Technical Pre-Construction Manager – Standby Power
North West England | Office-based with UK site visits
This role sits at the front end of complex critical power projects, owning the pre-construction phase from initial enquiry through to mobilisation. It is a technically led position focused on design development, tender management, programme definition, and procurement coordination, before projects are formally handed into delivery.
You’ll be part of a long-established UK standby power business delivering bespoke generator and LV/MV switchgear solutions into secure, mission-critical environments. The emphasis is on getting projects technically right, commercially sound, and properly de-risked before site teams are committed.
This is not a sales role and not a site delivery role. It’s a pre-construction and technical leadership position for someone who understands how critical power infrastructure is designed, priced, coordinated, and ultimately built.
The role in practice
You will lead the pre-construction and tender phase of standby power projects, taking ownership of the technical and commercial solution and ensuring proposals are robust, compliant, and deliverable.
Your responsibilities will include:
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Managing the pre-construction phase of generator and switchgear projects from enquiry through to mobilisation
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Developing and managing technical designs, scopes, and execution strategies for critical infrastructure projects
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Leading tender and bid management activities, coordinating internal and external contributors
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Managing the coordination and delivery of bid teams, including engineering, commercial, procurement, and administrative inputs
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Owning the tender process end-to-end, including tender enquiries, clarifications, and technical submissions
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Producing technically and commercially accurate proposals, including cost plans, estimates, and bid presentations
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Ensuring proposals are compliant with relevant regulations and standards, including grid and electrical requirements
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Establishing programme assumptions, procurement strategies, and installation methodologies prior to delivery
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Coordinating supplier engagement for generators, switchgear, control systems, fuel systems, and associated equipment
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Identification, organisation, and oversight of site surveys and technical assessments to inform development design and planning
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Identifying technical, commercial, and logistical risks early and resolving them before contracts are placed
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Acting as the technical authority for live tenders and pre-construction enquiries across an established client base
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Handing projects over to delivery teams once designs, scope, programme, and procurement routes are fully defined
Project values range from smaller repeat works through to larger, multi-discipline generator and switchgear installations, with multiple bids and pre-construction packages live at any one time.
Why this role appeals
This role is suited to engineers and technical professionals who prefer shaping projects properly before they reach site, rather than firefighting issues downstream.
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Strong focus on pre-construction, design management, and tender governance
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Technical decisions are respected and expected to stand up through installation and commissioning
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Exposure to critical infrastructure projects involving both minor and major works
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Office-based role influence over how projects are structured, priced, and delivered. Stable workload from a well-established client base and ongoing framework relationships
What you’ll need
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Strong electrical engineering background
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Proven experience with standby generator and critical power projects
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Confidence integrating generators with LV and/or MV switchgear
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Experience managing pre-construction, tendering, or technical proposal activities
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Ability to develop scopes, programmes, and cost plans from incomplete or evolving information
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Understanding of G99 and grid-related considerations
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Comfortable acting as the technical and commercial authority during the bid phase
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Experience coordinating multi-discipline inputs across engineering, procurement, and commercial teams
Candidates can come from backgrounds in electrical engineering, commissioning, field service, project engineering, design management, or technical proposals. What matters most is a clear understanding of how critical power systems are designed, installed, commissioned, and maintained, so that pre-construction decisions are practical and deliverable. CAD experience is useful but not essential.
Package
* Salary guide: £60,000–£62,000 depending on experience
* Car allowance: £7,500 per annum
* Pension: Company pension scheme
* Holiday: 25 days plus bank holidays
* Expenses: All business travel and overnight stays covered
The final package will reflect technical depth, bid leadership experience, and the ability to operate autonomously from day one.
Before you apply
You will need the ability to obtain SC-level clearance due to the secure nature of the environments involved.
This role will suit you if:
You enjoy pre-construction ownership, shaping projects before contracts are placed
You like managing design, programme, procurement, and technical risk upfront
You’re comfortable leading tender processes and coordinating bid teams
You prefer being accountable for technical and commercial integrity rather than day-to-day site delivery
If this sounds broadly aligned but you’re unsure whether it’s the right fit, you’re welcome to get in touch for an initial, no-commitment conversation to talk through the role and project types in more detail