Job Description

We are seeking to appoint an experienced Project Engineer to the Coastal Risk Management Team. Currently the vacancy is advertised as a 2-year fixed term contract, but depending on the outcome of current organisational restructuring the post may eventually become permanent.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead on capital projects, and support infrastructure and asset management for Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM), and Harbour infrastructure assets. You'll be involved in maintaining and enhancing key assets such as flood walls, erosion defences, beach re-nourishment schemes, and quay wall repairs.



The post presents an excellent opportunity to develop and expand your existing knowledge, skills, and experiences within a busy FCERM engineering environment, located in the beautiful rural setting of Dorset, and close to the famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.



This is a unique opportunity to join a council which is home to the spectacular Jurassic Coast, thriving market towns and villages, and with a strong sense of community and identity. The Coastal Risk team has been assembled and established over the last three years and is just coming into its own. You will therefore join a fresh workplace where new ideas and originality are welcomed, and where there is ample room for growth, development, and learning from each other.

What will you be doing.

The role is a blend of operational and project management responsibilities. The incumbent is responsible for the management of existing infrastructure, routine works, delivering capital projects, as well as delivering on the development of strategies. This includes, but is not limited to, CDM and 'intelligent client' functions. Both of which are associated with asset management responsibilities, as well as capital scheme delivery.


We deliver our services in a way that protects and enhances our natural, historic, and cultural environments. Our work therefore take place in specific regulatory contexts and environments. Experience and knowledge of environmental licensing and planning processes as well as engaging with their stakeholder representatives are highly recommended.



The Project Engineer post is in the Coastal Risk Team, which in turn is falls under the Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) service, sitting within the Highways, Engineering and Transport directorate, at Dorset Council. The team supports key strategic priorities of the council, most notably that of Respond to the climate and nature crisis. For more information on the council's strategic priorities, you can read more about the council's Dorset Council Plan 2024 to 2029 - Dorset Council.


Currently the team is responsible for over a dozen projects, in various stages of progress, with an estimated value of approximately 80 million and which we intend to deliver over the next five years. To successfully do so, we will need the appropriate skills and experience within the team. The project pipeline includes amongst others.


Construction work involving the replacement of 500meters of sheet pile wall around the north and east side of Weymouth Peninsula. Planning and delivery on the first construction phase of the Weymouth Harbour and Peninsula FCERM Scheme. Construction works on inner harbour walls in West Bay. Construction and refurbishment of the iconic Cobb structure in Lyme Regis. Construction and refurbishments of the curved seawall at Chesil Cove in Portland Recharge of Swanage Beach A further 160 meters of sheet piling wall replacement in the Weymouth Harbour, including refurbishments to a pier on that section.
In addition, we are currently developing several flood & coastal erosion risk strategies at various locations in our coastal area, from which further projects and work will flow.



The team also have a busy workload with regards to infrastructure management responsibilities, which we manage and undertake in accordance with a structured asset management regime. We therefore also needprefer candidates with experience in asset management, including prioritisation, planning, and execution of maintenance and repairs work.



In doing our work the team puts great emphasis on strong management, accountability, and oversight. We follow robust administration and record keeping practices to ensure the successful management of work, and to maintain clear auditable documentation when doing so. Administrative and record keeping experience and skills are highly recommended.



Although our core responsibilities revolve around the delivery and maintenance of flood and coastal protection assets, by virtue of the service's engineering capabilities we also work very closely with Dorset Council's harbour team. In addition, we also work on intermittently with other technical teams in the organisation. This means that there is significant interaction and cross cooperation across the organisation, when it comes to the support and delivery of council owned infrastructure, including consulting with elected council members on an ad-hoc basis. We are keen to maintain the engineering capabilities that enables this internal presence and cooperation.

About you

You will have a civil, coastal, or environmental engineering qualification at HNC/HND/ Degree level or equivalent with substantial post-qualification civil, coastal or infrastructure project management experience to include contract management, design appraisal, stakeholder consultation and fulfilling the 'intelligent client' role.



You will have knowledge and experience of procurement and supervision of consultants and contractors for coastal defence, land drainage, or other construction projects, as well as the preparation and management of business cases, procurement plans and funding bids for such schemes.


You should have good knowledge of the asset management cycle associated with FCERM structures and assets. You will have an awareness and effective approach to health and safety issues in construction and experience of fulfilling the CDM Client functions within a project.



You will be a strong team player, able to contribute to joint targets, but also able to work to their own initiative. You will have the ability to resolve difficulties using diplomacy, influencing and negotiation skills and have excellent communication skills in various forms to a high standard. You will also be computer literate, preferably experienced in using AutoCAD, MS Project and the use of databases.



Dorset Council provides a framework to explain the values the council expects those who work or volunteer, regardless of their role or seniority within the organisation, to observe. The values will form part of the selection process, where we will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them. You can read more about our behaviours here.

Additional Information

This post has a significant travel requirement and you are contractually required to have a vehicle (or transport deemed to be suitable by the council) available for use as required.



The service operates an out-of-hours engineering duty rota and a successful candidate would be encouraged to become a duty engineer. This may involve a weekly commitment once every 6-8 weeks.




For further information on the role please contact the Coastal Risk Manager, Esmari Steenkamp.
Email: Esmari.Steenkamp@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk - Please use the following in the subject line.

Project Engineer vacancy ES614
Telephone: 01305 252288
Mobile: 073 8988 0357