Senior Hire Controller

About the Company 

A well-established, privately owned civil engineering and infrastructure specialist operating across the UK. With over 40 years of experience, the organisation delivers design, engineering, and maintenance services across multiple sectors, including water, transport, built environment, and energy.

The business works with major regulated and private clients through frameworks, joint ventures, and standalone projects, building long-term relationships through consistent delivery and strong organisational values.

With a workforce of over 1,000 employees, the company operates a direct delivery model, investing in in-house teams across operational, technical, and support functions.

Key capabilities include:

• Tunnelling
• Mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation (MEICA)
• Temporary and permanent design
• Steel fabrication
• Sign design and manufacturing
• Health & safety equipment and PPE

Why Join

• Long-term, secured work through major infrastructure frameworks
• Opportunities to work on large-scale UK projects
• Strong internal progression and promotion culture
• Commitment to employee development and inclusive working practices

The Role

The Senior Hire Controller is responsible for the end-to-end coordination of externally hired plant and equipment. The role ensures safe, compliant, and cost-effective procurement solutions to support project delivery.

This position plays a key role in plant procurement operations, combining technical understanding with commercial awareness and supporting wider procurement, supply chain, HSEQ, and sustainability objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of plant and equipment requisitions in line with company policies
• Take ownership of requisitions from initiation through to delivery and completion
• Source suppliers from approved lists, evaluate quotations, and negotiate pricing and logistics
• Raise purchase orders and ensure accurate documentation and compliance
• Provide commercial insight and feedback to internal stakeholders (estimating, project teams, site teams)
• Ensure compliance with high-risk plant requirements and governance standards
• Liaise with suppliers to ensure timely and complete deliveries, resolving issues proactively
• Coordinate with project teams to align plant requirements with programme schedules
• Manage shared inboxes and allocate requisitions within the team
• Support sustainability objectives by considering fuel efficiency and low-emission plant options
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and working groups
• Monitor market trends and supply chain developments
• Support training and development of team members

Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate procurement and supplier records using internal systems
• Produce reports and KPI data as required
• Prepare Tender Analysis Reports for approval
• Demonstrate value through cost savings, quality improvements, and efficiencies
• Support supplier performance management and engagement
• Maintain documentation for audits, compliance, and sustainability reporting

About You

Essential

• Experience supervising a team and working with procurement leadership
• Background in plant hire or plant management within construction or civil engineering
• Understanding of plant hire contracts (e.g. CPA or similar frameworks)

Desirable

• Experience procuring plant within framework agreements
• Familiarity with regulated sectors such as utilities

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Private medical cover
• Annual leave plus public holidays and additional loyalty days
• Volunteering allowance
• Employee assistance programme
• Flexible benefits options
• Vehicle or allowance (role dependent)
• Training, coaching, and career development support
• Regular performance and development reviews
• Long service recognition