Contractors Engineering Manager (CEM) – Civils & Rail

We are seeking an experienced and authoritative Contractors Engineering Manager (CEM) to lead the engineering delivery for an high-profile, 3-year rail and civils multi-disciplinary project.

As the formally appointed CEM under Network Rail Standard NR/L2/INI/02009, you will take ultimate accountability for all engineering, design management, and technical assurance activities. You will ensure that all civil engineering, structural works, and permanent way interfaces are executed safely, sustainably, within budget, and in strict accordance with the client's specifications and legislative frameworks.

Core Responsibilities

Technical Management & Assurance

• Act as the primary, named Contractors Engineering Manager (CEM) formally approved by the Network Rail Project Manager.

• Deliver technical solutions within the project's budgetary, programme, and quality parameters.

• Authorise, sign off, and oversee all relevant Design Task Briefs, Form 001/002/003 submittals, Approval for Construction (AFC) drawings, and Handover documentation.

• Direct the engineering lifecycle, coordinating closely with Contractors Design Managers (CDMs) and Construction Managers to eliminate design-to-construction friction.

Safety, Compliance, & Risk Mitigation

• Enforce rigorous health, safety, environmental, and quality (HSEQ) engineering standards across all project phases.

• Manage engineering risks proactively by conducting technical feasibility studies, visualisations, and risk workshops.

• Ensure all temporary works are fully coordinated, checked, and approved by the Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) in line with BS 5975 and rail standards.

Stakeholder Engagement & Interface Management

• Chair interdisciplinary design reviews (IDRs) and interface meetings to de-conflict structural civils, track, signalling, OLE, and telecoms systems.

• Act as the chief technical liaison between the main contractor, Network Rail asset owners, consultants, and independent third-party surveyors.

• Compile and deliver transparent engineering progress reports, technical files, and KPIs directly to the Technical Director and client leadership.

Required Knowledge

Candidates must demonstrate an authoritative, expert-level understanding of:

• Network Rail Standards: Full operational literacy in Network Rail suite of standards, specifically NR/L2/INI/02009 (Engineering Management for Projects) and NR/L3/CIV/006 (Technical Approvals).

• Civil Infrastructure Systems: Deep technical knowledge of heavy civils infrastructure, including bridges, earthworks, lineside structures, retaining walls, drainage systems, and station platforms.

• Rail Operational Interface: Comprehensive awareness of track geometry, ALO (Any Line Open) working restrictions, possessions, and safety-critical rules.

• Regulatory Compliance: Expert knowledge of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015), Common Safety Method for Risk Evaluation and Assessment (CSM-RA), and ROGS regulations.

Experience Required

• Rail Sector Tenure: A minimum of 3–5+ years of proven experience operating specifically as an approved CEM on complex Network Rail multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects.

• Major Project Lifecycle: Proven track record of steering multi-million-pound civil and rail projects from initial design freeze through to site construction, commissioning, and final asset handover.

• Leadership & Influence: Direct experience managing multi-disciplinary engineering and design teams, resolving technical impasses creatively under rigid project timelines.

• Software Literacy: Competence overlooking outputs generated from advanced design platforms such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and MicroStation.

Qualifications & Professional Certifications

Essential

• Academic: Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering or a closely related structural discipline from an accredited institution.

• Professional Status: Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) or an equivalent professional engineering body.

• Safety & Site Access: Valid Personal Track Safety (PTS) competence card and a valid Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) professionally qualified person card.

Desirable

• Project Management: Formal accreditation in project management methodologies (e.g., APM Project Management Qualification or PRINCE2).

• Temporary Works: Completed Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) certification