Description Costain have won extensive work across the water sector this year to support the AMP 8 investment cycle. We have been appointed by United Utilities as one of 7 partners to the Enterprise, delivering £5.5bn of projects in the Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) between 2025 – 2030, and AMP 9 (2030 – 2035). Our scope is to provide project management, design, construction and commissioning services on design and build schemes throughout the North West and Cumbria region covered by United Utilities. Projects vary in value covering both infrastructure and non-infrastructure assets on water and wastewater sites with wider Enterprise partners. The Senior Commissioning Manager is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and delivery of commissioning activities across complex water and wastewater projects. This role ensures that systems, assets, and processes are safely and efficiently brought into operation, meeting regulatory, client, and performance requirements. You will work closely with design, construction, and operations teams to deliver high-quality, compliant, and fully functional water treatment and distribution systems. Responsibilities Lead and manage commissioning activities across multiple water projects Develop and implement commissioning strategies, plans, and procedures Coordinate with design, construction, and operations teams to ensure smooth system integration Oversee testing, inspection, and validation of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems (MEICA) Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards Manage risk assessments, method statements, and commissioning documentation Provide technical leadership and guidance to commissioning engineers and site teams Liaise with client, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies throughout the commissioning process Champion high quality delivery from the outset of design; developing processes, systems and initiatives to drive a high quality, right first-time culture Monitor project timelines, budgets, and resources related to commissioning activities Provide accurate and timely project performance reports, ensuring projects are on track and contract requirements are met; sharing and celebrating success and developing improvement plans and implementing mitigation strategies as required Lead troubleshooting, fault-finding, and performance optimisation Support handover processes, including training and documentation for operations teams Qualifications Essential Degree/equivalent in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related discipline) Extensive experience in commissioning within the water / wastewater sector Strong knowledge of water treatment processes (e.g., filtration, pumping, disinfection, sludge treatment) Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams Experience with MEICA systems and process control (SCADA/PLC) In-depth understanding of health, safety, and environmental regulations Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously Desirable Chartered Engineer status (or working towards it) Experience on large-scale infrastructure or utility projects Familiarity with UK water industry standards (e.g. AMP programmes) Knowledge of commissioning digital tools and data-driven performance monitoring Key Competencies Leadership and team management Problem-solving and analytical thinking Communication and stakeholder management Attention to detail and quality assurance Decision-making under pressure LI-JA1