Operational Engineer

This Operational Engineer will report to the Lead Operational Engineer and will work within UKPN Services based in our West Sussex (Gatwick Airport) office. You will be a permanent employee.,

• You will deliver the engineering activities within the Project team. You will undertake the delivery of New Build construction, Asset Replacement (NAMP) and Fault response on a standby basis relating to the UK Power Networks Services owned assets, client owned assets and associated infrastructure under the direction of the Lead Operational Engineer.
• You will deputise for the Lead Operational Engineer / Project Manager including attendance at Client and Contractor meetings.
• You will work with and support the Project Managers, Lead Operational Engineer and other members of the Region's delivery team to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of works allocated to them, whilst minimising disruption to our client electricity supplies.
• You will work with team members to ensure standards of safety management are maintained throughout all activities during the delivery of the engineering tasks following 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 operating at voltages through the range 400V to 33kV
• Work with the Lead Operational Engineer / Project Managers to ensure that all programmes of work are delivered to time and budget following contractual commitments to time, cost and quality
• Lead works execution and represent UKPN Services during client liaison at multiple client sites across the Region.
• Work with Technicians, Fitters and Apprentices to ensure the delivery of all engineering activities.
• Help manage budgets relating to the construction and NAMP delivery and meet ongoing goals
• As a team member work to ensure that UK Power Networks Services goals are achieved especially in Staff and Client satisfaction.
• Adherence to Client and UK Power Networks Services Operations and Procedures
• Operate HV and LV Distribution Protection Systems.
• Test and Commission HV and LV Distribution System.
• Maintain the Control and Protection Systems
• Ensure compliance with CDM and UK Power Networks Services Health and Safety policies
• Develop site specific Health, Safety & Environmental procedures
• Compliance with UK Power Networks Services quality policies
• Operate and update Asset database in respect of project activities
• Modify equipment and drawings to ensure the efficient operation of the substations
• Ensure compliance with the distribution safety rules during all activities.
• Supervise all contractors/staff working on site
• Undertake additional activities commensurate with the job level and competency
Main Duties
• Co-ordinate daily construction activities with Client / Principal Contractor's ensuring programmes are met.
• Obtain quotations from suppliers and raise Purchase Order request with Finance & Governance teams.
• Change Management - ensure early warning notices are brought to the attention of the Project Manager / Commercial Manager & Client.
• Provide technical support as part of the Regional team
• When deputising for the Lead Operational Engineer deliver team briefings, give feed-back
• Identify potential project risks/opportunities (raise awareness within team / company)
• Seek continuous improvement
• Required to participate in a standby rota and work additional hours to maintain the supplies to our client infrastructure
• Work unsocial hours to respond to faults on system and programmed activities.
• Assist the Lead Operational Engineer in the development of the ongoing NAMP
• Undertake the delivery of maintenance and construction activities to meet client requirements within their area of authorisation
• Represent UKPN Services at meetings with clients and contractors
• When undertaking engineering activities manage the team of employees and contractors.
• 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 our client premises.
• Knowledge of protection testing and can program protection relays and test that they function correctly within the protection scheme.
• Witness contractors testing and coordinate the use of test sheets, test routines and policies applied across UKPNS.
• Investigate, advise, diagnose and correct mal-operations that occur during the life of equipment.
• Ensure that all as-built drawings and settings applied to relays are confirmed back into our database before energisation.
• Plan and manage commissioning / plant acceptance testing to set standards whilst ensuring safe energisation and confidence of the switchgear operation.
• 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 Lead Operational Engineer, Project Manager and other team members and managers, you will be a team player able to work within a pressurised environment to focus on the delivery of construction and maintenance works to time and quality, and also to our client's satisfaction. Your role will involve travel to several different client sites, to undertake works within differing environments and to differing client standards. You will be based from Gatwick Airport.


• Minimum 11kV Senior Authorised Person, with 33kV authorisation (for UD grade) but can be developed, as defined by the Distribution Safety Rules. (Band UE - 11kV SAP with an ONC/HNC, Band UD - 33kV SAP with an HNC)
• 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
• Working knowledge of distribution HV Systems
• Knowledge of Building Services Systems
• Working knowledge of specialist HV equipment
• Read drawings and understand content
• Work in different environments
• Identify problems, understand important issues and investigate alternatives
• Hold clean, full driving licence
• Use Microsoft Office suite, Outlook, and other bespoke software packages.
Desirable
• A broad understanding of UK Power Networks Services businesses.
• Travel around the Region's Client portfolio.
• A broad understanding of the Region's clients' requirements.
• To be skilful in decision-making.
• Relevant Safety Qualification such as IOSH or NEBOSH
• Knowledge of Construction Design and Management Regulations
• Knowledge or experience working on DNO, IDNO or private networks.
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 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 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.

You will attract a salary of £76,229 and a bonus of 3% If you are successful, you will need to undertake a medical and DBS reference check Close Date: 02/01/2025 We also provide the following additional benefits
• 25 days Annual Leave plus bank holidays
• Personal Pension Plan - Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
• Tenancy Loan Deposit scheme
• Tax efficient benefits: cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Occupational Health support
• Switched On - scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers products.
• Discounted access to sports and social clubs
• Employee Assistance Programme.