Technical Director

As the Technical Director on Align, you will have a key role in delivering one of Britain's flagship engineering projects that includes a 15.75km twin-bore tunnel through the Chiltern Hills and a stunning viaduct over the Colne Valley. The scale, complexity and importance of this project make this a career opportunity like few others.

The Align opportunity

The construction of the Chiltern tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct are two of the most eye-catching and challenging engineering projects on the HS2 route. Align is the joint venture created to achieve this task – we've created one integrated team of specialists from three partners with global reputations: Bouygues Travaux Publics, VolkerFitzpatrick and Sir Robert McAlpine.

By joining Align you can become an integral part of this landmark project – with the opportunity to develop your expertise as the project progresses and leave a legacy to be proud of for the rest of your career.

The C1 Package includes the following elements:

• The iconic Colne Valley Viaduct which is a “structure of international significance”; 3+ km long and spanning the lakes of the Colne Valley (architectural images can be found online).
• Chiltern Tunnels – 2 x 16km long tunnels through the Chiltern Hills
• Western Valley Slopes (South Portal) – 2.5km of earthworks including the TBM launching portal and main compound in Maple Cross housing the TBM plant and equipment, main offices and tunnel/viaduct pre-casting yards
• 5 x Ventilation Shafts at Chalfont St. Peter, Chalfont St. Giles, Amersham, Little Missenden and Chesham. Shaft depth between 35m-65m with diaphragm walls up to 80m deep. Headhouses at each location.

Purpose of the job

Align JV are looking for a Technical Director to lead and manage all technical teams on the Align JV including Design, Methods (design/construction interface), Geotechnical & I&M, and BIM. As the Technical Director you will work very closely with the Project Director and be a politically astute demonstrable leader with excellent people skills

Responsibilities

The Align JV Technical Director will be responsible for:

• Leading the Design, Methods, Geotechnical and BIM teams (including the effective management of sub-contractors), and inspiring them to deliver the works to quality, time and budget.
• Ensuring all designs and temporary works abide by relevant UK standards and regulations.
• Ensuring safety, health and wellbeing (SH&W) plans and policies are at the forefront of all technical operations and designs.
• Ensuring all direct teams are working effectively and efficiently as an integrated team.
• Ensuring trained and competent resources are in place to adequately deliver the works including developing staff competencies of the team
• Leading and managing technical requirements for sites across the whole project
• Providing leadership for community and stakeholder relations affecting the designs and methodologies of construction, and meeting stakeholders and Council leaders as necessary.
• Ensuring consents and external approvals are in place in accordance with the programme.
• Reporting internally, to the C1 Align Boards and to the Client as required by the Project Director, outlining the progress of the works and highlighting any problems and issues for resolution.
• Ensuring contracts are awarded and work started in accordance with the schedule of works.
• Managing Client relations and obtaining feedback on team performance
• Ensuring suppliers and sub-contractors for the works and performing to the standards expected and where there are any shortfalls ensuring the appropriate action is taken.
• Managing costs and procurement against the target cost
• Engage in the risk and opportunity management process
• Engage in the change management process

Skills & Experience

Mandatory:

• Exceptional People Management & Leadership qualities.
• Requisite experience leading mega projects of this sort of scale and teams of circa 1000 people
• Knowledge and experience of liaising with major external stakeholders in a sensitive political environment
• Training and experience in project management systems and processes
• Requisite training in safety and environmental management systems
• Understanding of commercial and cost control processes and experience on projects of this scale
• Suitable academic and professional qualifications in civil engineering or related discipline
• Demonstrated experience in managing design, geotechnical and temporary works teams.

Desirable understanding or experience in the following areas:

• Knowledge of the NEC form of contract
• Previous experience of constructing viaducts and/or tunnels
• CSCS card at manager level
• Leadership of similar major project in a UK environment

Rewards

We're ready to invest in you and your future, and offer wide-ranging, performance-related progression opportunities. Our competitive rewards packages feature flexible benefits to fit your lifestyle and priorities.

We'd love you to join us in proudly building Britain's future heritage.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at ALIGN. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. As a Disability Confident employer, we commit to interviewing any candidate who disclose having a disability and meet the minimum requirements details in the job advert. If invited to interview, please inform us of any Reasonable adjustments you may need, in order to attend. 

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.