Senior Pre-Construction Manager

About the role

Power T&D is entering a significant phase of growth, with a strong pipeline of major projects being developed through Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and pre-construction phases. These include high-profile schemes for SSEN Transmission, with a particular focus on substation infrastructure.

As a Senior Pre-Construction Manager, you'll be responsible for leading projects through these crucial early stages—from ECI and detailed design to mobilisation on site. You'll ensure seamless progression through our Gated Lifecycle governance process, supporting the transition from business development to project delivery.

You will focus on driving successful outcomes in ECI and Stage One contracts, with a strong emphasis on governance, risk management, innovation, and collaboration. You'll work closely with key client SSEN Transmission, and engage across Power T&D and the wider Balfour Beatty Group to promote excellence and knowledge sharing.

Our substations business is undergoing a digital transformation, leveraging BIM models and tools like Autodesk to enhance design efficiency and collaboration. This role will interface with design leads to ensure compliance with CDM 2015 and champion health & safety by design.

Working Model: Hybrid; combining home, office, and site-based work depending on project needs.

Flexibility: We welcome both full-time and part-time applications. We understand that the best people aren't always available full-time and are happy to explore flexible working arrangements.

What you'll be doing

• Strategic Leadership: Define and communicate clear strategies and objectives for the pre-construction team, ensuring alignment with client expectations and Balfour Beatty standards
• Client Engagement: Collaborate directly with SSEN Transmission and other stakeholders on estimating, planning, and regulatory submissions
• Proposal Development: Work hand-in-hand with the proposals team to develop robust submissions that support project win strategies and transition from ECI to construction award
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure seamless progression through the Gated Lifecycle governance process, with full compliance to CDM 2015, particularly Principal Designer duties in partnership with Design Leads
• Design Oversight: Oversee design development, manage consultant outputs, and ensure effective coordination across disciplines including HV Plant, Protection & Control, and Civils
• Health & Safety by Design: Champion early risk reduction and defect avoidance, embedding a culture of safety and continuous improvement
• Innovation & Digital Tools: Promote the use of BIM Level 2, 3D design, CGI modelling, and modern methods of delivery
• Reporting & Forecasting: Produce clear monthly reporting and contribute to resource planning and workload forecasting for feasibility and pre-construction services
• Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate collaboration across Power T&D, UKCS, and other business units to drive improvement and embed lessons learned
• Team Development: Mentor and develop junior team members, supporting skills growth in pre-construction disciplines

Who we're looking for

We're looking for a highly capable individual with a strong technical and leadership background in substation infrastructure, ideally within SSEN Transmission or similar frameworks.

• Highly organised, with the ability to manage a broad stakeholder network and resolve technical challenges across disciplines such as HV Plant, Protection & Control, and Civils
• Proven leadership skills—able to motivate multidisciplinary teams and optimise performance in complex project environments, particularly within substation design and delivery
• Strong technical background in infrastructure, with expertise in civil and/or electrical engineering, and familiarity with CDM 2015 Principal Designer duties
• A collaborative and proactive mindset, with a drive for continuous improvement, innovation, and digital delivery (e.g., BIM Level 2, CGI modelling)
• Experience in complex project environments, with a passion for high-quality delivery and early risk reduction through design

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver amazing projects in challenging conditions; developing, managing and maintaining the vital infrastructure and public spaces that modern economies, societies and communities rely on.

About us

Balfour Beattys Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions. With experience and expertise across the full spectrum of the electricity grid our teams have capability across overhead lines, cable tunnels, distribution networks and substations. From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and on-going maintenance, our in-house experts, flexible resources and industry-leading innovations support clients in the development of some of the worlds most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

At Balfour Beatty we are committed to creating a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential, not only because this is the right thing to do, but because it makes us a better business. To ensure we deliver on this commitment, we have a UK Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan which sets out the wide range of targeted, proactive, measurable steps we are taking to make this a reality. You can read our UK Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan in full at

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and Women into Construction. In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. Further information on Disability Confident can be found at:

Job Reference: BBUK16582