learn new applications and technology as appropriate.

If this role is of interest and you meet the above criteria, then please apply immediately