Head of Commissioning - England & Wales

Lead the safe, successful commissioning of major substation projects across England and Wales.

At Balfour Beatty, we’re shaping the infrastructure that keeps communities connected and supports the energy future of England and Wales. We’re looking for an accomplished commissioning leader to head our England and Wales commissioning function and guide high-voltage substation projects safely and confidently from construction completion through testing, energisation and operational handover.

As Head of Commissioning – England & Wales, you’ll provide strategic and technical leadership across a portfolio of Power Transmission & Distribution substation projects. You’ll set the commissioning strategy, governance and assurance approach; build the right internal and external capability; and bring project teams, delivery partners, network operators and suppliers together around safe, compliant and predictable delivery.

You’ll lead an internal team, while managing specialist subcontractors, original equipment manufacturers and agency partners. Working closely with the England & Wales Substation Operations Director and stakeholders across operations, projects, engineering, commercial, procurement and workforce planning, you’ll ensure every project is ready for safe energisation and successful client acceptance.

You’ll be a credible, visible leader with extensive senior-level experience of commissioning high-voltage transmission or distribution substations. You’ll combine deep technical judgement with the ability to lead people, influence clients and partners, and make sound decisions in complex, safety-critical environments.

• A degree, HNC/HND or equivalent professional qualification in electrical engineering, power systems or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of the full substation commissioning lifecycle, including factory and site acceptance testing, protection and control, SCADA, primary plant, transformers, switch gear, telecommunications, metering and AC/DC auxiliary systems.
• A proven record of leading commissioning across major projects and managing multidisciplinary teams and specialist supply-chain partners.
• Thorough understanding of UK legislation, CDM requirements, electrical safety rules, operational authorisation, competence regimes and relevant industry standards.
• Experience of live operational environments, outage planning, readiness reviews, defect management, commissioning documentation and client handover.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, alongside excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and communication skills.
• Experience with National Grid Electricity Transmission or an equivalent regulated transmission network client; experience of National Grid requirements and substation projects across England and Wales is particularly valuable.

Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional recognition, and current or previous transmission-level operational or commissioning authorisation, would be advantageous.

This is a full-time role based from a Balfour Beatty office in Derby, Leeds or Newcastle, with travel required across England and Wales. A full UK driving licence is required.

We offer hybrid working; this usually looks like three days in the office and two days at home.

This is an opportunity to shape a critical function, build capability for the future and make a visible impact on the safe, reliable delivery of energy infrastructure across England and Wales. You’ll join a business where our behaviours guide how we work:
Talk Positively, Collaborate Relentlessly, Encourage Constantly, Make a Difference and Value Everyone.

Ready to lead commissioning at scale? and help us…