Electrical Plant Manager

Job summary

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, the Electrical Plant Manager provides technical leadership and engineering assurance for electrical infrastructure and utility systems across the site. The postholder is responsible for ensuring that electrical systems remain safe, compliant, reliable and capable of supporting UKHSA's scientific and operational activities.

The role combines technical specialist expertise, asset performance management, project delivery and stakeholder engagement within a highly regulated environment. Working closely with engineering teams, contractors, users and external specialists, the postholder will monitor system performance, support statutory compliance, lead technical investigations, identify improvement opportunities and deliver engineering projects that enhance operational resilience and reliability.

The Electrical Plant Manager acts as the subject matter expert for electrical systems, supporting audits, inspections and engineering governance activities, whilst providing technical advice and deputising for the Engineering Manager when required.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

Main duties will include:

• Ensure the safe, compliant and reliable operation of electrical infrastructure and utility systems through effective engineering management and technical governance.
• Deliver engineering improvement initiatives and business-critical projects that enhance electrical system performance, resilience and regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical leadership and specialist advice to stakeholders, contractors and engineering colleagues in support of operational and strategic objectives.
• Maintain robust electrical compliance and engineering assurance activities, including inspection programmes, audits and statutory testing requirements.

Your day to day duties will include:

• Monitor electrical asset performance and maintenance data through the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS), identifying trends, risks and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement engineering improvement initiatives that enhance the reliability, efficiency and resilience of electrical infrastructure and utility systems.
• Prepare technical justifications and supporting business cases for asset replacement, infrastructure improvements and capital investment proposals.
• Manage and deliver small to medium business-critical engineering projects in accordance with UKHSA project governance requirements, ensuring delivery to agreed scope, timescale, budget and quality standards.
• Deputise for the Engineering Manager when required, providing technical leadership, specialist advice and engineering support across electrical services and utility systems.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching and support to engineering colleagues, contractors and stakeholders to promote safe systems of work and engineering best practice.
• Act as the Engineering subject matter expert for electrical systems during audits, inspections and assurance activities, providing technical evidence and ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Support the development, implementation and maintenance of electrical compliance programmes, including inspection, testing and certification requirements.
• Review and approve engineering technical documentation, where authorised, including Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs), electrical safety documentation and other compliance-related records.
• Author, review and maintain User Requirement Specifications (URS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical specifications and engineering records relating to electrical systems and associated infrastructure.
• Ensure engineering records and documentation are maintained in accordance with quality management and engineering governance requirements.
• Lead technical investigations into equipment failures, power quality issues and system performance concerns, identifying root causes and implementing corrective and preventative actions.
• Ensure engineering incidents, risks and non-conformances are appropriately investigated, documented and managed through UKHSA systems.
• Develop effective working relationships with internal customers, contractors, specialist suppliers and external stakeholders to support delivery of engineering services and projects.
• Represent the Engineering function within multidisciplinary projects, capital programmes and operational working groups, ensuring electrical engineering requirements are appropriately considered.

The above is not an exhaustive list and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the role.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• ONC, HNC, HND, apprenticeship qualification or equivalent electrical engineering qualification, or significant relevant electrical engineering experience.
• Proven experience working with electrical infrastructure, utility systems and critical plant within a highly regulated engineering environment and ensuring compliance with statutory and safety requirements.
• Experience managing engineering improvement initiatives, technical projects or operational engineering activities through to successful completion.
• Knowledge of electrical engineering principles, electrical distribution systems, statutory inspection and testing requirements, and electrical safety management.
• Experience supporting engineering compliance activities, audits, inspections and quality management systems.
• Experience preparing, reviewing and managing engineering technical documentation, including specifications, procedures, reports and controlled records.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience investigating equipment failures, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to provide technical advice and influence both technical and non-technical audiences.

Desirable criteria

• Membership of a recognised professional engineering institution and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience working within scientific, pharmaceutical, healthcare, research, defence or other highly regulated environments.
• Experience using Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), particularly Maximo.
• Experience managing capital projects, engineering upgrades or infrastructure improvement programmes.
• Knowledge of electrical compliance programmes, including Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs), inspection regimes and certification requirements.
• Experience in the design, commissioning, operation or validation of critical electrical infrastructure and utility systems.
• Working knowledge of Building Management Systems (BMS) or Environmental Management Systems (EMS).
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