Civil Engineers

Engineering (Non-Production)

Level 5537 of 1200 points

Job description

Civil Engineers

Job purpose

To plan and design structures and facilities such as roads, railways, bridges, harbours, dams, pipelines and water and sewage systems, and to direct and inspect their construction and maintenance, so that works are built to specification, safely, economically and in compliance with environmental and other governmental regulation.

Skills

Command of design technique and the production of precision technical plans and drawings, of engineering science and technology, and of building materials and methods, with mathematics to calculus, the physics of fluid and material dynamics, and the regulation governing civil works. A bachelor's degree is standard, some holding a master's, with several years of related experience and on-the-job training.
Provides technical advice to industrial and managerial personnel on design, construction, programme modifications and structural repairs, and represents the organisation to clients, government bodies and the public. Technical constraint must be explained in terms non-specialists accept.
Computes load and grade requirements, water flow rates and material stress factors to determine design specifications; analyses survey reports, maps, blueprints and geologic data; tests soils and materials for the strength of foundations, concrete and steel; and identifies and manages environmental risks. Problems are technical, site-specific and often without precedent, and an error carries structural and public safety consequences.
Plans and schedules design and construction work against fixed programme dates, alongside the demands of live sites. Priorities are set as much by the construction programme, ground conditions and client requirements as by the postholder.
Uses design and drawing software at a desk for the greater part of the working day, producing precision plans and drawings. No manual handling or exertion is recorded.

Responsibilities

Manages and directs construction, operations, maintenance and engineering activities at project sites, and directs or participates in surveying to lay out installations. Sets and monitors performance standards and develops construction, maintenance and surveying staff.
Estimates quantities and the cost of materials, equipment and labour to determine project feasibility, and monitors and controls project spending; decisions on specification and method fix much of a scheme's cost. Commits expenditure within the approved project rather than setting the organisation's budget.
Accountable for the structures and facilities under construction and the materials, equipment and plant employed on them, inspecting them for defects and monitoring site progress and conformance to design specifications and safety and sanitation standards.
Owns the technical record on which construction depends — specifications, drawings, load and stress calculations, survey data and test results — and prepares environmental impact statements, right-of-way descriptions, deeds and bid proposals placed on public report. Accuracy determines whether a structure is safe and the project compliant.

Effort required

Prolonged exact computation and analysis, where a faulty figure or assumption can be structurally significant, carried on alongside a heavy load of site direction, inspection and consultation. Decisions are frequent and judgement is reached on incomplete ground and environmental information under time pressure and against fixed programme dates.
Carries personal professional accountability for designs and site decisions on which public safety and environmental compliance depend. Must hold a technical position under commercial and schedule pressure in negotiation with contractors, clients and authorities, and in public on contested matters such as environmental impact and rights of way.
Largely sedentary: long periods seated at design, computational and reporting work, with the visual and manual load of detailed drawing. No lifting, carrying or exertion.

Working conditions

An indoor, climate-controlled office environment; no hazardous conditions, contaminant exposure or adverse weather exposure is recorded for the role. The demands are psychological rather than physical: sustained accountability for safety-critical work where the consequence of an error in a calculation or specification is severe, and regular dealings with clients, government bodies and the public, including on contested matters.
Most incumbents work a regular established schedule, though a minority are on irregular patterns, and the working week commonly runs beyond standard hours. Decisions are frequent and taken under steady time pressure, alongside a high volume of e-mail, telephone and face-to-face contact. Exercises substantial professional autonomy over priorities and method within design codes, environmental and safety regulation and the client's brief, and is answerable for the technical adequacy and compliance of the works directed.

Skills

40% · 249 points▾

KnowledgeLevel 5 of 8
90 of 144 points
Specialised and theoretical knowledge within a field of work and an awareness of the limits of that knowledge. The job requires a comprehensive range of cognitive and practical knowledge to develop creative solutions to abstract problems.
Interpersonal and communication skillsLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Effective communication and interpersonal relationships. The job holder is required to adapt communication to different audiences and foster trust, cooperation and positive working relationships.
Problem-solving skillsLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Variable problems. The job involves dealing with different kinds of problems that require careful thinking, research into different options or adjusting existing ways of doing things. Guidance and resources may be limited.
Planning and organisational skillsLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate organisational skills required. The job requires the organising and prioritising of multiple tasks, with some level of adjustment to plans on the basis of changing circumstances or deadlines.
Physical skillsLevel 0 of 5
0 of 72 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any particular physical skills (although there is likely to be some physical activity).

Responsibility

35% · 199 points▾

PeopleLevel 3 of 5
86 of 144 points
Moderate responsibility for people. The job includes overseeing or coordinating the work and well-being of others. This may involve supervising, providing regular support, managing conflicts, responding to an individual's needs and ensuring the personal and professional development of individuals.
Goods and equipmentLevel 1 of 5
17 of 84 points
Limited responsibility for goods or equipment. The job involves the care and proper use of low-value tools or materials, with minimal responsibility for their maintenance or security.
InformationLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Moderate responsibility for information. The job involves managing information to ensure it is accurate, of high quality and secure. The job holder may make decisions about the handling of sensitive data.
Financial resourcesLevel 2 of 5
38 of 96 points
Limited responsibility for financial resources. The job involves handling limited financial resources, such as managing small budgets, processing invoices or participating in financial planning discussions.

Effort

15% · 65 points▾

Mental effortLevel 3 of 5
36 of 60 points
High level of mental effort. The job involves frequent concentration on complex tasks that require considerable mental effort, such as interpreting complex data.
Psychosocial and emotional effortLevel 2 of 5
29 of 72 points
Occasional psychosocial and emotional effort. The job requires occasional involvement in emotionally demanding situations, such as handling minor conflicts or dealing with upset individuals.
Physical effortLevel 0 of 5
0 of 48 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any physical effort.

Working Conditions

10% · 24 points▾

Environment (physical, psychological or emotional)Level 1 of 5
17 of 84 points
Minimal exposure to hazards or stress. The job involves little or no exposure to physical hazards (e.g. chemicals, moving equipment, noise) and minimal emotional or psychological risks (e.g. occasional routine tasks with no emotional burden). There is minor exposure to dust, dirt, fumes, noise, waste, poor lighting, etc.
Organisational environmentLevel 1 of 5
7 of 36 points
Minimal organisational demands. The job requires standard working hours with no night shifts or irregular schedules. There is little or no need for travel or digital connectivity beyond typical working hours.