Strategic Development Lead

Costain is excited to announce a strong pipeline of opportunities that align with our strategic growth ambitions of becoming an engineering-led business. As a result, we are pleased to share an emerging opportunity for the position of Strategic Development Lead for CEL (Costain Engineering Limited)

Costain Engineering Limited (CEL) provide engineering and design services across the entire project lifecycle for all 6 Costain Sectors (Energy, Defence & Nuclear, Water, Roads, Rail and Aviation & Ports). Costain’s strong pipeline of opportunities, alongside our strategic growth ambitions of being an engineering led business has led to an emerging opportunity as CEL Strategic Development Lead.

This role will be responsible for owning and managing CEL’s business development and work winning capability across all sectors, working in parallel with sector driven opportunity pursuits to secure the future engineering pipeline, with future scope to independently lead targeted engineering tender pursuits with sector buy-in. Working with CEL management, clients and Costain sectors the role will be required to understand emerging business opportunities, shape value propositions and produce winning tender submissions, playing a vital role in unlocking CEL’s growth potential.

As CEL looks to grow at scale this role will be pivotal to developing and improving the engineering function’s processes and systems for work winning, which will allow more efficient integration with sector work winning activities, provide enhanced pipeline visibility, streamlined governance and quality bid delivery.

This role will report directly to the Group Director of Engineering Services and offers a hybrid working arrangement predominantly based in London, Manchester or Aberdeen with an occasional requirement to travel to project locations throughout the UK depending on contract needs.

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Responsibilities: Responsibilities

Own and lead on all Costain’s Costain Engineering Limited’s Business Development and Work Winning activities, liaising with Costain’s sectors, group functions and clients

Collaborate strategically with Costain’s Sectors and CEL Management teams in the pursuit of relevant engineering opportunities, developing best in class value propositions and winning bids to secure a strong future pipeline of work aligned with Costain’s growth ambitions.

As a member of the CEL SLT, provide cross- business leadership to deliver CEL’s business plan and growth ambitions, with effective communication to all key stakeholders on challenges and progress.

Improve visibility and management of the engineering pipeline across all six sectors, assisting CEL Management teams to better identify future workload and map resource demand against our pipeline. Conduct regular relevant market research and analysis to identify any new opportunities for CEL and sectors.

Identify and implement process and system improvements for CEL work winning efforts to enable more streamlined integration with Costain sector work winning efforts, whilst also enabling CEL to manage bids independently as required.

Drive improvements in tender submission quality and implement automation into CEL work winning processes to find efficiencies, including but not limited to engineering estimating processes.

Develop benchmarking data for engineering services tenders to track development and drive change as required against industry standards, in addition to KPIs and performance metrics for business, winning activities across CEL

Develop and maintain external client partnerships and alliances to complement in-house capabilities and position Costain for growth and success in target markets

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential

Significant and proven Business Development / Work Winning experience within the construction, engineering, or infrastructure sectors

Values-led and committed to making a difference

Drives change through a flexible personal style, particularly through influencing, forging relationships and building consensus

Innovative, curious and empathetic - seeking connections and new solutions

Ability to manage a high degree of complexity and ambiguity

Pragmatic, solution-oriented approach and a can-do attitude

Strong business/commercial acumen

Expert client management and client relationships skills

A proven record of leading a team in selling complex services and solutions with a preference in a managed, engineering or professional services environment

Demonstrated ability to communicate, present and influence credibly and effectively at all levels of the organization

Proven sound judgment and flexibility in balancing multiple project requirements, tight deadlines, and keeping people and projects moving on schedule, with high attention to detail

Experience of proactively engaging customers to improve relationships for the long-term and continue to drive value

Exceptional leadership qualities with evidence of building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external customers and key business stakeholders

Qualifications: Essential

Masters Degree in relevant Engineering Discipline

Hold Membership of Professional Industry Bodies (e.g. IChemE, Energy Institute , ICE )