Simon Skates
Mold,United Kingdom
Summary
Accomplished professional with a robust engineering knowledge base, adept at managing complex schemes and ensuring precision and accuracy in all tasks. Demonstrates exceptional verbal and written communication skills, complemented by strong negotiating abilities and analytical observation. Proven track record of effective team collaboration, driving projects to successful completion. Committed to leveraging expertise in engineering to contribute to innovative solutions and organisational growth.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Principal Development Engineer
Cheshire East Council
Crewe, Cheshire East
09.2009 - Current
- Provide assistance to the Project Managers to manage, monitor and review the delivery of highway works from scheme conception through to delivery for approval of technical design, safety audit process, site supervision, contractors, including use of sub-contractors, materials, traffic management, method statements, statutory undertaker’s works, construction and the health and safety file including as-built records to assist with future maintenance by the highway authority.
- Manage, monitor and review the preparation and execution of contracts, engrossment, signing and discharge of statutory legal agreements and other relevant legislation associated with third party developments and highway works on major highway and transport planning applications. To include technical engineering input, review transport modelling, negotiations, etc. to ensure effective designs are agreed and implemented in order to minimise the Council’s future maintenance liabilities and risks.
- Plan, review and manage the financial and health and safety risks associated with highway works through the effective enforcement of legal agreements and the setting/collection of fees, contributions and financial indemnities to remove all the health and safety and financial liabilities for the Council, and its officers.
- Manage and monitor financial contributions from third parties made through appropriate Agreements and funding streams. Programme, prepare briefs and monitor the design and construction of any subsequent works to ensure they complement and enhance the Corporate Plan, Service Plan and Local Transport Plan policies, objectives and programmes and the attainment of targets and performance indicators.
- Develop, review and implement borough wide policy and model legal agreements associated with third party highway works in conjunction with the Solicitor to ensure their efficient and effective development and delivery.
- Formulate and deliver training, advice and guidance in relation to all highway development matters to improve the understanding of and consistency in the delivery of the service.
- Lead the negotiations with professional agents/bodies regarding planning conditions and Highway Authority policies to ensure that the Council’s interests (design standards, health and safety legislation and financial procedures) are satisfied, to enable the signing of any subsequent statutory legal agreement.
- Communicate, consult, engage and report to all internal and external stakeholders associated with the highway work process, to ensure that the widest public and political involvement in design and delivery is achieved.
- Prepare and deliver evidence and/or written statements in relation to the implementation and adoption of highway works to ensure compliance with Council standards and policies.
- Provide professional oversite and expertise as Supervisor of NEC contracts for delivery of major Council delivered schemes with engagement and contract compliance within the scheme justification, development and post construction phases.
- Extensive experience with communicating and engagement with Cheshire East Borough Members Of Parliament, Council elected Members, Parish Councils and other external organisations in response to a wide range of highway related enquiries, including technical, procedural and conceptual knowledge in response to local community needs.
Senior Engineer
Cheshire County Council
Chester, Cheshire
01.2001 - 09.2009
- Progression through the Council's Graduate Engineer programme with experience within several engineering disciplines with initial start in Major Highways schemes with assisting the Project Manager in scheme development and design on significant highway and transportation schemes including the Chester to Deeside guided busway and A483 widening.
- Secondment to Council Laboratories and gaining accreditation by UKAS for material sampling and testing of a number of highway construction materials including concrete, aggregates and asphalt.
- Secondment to the Council's structures department working under the Council's Chief Bridge Engineer on General Bridge inspections, design of structural elements and construction of major bridge works including the award winning Sir Thomas Fairfax Bridge in Nantwich.
- Secondment to the Highway Construction division for on site management experience under the Council's Resident Engineers. Review and checking of technical information provided to the Contractor, overseeing highway works by main and sub contractors for Council delivered schemes including levelling, surveying, material approvals workmanship to the councils required standards contained within the ICE 6th Contract works information.
- Permanent placement in the Major Scheme division with work on early conceptual design for Middlewich Eastern Bypass and scheme development including drainage design and assistance to the CPO process for Alderley Edge Bypass.
- At all times working towards fulfilling the Council's transport policies, procedures, strategies and the Local Transport Plan to improve and enhance the economic and environmental objectives for the social and civil betterment of the Council's residents and highway users.
Education
Bachelor Of Engineering - Civil Engineering
Liverpool John Moors University
Liverpool 09.1998 - 06.2000
Higher National Diploma - Civil Engineering
Liverpool John Moors University
Liverpool 09.1996 - 06.1998
NVQ Level 3 - Construction and the built environment
West Cheshire College
Chester 09.1995 - 07.1996
O level - Maths, English Lit, English Lang, Geography, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Social Studies
Ysgol Brynhyfryd
Ruthin 09.1979 - 07.1984
Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Comprehensive engineering knowledge base
- Precision and accuracy
- Negotiating skill
- Analytical observation
- Complex scheme management
- Team collaboration
Timeline
Principal Development Engineer
Cheshire East Council
09.2009 - Current
Senior Engineer
Cheshire County Council
01.2001 - 09.2009
Bachelor Of Engineering - Civil Engineering
Liverpool John Moors University
09.1998 - 06.2000
Higher National Diploma - Civil Engineering
Liverpool John Moors University
09.1996 - 06.1998
NVQ Level 3 - Construction and the built environment
West Cheshire College
09.1995 - 07.1996
O level - Maths, English Lit, English Lang, Geography, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Social Studies
Ysgol Brynhyfryd
09.1979 - 07.1984
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