Technical Manager

TDM Recruitment is working with a well-established house builder in Surrey to appoint a Technical Manager. This is a commercially minded technical role. It isn’t a pure engineering management position, but it needs someone with a strong engineering background or very solid engineering knowledge.

Reporting to the Technical Director, you’ll pick up projects from early acquisition stage and map out the technical and cost implications from the start. The business is introducing new house type designs and building layouts, and is reworking a number of existing sites. They need someone who can challenge costs and protect value when designs change, and who understands how a change to a house type or layout affects drainage, kerbs, utilities and the wider infrastructure.

• Get involved in new land acquisitions early, assessing technical constraints and costs to support viability and purchase decisions.
• Map out projects from acquisition through to technical sign-off, so the full picture is clear before work starts.
• Challenge and validate engineering and infrastructure costs, making sure every package delivers value.
• Assess how new house types and revised layouts affect drainage, highways, kerbs, levels and utilities, and cost those changes accurately.
• Manage and negotiate Section 38, Section 278 and Section 104 agreements with local authorities and water companies.
• Coordinate utility provision with DNOs, IDNOs and other statutory undertakers, including procurement and cost control.
• Rework the technical strategy on existing sites where layouts or house types are being updated.
• Manage external consultants, including engineers, architects and utility consultants, so they deliver on programme and on budget.
• Work closely with Land, Planning, Commercial and Construction so technical decisions support the commercial objectives.

• A background in civil or infrastructure engineering, or demonstrably strong engineering knowledge gained in a technical management role.
• Proven experience as a Technical Manager or Senior Technical Coordinator with a house builder.
• Strong commercial awareness, with a track record of challenging costs and adding value to engineering and infrastructure packages.
• In-depth knowledge of Section 38, 278 and 104 agreements.
• Experience working with DNOs, IDNOs and utility providers on new-build residential schemes.
• The ability to understand and cost the technical knock-on effects of house type and layout changes.
• Experience supporting land acquisition with technical due diligence and abnormal cost assessments.
• A big-picture outlook: someone who can see how technical decisions affect the whole scheme.
• Confident communication skills, and the ability to influence internal stakeholders and external consultants.