Interim Engineering Manager (Contract - 6 Months)
📍 Location: On-site, Cheshire (5 days per week)
🏢 Business Unit: Energy Gas Storage
👤 Reporting to: Plant Manager
About the Role
My client are seeking an experienced Interim Engineering Manager to provide strong engineering leadership at a high-tier COMAH gas storage facility during a planned six-month transition period.
This role is critical in maintaining technical integrity, regulatory compliance, and asset performance, while supporting a structured and well-documented handover from the outgoing Engineering Manager. You will act as the on-site engineering authority, ensuring continuity of standards, safety governance, and risk management throughout the transition.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership & Transition
Support a controlled and effective handover of engineering responsibilities, systems, and regulatory commitments
Provide continuity of engineering leadership, ensuring no degradation of safety, compliance, or asset integrity
Review and manage key engineering risks, open actions, and regulatory obligations with clear ownership and plansAsset Integrity & Technical Authority
Provide day-to-day engineering leadership, promoting safe working and compliance with site standards
Drive defect elimination activities using ALARP principles
Act as on-site technical authority for caverns, wellheads, subsurface systems, and surface facilitiesCOMAH, Process Safety & Governance
Act as technical lead for COMAH compliance, including management of the COMAH Safety Report
Lead technical engagement with the HSE during inspections, audits, and intervention visits
Ensure effective application of Management of Change (MoC) and functional safety processes
Oversee technical safety reviews, ensuring decisions are robust, traceable, and compliantStandards, Assurance & Performance
Maintain engineering, process safety, industrial safety, and environmental procedures
Identify gaps or risks in engineering governance and recommend pragmatic improvements
Ensure engineering records and safety-critical documentation remain current and compliant
Monitor asset performance, safety, and compliance KPIs, escalating risks as requiredCollaboration & Communication
Work closely with Maintenance and Operations teams to align priorities
Communicate clearly with internal stakeholders and regulators, providing confidence in engineering controlAbout You
Essential Qualifications & Experience
Chartered Engineer with a degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering (BEng/MEng/MSc)
Member of a relevant professional institution (e.g. IET, IChemE, IMechE)
Minimum 5 years' engineering management experience in sectors such as gas or energy
Proven experience in high-tier COMAH environments, including regulator engagement
Strong knowledge of functional safety, engineering governance, and MoC processes
Demonstrated ability to manage engineering risk, asset integrity, and defect elimination
Excellent leadership, organisational, and stakeholder communication skillsDesirable
NEBOSH or IOSH qualification
Quality assurance experience
Ability to coordinate cross-functional teamsAdditional Information
There is potential for involvement in a secondary project, including a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) project, subject to timing and availability.
If you are an experienced Engineering Manager with strong COMAH and process safety expertise, and you're available for an on-site interim role, we'd like to hear from you.
Rullion celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both employees and applicants