Resident Civil Engineer (Reservoir Inspection Programme) Sector: Water Infrastructure / Reservoir Safety Location: Cork Type: Permanent / Long-term Contract Experience Required: Minimum 7 years Overview A leading engineering consultancy is seeking a highly capable Resident Civil Engineer to support a national Reservoir Inspection Programme, involving structural assessments, site inspections, condition surveys and safety reviews of water storage assets across Ireland.
The successful candidate will act as the clients on-site representative, ensuring that all inspection and assessment activities are carried out safely, accurately and in accordance with relevant technical, regulatory and safety standards.
This role suits an engineer with strong civil and water-infrastructure experience, ideally with exposure to reservoirs, dams, embankments, or critical water-retaining structures.
Key Responsibilities Site-Based Inspection & Supervision Carry out on-site inspections of reservoirs including embankments, dams, spillways, control structures, headworks and associated civil assets Supervise specialist inspection teams undertaking structural, geotechnical or hydromechanical assessments Ensure inspection activities adhere to approved methodologies, access arrangements and safety controls Identify defects, deterioration, failure risks and any structural or safety concerns Technical & Regulatory Compliance Ensure all inspections comply with national reservoir safety regulations, engineering standards and internal quality procedures Review historical documentation including drawings, previous reports, O&M manuals and monitoring data Prepare and review RAMS, risk assessments, and work permits for all inspection activities Support compliance checks against statutory obligations Reporting & Documentation Prepare clear, detailed inspection reports including condition assessments, photographs, measurements and defect logs Provide recommendations for monitoring, remedial works, or further investigation where required Maintain comprehensive site records for audit and regulatory review Stakeholder Engagement Liaise with asset owners, water authorities, landowners, environmental teams and contractors Coordinate access arrangements, reservoir drawdowns, environmental controls and operational interactions Attend and contribute to progress meetings and technical discussions Health & Safety Promote a strong safety culture throughout all site activities Ensure compliance with all applicable safety legislation and protocols Manage on-site risks including working around water, confined spaces, embankment stability, and heavy plant movements Experience & Qualifications Minimum 7 years experience in civil engineering with strong site-based background Degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent (Level 8 preferred) Experience in water-sector infrastructure, reservoir/dam safety, civil inspections or geotechnical assessments is highly desirable Strong understanding of structural behaviour of water-retaining assets and earthworks Ability to interpret civil/structural drawings, technical specifications and historical asset data Excellent written reporting and communication skills Full clean driving licence and willingness to travel to remote sites Chartered status beneficial but not essential Core Competencies Strong attention to technical detail Confident working independently across dispersed sites Proactive problem-solver with strong engineering judgement Effective communicator with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders Strong commitment to safety, quality and compliance