Associate Director - Water (Hydrology and Stormwater)

WSP; Sharjah; On-site; AED 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking an Associate Director - Water (Hydrology & Stormwater) in Sharjah/Dubai, UAE. Lead technical delivery, strategy, and growth across hydrology, stormwater, flood risk, and drainage for major infrastructure and land development projects.

The role requires 18+ years of hydrology/stormwater experience; leadership of multidisciplinary teams; and strong client and authority engagement within the UAE.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline; Master's preferred.
• 18+ years of experience in hydrology, stormwater, flood risk, and drainage design.
• Extensive UAE infrastructure and land development project delivery experience.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams on large projects.
• Advanced knowledge of hydrological/hydraulic modelling software and UAE authority requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead hydrology, flood risk studies, drainage master planning for major projects.
• Provide technical governance and review deliverables and authority submissions.
• Oversee multi-project delivery and risk mitigation strategies.
• Engage with clients and authorities to drive project success.
• Develop capability and mentor hydrology and drainage teams.

Skills

Hydrology

Stormwater management

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Technical governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

InfoWorks ICM

HEC-RAS

Flood Modeller

StormCAD

MicroDrainage

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director - Water (Hydrology & Stormwater) to join our Transport & Infrastructure business unit in Sharjah/Dubai, UAE. This senior role will be responsible for leading the technical delivery, strategic direction, and growth of hydrology, stormwater management, flood risk, and drainage design services across major infrastructure and land development projects throughout the Emirate.

The successful candidate will bring 18+ years of experience in hydrology and stormwater engineering, with extensive knowledge of infrastructure projects and authority requirements. You will work with multidisciplinary teams, provide technical governance, manage senior client and authority relationships, and drive the development of innovative, resilient, and sustainable water management solutions.

Technical Leadership & Hydrology Expertise

• Lead complex hydrological assessments, flood risk studies, stormwater management strategies, and drainage master planning for major infrastructure and land development projects.
• Provide technical leadership in hydrological and hydraulic modelling, catchment analysis, climate resilience assessments, and sustainable drainage solutions.
• Direct the development of innovative stormwater management strategies aligned with regional sustainability objectives.
• Review and approve technical deliverables including reports, designs, calculations, modelling outputs, and authority submissions.
• Ensure compliance with local authority requirements, industry standards, and international best practices.

Strategic Project Delivery

• Provide technical oversight across multiple large-scale infrastructure programmes.
• Support Project Directors and senior project teams on complex water-related challenges and delivery strategies.
• Lead technical risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for project success.
• Ensure integration of hydrology and stormwater designs within broader infrastructure and master planning projects.
• Drive technical excellence and consistency across project portfolios.

Client & Authority Engagement

• Act as a senior technical advisor and trusted client representative.
• Lead high-level stakeholder workshops, design reviews, and project governance meetings.
• Manage authority engagement and approval processes with relevant UAE entities.
• Build long-term client relationships and support strategic account development.
• Provide expert technical advice on major infrastructure pursuits and project opportunities.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop hydrology, drainage, and water engineering teams.
• Promote technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous professional development.
• Conduct technical reviews and quality assurance assessments across projects.
• Support succession planning and capability growth within the discipline.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture.

Business Development & Growth

• Lead technical input into major proposals, bids, and framework opportunities.
• Support business planning and growth initiatives within the Water and Infrastructure sectors.
• Identify emerging market opportunities and promote innovative service offerings.
• Develop thought leadership initiatives and represent the organisation at industry forums and conferences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, or a related discipline (Master's degree preferred).
• Minimum 18+ years of experience in hydrology, stormwater management, flood risk assessment, and drainage design.
• Extensive experience delivering major infrastructure and land development projects within the UAE.
• Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams on large-scale infrastructure programmes.
• Advanced knowledge of hydrological and hydraulic modelling software including InfoWorks ICM, HEC-RAS, Flood Modeller, StormCAD, MicroDrainage, or similar platforms.
• Strong understanding of UAE authority requirements, approval processes, and design standards.
• Demonstrated client-facing leadership experience and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Experience supporting business development, proposal preparation, and strategic client engagement.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and technical governance skills.
• Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional accreditation is highly desirable.

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.