SHEQ Advisor – Water and Utilities

Permanent | North East England | Office and Site Based

Competitive Salary and Benefits Package

A well-known and established civil engineering contractor is looking to appoint an experienced SHEQ Advisor to support the delivery of AMP water and utility infrastructure projects across the North East of England.

This is a permanent position covering projects throughout the region, including Teesside. The role will combine office-based responsibilities with regular site visits and close involvement with operational teams.

The contractor delivers critical water infrastructure projects, with a particular emphasis on clean-water supply, network improvements and associated civil engineering works undertaken within the public realm.

Projects are frequently delivered close to homes, businesses, roads, footpaths and members of the public. The position therefore requires a practical and visible SHEQ professional who understands the risks associated with live utility environments, deep excavations, underground services and public interface.

The Role

Working closely with project managers, site teams, supervisors and subcontractors, you will provide practical health, safety, environmental and quality advice across a portfolio of water and utility infrastructure projects.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing specialist SHEQ advice and practical support to operational teams, managers, supervisors and subcontractors.
• Undertaking regular site inspections, audits, workplace observations and periodic risk assessments, implementing more robust controls where required.
• Supporting the preparation, review and implementation of risk assessments, method statements, permits and safe systems of work.
• Monitoring activities involving deep drainage trenches, excavation support, shoring, restricted access and excavation stability.
• Ensuring appropriate controls are in place for underground utility identification and avoidance, including the effective use of CAT and Genny equipment.
• Supporting the prevention and investigation of utility strikes, service damage, accidents, incidents and near misses using appropriate root-cause analysis techniques.
• Monitoring the management of plant movements, traffic interfaces, pedestrians, occupied properties and members of the public.
• Ensuring projects remain compliant with company procedures, client standards, relevant legislation and the requirements of the CDM Regulations.
• Coaching managers, supervisors and operatives, while preparing and delivering toolbox talks, briefings and engaging training materials.
• Recommending preventative actions, developing improvement initiatives, identifying trends and monitoring the completion of corrective actions.

The successful candidate will need to be comfortable spending significant time on active construction sites and engaging directly with operational teams.

The position requires someone capable of challenging unsafe practices constructively while maintaining effective working relationships and supporting the safe and efficient delivery of demanding project programmes.

Project Environment

The role will support civil engineering projects associated primarily with clean-water supply and utility infrastructure delivered under AMP programmes.

Typical activities will include deep drainage and utility excavations, trench support, excavation shoring, underground cable and pipe avoidance, utility detection, connections to existing networks and construction within roads, footpaths and other areas of the public realm.

Projects will frequently be undertaken close to members of the public, occupied properties, businesses, highways and live utility services. Particular attention will therefore be required around excavation stability, utility strikes, plant and pedestrian interfaces, temporary traffic management, public protection, subcontractor controls and the maintenance of safe access.

The Person

Applications are welcomed from experienced SHEQ Advisors with a background in civil engineering, utilities, water infrastructure or a closely related construction environment.

You should possess:

• A NEBOSH Certificate.
• Considerable relevant experience within construction, civil engineering, utilities or the water industry.
• Practical experience supporting projects involving excavation, drainage, clean-water networks or underground utility works.
• A sound understanding of deep excavations, trench support, underground service avoidance and construction within the public realm.
• Experience of auditing, incident investigation, root-cause analysis and the implementation of corrective and preventative measures.
• A good working knowledge of the CDM Regulations, including the responsibilities of the Client, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.
• Strong interpersonal, coaching and communication skills, with the confidence to influence operatives, supervisors, project managers and senior management.
• A current full UK driving licence and the flexibility to travel between offices and project sites across the North East.

The position requires a proactive and pragmatic individual who can identify resistance, solve problems and influence positive behaviours without creating unnecessary barriers to operational delivery.

Previous experience working on AMP water programmes, clean-water networks or utility infrastructure projects would be particularly advantageous.

The Opportunity

This is a permanent opportunity to join an established and growing civil engineering contractor delivering critical infrastructure projects across the North East.

The company offers:

• A competitive salary.
• A comprehensive benefits package.
• A permanent position offering long-term security.
• A varied office- and site-based working environment.
• Exposure to significant AMP water and utility infrastructure projects.
• Career progression aligned with the company’s continued growth, with immediate interviews available for suitably qualified candidates.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Your details will not be shared with anyone until we’ve discussed the opportunity in more detail and you’re happy to proceed.

We will also confirm the name of the company hiring for this role during the same conversation.

To apply, simply click “Apply for this Job” on this listing, or email your CV to cv@fulcrumrecruit.com If you have any questions beforehand, feel free to call me on 07880 369 557.