Principal Civil Engineer, Priority Project Design

Job Description

About the Trust 

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?  

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Principal Engineer, Priority Project Design

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

As an Engineer, who wouldn’t want the chance to work on structures that Telford, Jessop and other engineering greats had a hand in creating?

We are the Charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Charity plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/how-we-make-a-difference) while conserving our fantastic heritage.

We are a team of engineers and technicians that design and/or manage the design of repairs on a diverse range of our historical assets to keep our canals open and alive. We provide the designs of technical solutions, preparing specifications and briefing documents mainly for our external Contractors and Consultants. Our works are focussed on conserving and enhancing our precious waterways for future generations.

Our role is to provide designs to maintain, repair and rebuild the Charity's infrastructure to enable visitors to safely enjoy our canals and rivers, and safeguard them for future generations. Our aim is to develop efficient and innovative engineering solutions to the multitude of challenges we face maintaining our waterways and infrastructure day to day.

Working Hours & Location

The Principal Engineer vacancy is offered as a remote-based role, with a requirement to attend our main hub locations as needed for team collaboration and meetings. Regular travel across the regional waterway network will also be required to support site visits and stakeholder engagement, particularly across the West Midlands, North West, and Yorkshire regions.

Relevant hub locations include: Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Leeds, and Newark.

The frequency and flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage; however, it is essential that candidates can reliably access this network.

See our canal network here: (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network).

Role Overview

As a Principal Engineer you will be responsible for leading a team of Senior Engineers, Engineers and Technicians to undertake the designs and specifications, whilst optimising resources and engaging with our delivery partners to ensure successful delivery of the programme.

The role is accountable for determining the most cost effective design and construction solutions which are driven by a risk management approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of engineers, providing technical oversight, guidance, and development to ensure high-quality outputs across projects.
• Review background information and supporting data for multiple projects across the Trust’s network.
• Identify information gaps and coordinate the collection of additional data through research, and engagement with internal teams, external specialists, and stakeholders.
• Undertake site visits, including engagement with local teams, specialist contractors, and early contractor involvement activities.
• Develop and assess proportionate conceptual options tailored to each individual project.
• Prepare cost estimates for each option using Trust tools, with support from the Cost Intelligence team.
• Evaluate concept options, including risks and opportunities, and produce summary reports for review by the Project Sponsor.
• Investigate and develop cost-effective design and construction solutions, ensuring best value and consideration of user requirements and whole-life costs.
• Prepare and deliver presentations of preferred solutions at Governance Gateway 2 (Option Selection stage) using Trust templates.
• Act as Designer under CDM 2015, producing and specifying engineering solutions in line with regulatory requirements.
• Define maintenance, repair, and renewal works for delivery by Trust teams and contractors, ensuring compliance with statutory, technical, operational, and customer requirements.
• Engage and brief Principal Engineers, stakeholders, and specialists, seeking additional expertise where project risks require deeper consideration.
• Collaborate with engineers and technical specialists to develop robust engineering designs and specifications.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Design Guidance, Standards, and Specifications.
• Where required, provide temporary works designs to support internal construction teams.

About You

Skills & Qualifications

Technical:

• Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional qualification (ICE).
• Membership of relevant professional body at an appropriate level e.g. MICE.
• Experience of civil engineering design, and construction preferably in a water environment.
• Substantial relevant experience of delivering complex engineering or concepts.
• Experience of line managing a range of staff including professional engineers.
• Knowledge and understanding of historic infrastructure and the natural environment.
• Demonstrable experience in cross-functional working delivering performance across range of functions.
• Able to negotiate with internal and external contacts and support other areas of the business in an appropriate manner, taking account of overall business priorities and resources as appropriate.
• Able to review conflicting (and cross-functional) risks making appropriate judgements to establish and communicate appropriate order.

General: 

• Confirmation of right to work in the UK (without sponsorship).
• Experience or working within a diverse and multi-disciplined project team.
• Able to effectively communicate with internal and external contacts.
• Good standard of written and verbal communication and proven ability to present technical data to non-technical audiences.
• Proficient in the use of a personal computer and business applications software e.g. MS Office. Experience of GIS or mapping systems.
• Where appropriate actively participate in the Trust‘s “Stand-by” and” Call-out rotas”.

If you have any questions about the role please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

What We Offer

In addition to your annual base salary of £50,000 - £55,750, we also offer Car Cash Allowance (£450 per month), a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits we are also open to flexible working arrangements.

Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits  

#INDHP

Our values

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.

All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.

At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers. 

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us

Job Details

Pay Type

Salary

Hiring Min Rate

50,000 GBP

Hiring Max Rate

55,750 GBP