Design Team Leader (OHL Foundations & Geotechnics)

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Website Balfour Beatty plc

Job Summary: Design Team Leader (OHL Foundations & Geotechnics)

Balfour Beatty plc is seeking a Design Team Leader to head the Geotechnical and Foundation design function within their Power Transmission & Distribution (T&D) business. Based in Glasgow, this role is pivotal to the delivery of critical UK infrastructure, specifically focusing on Overhead Line (OHL) projects like the high-profile Skye project.

You will provide the strategic direction and technical “final word” for foundation suitability, ensuring that massive transmission towers are anchored safely and efficiently across challenging Scottish terrains.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Oversight & Strategy

  • Design Delivery: Take full ownership of geotechnical assessments and foundation designs for Power T&D construction projects.

  • Ground Risk Management: Lead ground risk assessments, slope stability analysis, and tower capacity evaluations to ensure structural integrity.

  • Value Engineering: Identify opportunities for design optimization that reduce costs and material usage without compromising safety.

  • Technical Approval: Undertake quality assurance reviews and provide design approvals as authorized by the Chief Engineer.

2. Leadership & Resource Management

  • Team Management: Lead and mentor a specialized team of geotechnical and foundation engineers.

  • Capacity Planning: Collaborate with the Design Delivery Lead to profile resources and ensure the team is staffed to meet project milestones.

  • Sub-consultant Oversight: Manage the quality and timely delivery of designs produced by internal teams and external supply chain partners.

  • Upskilling: Arrange training to ensure the team remains expert in the latest modeling tools and industry standards.

3. Safety & Compliance

  • Safety by Design: Drive a proactive approach to safety throughout the design phase to minimize risks during the construction and maintenance lifecycles.

  • CDM Regulations: Maintain strict compliance with Construction (Design and Management) regulations and other legal requirements.

Role Details

  • Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom.

  • Working Pattern: Smart Working (Up to 40% remote working with flexible start/finish times).

  • Basis: Permanent, Full-time.

  • Sector: Power Transmission & Distribution (Infrastructure).

Candidate Requirements

Essential Skills & Qualifications:

  • Education: Degree-level education in Civil Engineering or Geotechnical Engineering.

  • Professional Status: Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with the ICE or IStructE is highly preferred.

  • Technical Mastery: Extensive experience in numerical analysis and Finite Element Modelling (FEM).

  • Software Proficiency: Expertise in LimitState Geo, Slide 7.0, Tekla Tedds, Infraworks, and Autodesk/BIM360 platforms.

  • Industry Experience: Proven track record in managing civil or geotechnical design teams for large-scale infrastructure.

The OHL Foundation Engineering Challenge

In Power T&D, foundations must withstand massive uplift and lateral forces. In the Scottish Highlands (e.g., the Skye project), this involves navigating complex peat, rock, and slope stability issues.

  1. Site Investigation: Analyzing soil and rock strength to determine the best foundation type.

  2. Modeling: Using FEM software to simulate how the ground will react to the weight and wind-load of the towers.

  3. Temporary Works: Designing the access roads and platforms required to get heavy machinery into remote locations.

Why Balfour Beatty?

  • High-Impact Projects: You will be at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition, helping to connect renewable energy sources to the national grid.

  • Industry-Leading Benefits: Includes 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and 4 weeks for paternity leave—significantly higher than the industry standard.

  • Professional Freedom: Balfour Beatty emphasizes “freedom to shape the package,” offering share incentive plans and recognized volunteering leave.

Application Tip: Emphasize “Safety by Design”

Balfour Beatty is a safety-first organization. To stand out:

  1. Risk Mitigation: In your application, describe a specific geotechnical challenge (e.g., unexpected ground conditions) and how your design solution mitigated the risk to onsite workers.

  2. Software Examples: List specific projects where you utilized LimitState Geo or Slide 7.0 to solve complex slope stability or foundation problems.

  3. Collaborative Leadership: Mention your experience working with “Resource Managers” to forecast team capacity, as this demonstrates the management maturity required for a Team Leader role.

    Balfour Beatty plc is the UK’s largest construction contractor and a leading international infrastructure group. With a history in Scotland dating back to 1909, the firm is a cornerstone of the nation’s civil engineering landscape. Its Glasgow operations serve as a vital command center for major power, transport, and social infrastructure projects across the Central Belt and the Highlands. The company is currently driven by its “Build to Last” strategy, focusing on Lean, Expert, Trusted, and Safe delivery.

    Culture and Mission

    Balfour Beatty’s mission is to “design, build, and maintain the sustainable infrastructure required for society to thrive.” Its culture is defined by a commitment to Zero Harm, ensuring that safety is personal for every employee. In 2026, the firm is heavily focused on its “Building New Futures” sustainability strategy, which aims to generate £6 billion in social value by 2030. The workplace is characterized by an emphasis on digital innovation—utilizing BIM (Building Information Modelling) and “EcoSense” site cabins to reduce carbon emissions—while maintaining a “Think Global, Act Local” approach.

    Key Company Highlights

    Feature Details
    Specialization Civil Engineering, Power Transmission, Rail, and Construction
    Glasgow Hub 60 Huntly Rd, Hillington Park, G52 4DZ
    Regional Office Maxim 7, Maxim Office Park, Eurocentral, ML1 4WQ
    Workforce ~27,000 employees globally (significant Scottish presence)
    Major Partner Key delivery partner for SSEN Transmission and ScottishPower
    2026 Milestone Exceeded 3% UK construction margin target; £200m share buyback

    Major Projects in Scotland (2026)

    Balfour Beatty is currently managing a record order book, with several high-profile Scottish projects active in 2026:

    • Skye & Argyll Reinforcements: Major power transmission upgrades critical to the UK’s energy security and net-zero goals.

    • SSEN Transmission ASTI Framework: Delivering massive overhead line and substation infrastructure to connect offshore wind to the grid.

    • Lochaber Hospital: Construction of a modern healthcare facility to serve the Highland community.

    • West Edinburgh Link: A major roads and active travel project scheduled for completion in Summer 2026.

    • Stornoway Workforce Village: Construction of a temporary accommodation village to support the Lewis Hub energy project.

    Employee Benefits & Smart Working

    Ranked as a top employer for STEM students and professionals, Balfour Beatty offers a comprehensive rewards package:

    • Smart Working: A flexible policy allowing up to 40% remote working for eligible office-based roles.

    • Family Support: Leading policies including 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks for paternity.

    • Leave: 25 days annual leave with the option to buy 5 additional days through the “Balfour Beatty Benefits” app.

    • Financial: Contributory pension scheme, Share Incentive Plan (SIP), and a “tax-free working-away allowance” for specific site-based roles.

    • Community: Two days of paid volunteering leave per year to support local charities or school engagement.

To apply for this job please visit www.balfourbeatty.com.