Associate, Structural Engineer - Expert Witness Advisory Services

Due to the success of the current Expert Witness Advisory Services (EWAS) team, we are looking to expand by recruiting an experienced Chartered Structural Engineer with extensive design and construction experience.

This is an opportunity for someone wishing to work as part of a specialist team on a range of cases, analysing buildings, technical information and contract documents to establish the root causes of construction disputes.  Although previous experience as an Expert Witness would be beneficial, it is not required, as the successful candidate will be supported in transitioning to take on their own instructions. As part of the recruitment process, the relevant experience you have gained will be covered during your interview discussions and redacted examples of your writing would be beneficial.

The location for this role is flexible, with the successful appointee being based in any of our offices, although the preferred office locations are London, Manchester, Birmingham where other members of the Expert Witness team are based. Please note, due to the nature of this role, the prerequisite for applying for this opportunity is that you have a minimum of 10 years’ professional experience working in the construction industry.

Who are we?
Ridge Expert Witness Advisory Services (EWAS) is a specialist team of construction experts providing support to solicitors in respect of property litigation.  The team includes Architects, Structural engineers, Fire engineers, MEP engineers, Façade engineers and Building Surveyors.

• Assisting Expert Witnesses in the production of expert reports and evidence
• Progressing towards acting as an Expert Witness, including providing oral and written evidence to the Court or other tribunals, including cross examination (training will be given even if you are an established expert)
• Reviewing and commenting upon expert reports
• Desktop reviews of information
• Providing advice to colleagues and Clients about Expert Witness services
• Provide independent, unbiased expert opinion on an alleged defect or non-compliance involving property
• Investigating and reporting on issues raised by Experts, including defects inspections and expert report writing (training will be given in respect of the latter even if you are an established expert)
• Reviewing client documents and drafting synopses
• Preparation of detailed design calculations to British Standards, Eurocodes and relevant design guidance notes. By hand and computer aided techniques.
• Day-to-day support to colleagues from other disciplines within the office
• Supervise Engineers and CAD Technicians as required
• Represent the company at external meetings with clients and fellow professionals, including attending expert meetings and writing joint statements
• Be responsible for delivering work to a pre-agreed budget
• Project profitability (monitoring / planning of costs and budgets)
• Assist in negotiating fee proposals and requesting additional fees
• Construct teams from internal and external resources

Wider details of the role will be discussed in depth during the interview.
The skills and experience you need to have for this role

• Minimum MEng / MSc qualifications, ideally CEng with MICE and/or MIStructE
• Additional qualification in construction law – highly desirable
• Experience with AutoCAD, Revit and common computer analysis and design programmes
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in the construction industry
• A strong technical background in the practical aspects of construction
• Focused, confident, decision maker
• Have a sound knowledge of past/current industry standards, regulations, and guidance
• A problem solver able to assimilate large amounts of technical information and identify its relevance
• Excellent report writing skills
• A particularly strong interest in the legal and technical side of civil and structural engineering
• The ability to recognise when there is insufficient information to reach a conclusion
• The ability to recognise the limits of your own knowledge
• The ability to communicate complex technical matters to the non-technical in both written and oral forms
• Strong interpersonal skills and a willingness to take instruction and training from the established team
• Flexible working attitude with the ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines
• Able to travel regionally for site visits, etc