Director – Protection & Control UK-Wide (Flexible) | 20+ Years' Experience | Executive Leadership

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a globally recognised engineering consultancy to appoint a Director of Protection & Control — the most senior P&C hire in their UK and Continental Europe operation. This is an executive-level role with full strategic ownership of a discipline that sits at the heart of the energy transition, spanning high-voltage AIS and GIS substations, transmission assets, HVDC interconnectors, and energy storage systems.

If you're a recognised authority in P&C engineering who is ready to define the direction of a major capability — not just deliver within it — this is the role.

What You'll Be Doing

Defining and leading the strategic direction of the P&C capability across the UK and Europe
Providing executive leadership across FEED and detailed design workstreams for National Grid and DNO clients
Overseeing technical assurance, quality control, and delivery excellence across all P&C projects
Leading major bids — owning technical strategy, resource alignment, and senior client engagement
Developing and maintaining strategic client relationships to drive business development and market positioning
Representing the business in industry bodies and forums, with direct influence on standards and best practice
Leading recruitment, succession planning, and long-term capability development across the discipline
Chairing high-level design reviews, hazard reviews, and technical governance meetings
Ensuring CDM compliance and proactive management of technical risk at programme level

What We're Looking For

Degree in Electrical Engineering (BEng or MEng); Chartered Engineer (IET)
National Grid CDAE status
TP141 Authorisation (Protection & Control) — essential
20+ years as a recognised authority in P&C engineering at high voltage (132kV–400kV)
Proven leadership across large-scale infrastructure programmes and multidisciplinary teams
Strong commercial acumen — bid strategy, client engagement, and business growth
Demonstrated success in building and developing high-performing engineering teams
The gravitas and communication skills to influence at board, client, and industry level

The Package & Culture

Our client offers an executive-level package commensurate with the seniority of the role, including private medical cover, enhanced parental leave, and comprehensive professional development support. Flexible and hybrid working is fully supported across a range of UK office locations.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a discipline, not just manage it — within a business that genuinely values technical leadership at the highest level.

Interested?

This is a confidential search. Please reach out directly to the team at embs energy to have an initial conversation.

Director P&C