Principal Engineer – Capital Programmes
Location: Louth. Salary: £81,156 – £90,279, with excellent pension, 9‑day fortnight, strong benefits package, and hybrid working.
Are you a senior Civil Engineer or Programme Manager looking for a role where you can truly shape long‑term infrastructure and leave a lasting legacy? Do you want the autonomy to lead, influence and deliver major engineering programmes that directly protect communities and critical environments? This is a rare opportunity to step into a high‑impact leadership role within a well‑established organisation responsible for vital water management and flood resilience infrastructure. Unlike large corporates, you won’t be just another layer of management – you’ll be a key decision‑maker with real visibility and influence, shaping outcomes for decades to come. You’ll join a forward‑thinking organisation managing essential infrastructure across a wide area, where your work will directly impact homes, businesses and communities, making it a genuinely meaningful, purpose‑driven role.
The Principal Engineer will take ownership of a long‑term capital programme, leading projects from concept through to completion while shaping future investment plans and supporting board‑level decision making. You’ll oversee a portfolio of 90+ pumping stations, managing a pipeline of refurbishment and upgrade works, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams across civil, mechanical, electrical and modelling functions to deliver a structured, efficient programme of works.
The Role
- Lead and manage the full capital programme, from concept through to delivery
- Oversee a multidisciplinary engineering team (civil, mechanical, electrical, modelling, and project management)
- Develop and manage 5‑10 year engineering and investment plans
- Prioritise and programme works based on asset condition, risk, and operational efficiency
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to high technical and safety standards
- Provide technical leadership and guidance across all engineering disciplines
- Manage stakeholder relationships, including senior leadership and board‑level reporting
- Lead on programme governance, risk management, and performance reporting
- Support development of business cases, funding applications, and commercial strategies
- Balance in‑house delivery vs external consultancy and contractor engagement
- Play a key role in shaping long‑term infrastructure strategy and organisational direction
The Person
- Strong leadership background with experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Proven track record delivering multiple projects or capital programmes
- Background in civil engineering (ideally buildings, water, flood risk, or infrastructure environments)
- Strong project and programme management capability
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills (including senior leadership/boards)
- Commercial awareness with the ability to balance cost, quality, and efficiency
- Comfortable challenging, influencing and driving decisions within technical teams
- Hands‑on leadership style – willing to engage in detail where needed
- Exposure to funding, business cases, or grant applications would be advantageous
We are an equal opportunities company and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.
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