About the Role
PJ Cole (Southern) Ltd is seeking an experienced and driven Wastewater Engineering Manager to lead our engineering team. This is a newly created leadership role, reporting directly to the Director, and will take responsibility for a team of four field service engineers, working across drainage systems, pumping stations and sewage treatment plants throughout Southeast.
This is a varied role that combines strategic leadership with hands-on operational management. Alongside leading and developing the team, you will be responsible for scheduling planned and reactive works, preparing customer quotations, and liaising directly with customers to ensure a professional, responsive service. You will also work closely alongside the environmental division, transport and office teams to ensure a joined-up, consistent service across the business.
We are looking for someone with genuine industry experience and a proven track record in a management or leadership role, who can bring structure, consistency and strong customer focus to the engineering services function.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, manage and develop a team of four field service engineers across the company group.
- Schedule and coordinate planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive engineering works.
- Prepare and issue customer quotations.
- Liaise directly with customers to manage expectations, resolve issues and maintain high service standards.
- Oversee the quality and compliance of servicing, maintenance and repair work across sewage treatment plants and pumping stations.
- Support the team with technical guidance on complex diagnostics and repairs.
- Ensure equipment is checked, maintained and serviced regularly, in line with manufacturers' recommendations.
- Ensure stock checks are carried out and stock is ordered in a timely manner.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships.
- Develop and monitor KPIs across service delivery, safety and customer satisfaction.
- Manage costs and budgets for the engineering services function.
- Build strong working relationships across departments, working alongside the environmental division, transport and office teams.
- Provide performance reporting to the Director.
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage scheduling across a mobile team.
- Confident communicator, comfortable liaising directly with customers.
- Commercially aware, with experience of quoting and cost control.
- Calm under pressure and solutions focused.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands.
Essential Requirements
- Proven experience within the drainage, wastewater, pumps or utilities industry.
- Proven experience in a management or team leadership role.
- Strong technical understanding of pumping stations and sewage treatment systems.
- Full UK driving licence.
Desirable Experience
- Recognised management or leadership qualification (e.g. ILM, CMI).
- IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent health & safety management qualification.
- Experience with job scheduling or quoting software.
- Mechanical and/or electrical engineering background.
- Awareness of relevant field-level industry qualifications held by the team (e.g. Confined Space).
Location & Reporting Line
This role is based in Dunsfold and reports directly to the Director. You will lead a team of four field service engineers based across the company group, in and around West Sussex.
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5.00pm, with flexibility required to meet operational demands.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- An Employee Assistance Programme
- Use of a company vehicle for business use
- Discretionary company bonus
- Company pension
- Reimbursement of work expenses
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
- Opportunity to play a key role in a growing business
Pay: £35,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Management / Leadership: 1 year (required)
- Wastewater Engineering: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
