Operational Engineer

Job Purpose 

• The Operational Engineer’s role is to deliver the engineering activities within their allocated Operational team.  To undertake the delivery of Construction and Maintenance requirements relating to the UK Power Networks Services owned assets, client owned assets and associated infrastructure.
• To attend Client and Contractor meetings as required.
• The Operational Engineer will work with and support the Client Delivery Managers and other members of the Senior Management team in the delivery of Business objectives.
• Work with Technicians, Fitters, Apprentices and Contractors to undertake and complete the construction, fault response or maintenance activities in a safe and efficient manner whilst minimising disruption to the client electricity supplies.
• The Operational Engineer will ensure delivery of Client focused Capital works construction projects, N.A.M.P and maintenance plans as directed by the Regional Manager
• Oversee the management of substation and cabling construction and maintenance works as required on Powerlink Renewable Assets and other portfolio assets. The position holder will work with team members to ensure high standards of safety management are maintained throughout all activities during the delivery of the engineering tasks in accordance with the UK Power Networks Services Stay Safe initiative.

Principal Accountabilities

• Delivery of the Construction and Maintenance programmes for the UK Power  Networks Services owned assets and client owned assets operating at voltages through the range 400V to 33kV
• Work with the Northern regional team to ensure that all programmes of work are delivered in line with contractual commitments covering safety time, cost and quality
• Lead works planning and execution.
• Represent UKPN Services at client meetings.
• Work with Technicians, Fitters and Apprentices to ensure the delivery of all engineering activities.
• Assist in the management of budgets relating to the construction, faults and maintenance delivery and meet ongoing company objectives
• As a team member work to ensure that UK Power Networks Services Company ambitions are achieved especially in the areas of Staff and Client satisfaction.
• Adherence to Client and UK Power Networks Services Operations and Procedures
• Operation of HV and LV Distribution Protection Systems.
• Testing and Commissioning of HV and LV Distribution System.
• Maintenance and testing of Control and Protection Systems
• Ensuring compliance with CDM and UK Power Networks Services Health and Safety policies
• Comply with site specific Health, Safety & Environmental procedures
• Comply with UK Power Networks Services quality policies
• Operate and update Asset database in respect of project/ maintenance activities
• Responsible for both reactive and planned maintenance activities
• Carry out fault investigation and repairs as required.
• Ensuring the compliance with the distribution safety rules during all activities.
• Active supervision of all contractors/staff working on site
• Undertake additional activities commensurate with the job level and competency

Main Duties

• Co-ordinate day to day construction and maintenance activities with Client / Principal Contractor’s ensuring programmes are met.
• Support Procurement and obtain quotations from suppliers and ensure Purchase Orders requested in coordination with Finance & Governance teams.
• Change Management – ensure early warning notices etc are brought to the attention of the Client Delivery Manager / Commercial Manager & Client.
• Provide technical support as part of the Manchester team
• Deliver team briefings, give feed-back where necessary
• Identify potential project risks/opportunities (raise awareness within team / company)
• Proactively seeking continuous improvement
• Required to participate in a standby rota and work additional hours as required to maintain the supplies to the Client infrastructure
• Working unsocial hours when required to respond to faults on system and programmed activities.
• Assist in the development of the ongoing NAMP
• Undertake the delivery of maintenance and construction activities as required to meet client requirements within their area of authorisation
• Represent UKPN Services when required at meetings with clients and contractors
• When undertaking engineering activities manage the team of employees and contractors for the successful delivery.
• When undertaking engineering activities manage the compliance with all H&S procedures such as Putting People to Work and Distribution Safety Rules.
• Take Field Control of switching operations whilst operating Client owned assets within the Client premises.(When applicable.)
• Knowledge of protection testing software and have the ability to program protection relays and test that they function correctly within the overall protection scheme.
• Witness contractors testing and coordinate the use of test sheets, test routines and policies applied.
• Ensure that all as-built drawings and settings applied to relays are confirmed back into the company database before energisation.
• Investigate, advise, diagnose and correct mal-operations that occur during the life of equipment.
• Plan, manage and coordinate commissioning / plant acceptance testing to set standards whilst ensuring safe energisation and confidence of the switchgear operation.

• When necessary, work with other team members to carry out activities such as switchgear, battery and transformer maintenance, substation inspection cleaning and painting.

Nature and Scope

Working with the Client Delivery Manager and other team members and managers, the post holder needs to be a strong team player able to work within a pressurised environment to focus on the successful delivery of construction, faults and maintenance works to time and quality, and also to the client’s satisfaction. The post holder requires excellent communication skills in order to interact with both client and contractors. The role will involve travel to several different client sites from time to time, to undertake works within differing environments and to differing client standards, and the post holder will be expected to have the flexibility and skillset to adjust accordingly and work collaboratively with each and every client. The role will be based from the Manchester office.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Minimum 11kV Senior Authorised Person, with 33kV authorisation (for UD grade) but can be developed, as defined by the Distribution Safety Rules.
• Experience in distribution systems through the range 400V to 33kV
• Security clearance for Client infrastructure Access – provide a five-year work history with references and achieve a satisfactory criminal records check.
• Medical & Drugs and Alcohol screening
• Educated to HNC level qualification in Electrical Engineering (for UD grade), or working towards, or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge of distribution HV Systems
• Knowledge of Building Services Systems
• Working knowledge of specialist HV equipment
• Ability to read drawings and understand content
• Ability to work in different environments
• Excellent analytical, organisation & planning skills
• Ability to identify problems, understand key issues and investigate alternatives
• Hold clean, full driving licence
• Ability to use Microsoft Office suite, Outlook, MS Project and other bespoke software packages.
• Demonstrate honesty and integrity.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
•  

 Desirable

• A broad understanding of UK Power Networks Services businesses.
• An ability to travel around the Services’ Client portfolio.
• A broad understanding of the Services’ clients’ requirements.
• To possess strong and persuasive negotiating and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage time and to meet deadlines.
• To be skilful in decision making.
• Relevant Safety Qualification such as IOSH or NEBOSH
• Knowledge of Construction Design and Management Regulations

Please Note: Internal candidates are eligible to apply for internal positions once they have successfully completed any contractual probationary period.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they fully understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and particularly where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

Employees need to be aware that for some craft and operational roles that work at height, or use fall arrest devices, there is an upper weight limit of 116Kg due to maximum safe working load of the safety equipment that is used.

If in doubt ask!

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.