The Green Recruitment Company are partnered with SSE in their search for a Lead HVDC Engineering Manager.

SSE is a UK-listed energy company with operations and investments across the UK and Ireland. It is primarily a developer, an operator and an owner of low-carbon energy assets and businesses, with a strategic focus on regulated electricity networks and renewable energy. More broadly, SSE is involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity, the production, storage, distribution and supply of gas and in the provision of energy-related services.

The Role:

Reporting to the Head of HVDC and accountable for delivery of HVDC Engineering scope (LCP Gate 1 to Gate 4) for assigned HVDC Converter project(s) typical value £700M – £2000M each with a portfolio value of up to £5500M (by 2026) – HVDC Converter value £2000M and HVDC Cable value £3500M. HVDC Converter Engineering includes the cable, Civil and HVDC Electrical System Design required for the completion of HVDC Converter projects.

Working collaboratively with the Project Management Team(s), and ensuring appropriate governance and standards are applied to HVDC Converter Engineering from FEED to sign off of as built design at HVDC Converter construction stage. Input and guidance to the HVDC Engineering Managers with line management responsibility.

Accountable for ensuring CDM regulations are understood, implemented and followed ensuring compliance with UK law and Safety in Design. Accountable for ensuring Design Authority is maintained and upheld with respect to HVDC Converter engineering. Accountable for ensuring the quality and engagement of HVDC consultants through updating and evolving HVDC frameworks. 

Key duties include ensuring governance to LCP Design Execution Plan (DEP) and accountable for ensuring technical specifications are maintained, updated, selected and implemented and that respective quality requirements of HVDC Converter Engineering are clearly stated and delivered. Responsible for the recruitment, development and growth of the HVDC Converter engineering team ensuring the technical requirements of HVDC projects are being met. Accountable for discrete HVDC Converter Engineering budgets from LCP Gate 1 to Gate 4.

Responsibilities:

Safety, Health and Environment: Promote and manage safety within project portfolio, including Safety in Design, implementation of and ensuring compliance with CDM duties for Principal Designer (PD) according to UK law. Ensuring ESQCR and Safety in Design for HVDC Engineering.

HVDC Converter Engineering: The delivery of HVDC Engineering scope (LCP Gate 1 to Gate 4) for assigned HVDC project(s) typical value £700M – £2000M each, with a portfolio value of up to £5500M (by 2026). Work closely with Engineering Managers, Lead Project Managers and Project Director as appropriate to ensure that Engineering and Quality risks are identified and understood, and that appropriate measures are put in place to ensure that issues are dealt with pro-actively where practicable, and to minimise risk to project/asset quality and programme.

Engineering Resources: Management of HVDC Engineering Managers and ensuring sufficient and competent engineering resources are budgeted for and recruited, including consultants, to ensure quality, timely, and value delivery of project engineering design and construction.  Ensuring that sufficient, competent resources are available to meet HVDC project demands. 

Budget Management: Ensuring HVDC Engineering budgets from LCP Gate 1 to Gate 4 with value circa £10M – £20M per HVDC project are met and delivered - HVDC Converter engineering budget value £6 – £12M and HVDC Cable engineering value £4M - £8M per project. Focus on project value, and specific value engineering options, to support cost efficient project delivery.

Technical Governance: Ensuring appropriate governance and standards are applied to HVDC Engineering from FEED to sign off of as built design at HVDC Converter construction stage. Accountable for project Design Management Plans and ensuring competent project technical leadership and resources are available for HVDC projects.  Acting as Design Authority for HVDC Converter Engineering ensuring governance in all technical HVDC Converter matters.  Liaising with the other Design Authorities to ensure robust governance is in place and ensuring Technical Authority signoff of HVDC projects.

Quality: Ensuring HVDC Project Quality Plans are co-signed off by HVDC Engineering Managers. Ensure the HVDC Engineering Manager has sight of quality interventions, including specific manufacturing and construction hold points, inspections, witnessing and acceptance testing.  Ensure HVDC Engineering Managers have authority to pro-actively engage quality interventions as defined in the Quality Plan and ITPs, to minimise the risk of rework and project delay.

Recruitment and growth of HVDC Converter Engineering Team: Responsible for the recruitment, development and growth of the HVDC Converter engineering team ensuring the technical requirements of HVDC projects are being met including BIM and Design Interface. Accurate yearly headcount budget forecasts are given to finance team and then met.