MEICA Lead Manager

MEICA Lead Manager
Major Water Infrastructure Programme | UK

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced MEICA Lead Manager to join a leading engineering and construction organisation delivering large-scale water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the UK.

This position will play a key role in the successful delivery of complex Design & Build projects, providing technical leadership across Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control and Automation (MEICA) disciplines from concept design through to commissioning and handover.
The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, engage with key project stakeholders and ensure the delivery of safe, efficient and technically robust solutions throughout the project lifecycle.

The Role As MEICA Lead Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Leading all MEICA engineering activities across major water and wastewater treatment projects.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary design teams to deliver integrated engineering solutions.
• Managing the development and review of engineering deliverables through all design stages.
• Providing technical oversight of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, automation and control systems.
• Supporting procurement activities, including equipment selection, supplier engagement and technical evaluations.
• Driving value engineering initiatives and cost optimisation opportunities.
• Supporting construction delivery teams with technical guidance and issue resolution.
• Overseeing commissioning activities and ensuring successful project handover to operational teams.
• Managing engineering risks, quality requirements and health & safety compliance.
• Acting as the primary technical interface with clients, contractors, consultants and supply chain partners.

Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership across all MEICA disciplines.
• Review and approve technical solutions developed by designers, integrators and suppliers.
• Ensure alignment between process requirements, engineering systems and operational needs.
• Resolve complex technical and interdisciplinary challenges.

Design & Engineering Management

• Manage engineering activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor programme, quality and technical performance of engineering deliverables.
• Identify and mitigate design risks and potential project delays.
• Ensure engineering outputs meet applicable standards and regulatory requirements.

Procurement & Commercial Support

• Define technical scopes for equipment and subcontract packages.
• Evaluate supplier proposals and support procurement decisions.
• Contribute to cost planning, budgeting and target cost development.
• Support change management and commercial processes where required.

Construction & Commissioning

• Support site teams during installation and construction phases.
• Review construction methodologies and technical change requests.
• Coordinate pre-commissioning, commissioning and performance testing activities.
• Ensure smooth transition of assets into operation.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants and project partners.
• Lead technical meetings, design reviews and engineering workshops.
• Provide clear engineering justification for key project decisions.

About You

• 10+ years' experience delivering water and wastewater treatment projects.
• Strong background across MEICA disciplines within complex infrastructure or utilities environments.
• Proven experience delivering projects from concept design through construction, commissioning and operational handover.
• Experience working within Design & Build contracting environments.
• Strong understanding of engineering risk management, project controls and technical governance.
• Knowledge of commercial, contractual and procurement processes.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer status or working towards professional accreditation.
• Experience with NEC-based contracts and major infrastructure programmes.
• Exposure to large-scale treatment plants, pumping stations or industrial process facilities.
• Knowledge of SCADA, control systems, instrumentation and automation technologies.

What's on Offer?

• Opportunity to work on nationally significant infrastructure projects.
• Senior leadership role with significant technical influence.
• Long-term project pipeline and career development opportunities.
• Collaborative and innovative project environment.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

If you're an experienced MEICA professional looking to lead the delivery of major water infrastructure projects and play a key role in shaping critical engineering solutions, we'd like to hear from you.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.