Technical Director – Roads & Highways

WSP; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in Abu Dhabi is seeking an experienced Technical Director - Roads & Highways to lead and grow our Transport & Infrastructure design practice. You will oversee major design programs, mentor multidisciplinary teams, and ensure technical excellence and client satisfaction.

Requirements include 20+ years in Roads & Highways, UAE/Abu Dhabi standards expertise, and Chartered status is desirable. The role emphasizes strategic leadership, design oversight, and collaboration with authorities and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering required.
• 20+ years of experience in Roads & Highways design.
• Significant UAE/Abu Dhabi experience and familiarity with local standards.
• Chartered/Professional Engineer status desirable.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Delivery: lead planning, design and technical delivery of roads, highways, junctions, interchanges and corridors.
• Review and approve design outputs including geometric, pavement, drainage, utilities, and traffic deliverables.
• Ensure designs comply with ADM, DMT, ITC, UPC and other authority standards.
• Drive innovation, digital engineering practices and best-in-class design methodologies.
• Project & Design Management: oversee multiple projects, manage teams and sub-consultants to meet scope, schedule and budget.
• Conduct risk assessments and mitigation; support business development through technical proposals.
• Client & Stakeholder Engagement: act as senior technical advisor to clients and authorities; maintain relationships with DMT, ADNOC, DOT and others.
• Lead technical meetings and knowledge sharing; mentor engineers and project managers.
• Support recruitment and talent development within Transport team.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Client-facing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Job description

WSP is seeking an experienced and visionary Technical Director - Roads & Highways to lead and grow our Transport & Infrastructure design practice in Abu Dhabi. The ideal candidate will bring extensive Roads & Highways design expertise, deep familiarity with Abu Dhabi standards, authorities, and project requirements, and a strong track record delivering complex infrastructure projects across the emirate.

As a senior technical leader, you will oversee major design programs, provide strategic direction, mentor multidisciplinary teams, and ensure the highest levels of technical excellence, quality, and client satisfaction.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the planning, design, and technical delivery of major roads, highways, junctions, interchanges, and corridor development projects.
• Provide expert guidance, review, and approval of design outputs including geometric design, pavement design, drainage, utilities coordination, and traffic engineering deliverables.
• Ensure all designs comply with Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM), DMT, ITC, UPC, and other relevant authority standards and regulations.
• Drive innovation, digital engineering practices, and best-in-class design methodologies across projects.

Project & Design Management

• Oversee the delivery of multiple concurrent projects, ensuring adherence to scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.
• Manage design teams, sub-consultants, and stakeholder interfaces to ensure smooth coordination and problem resolution.
• Conduct technical risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies.
• Support business development through technical proposals, design strategies, and client presentations.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a senior technical advisor to clients, government authorities, and project partners.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key Abu Dhabi stakeholders including DMT, ADNOC, DOT, and other major infrastructure entities.
• Lead technical meetings, workshops, and presentations with clients and authorities.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to engineers, discipline leads, and project managers.
• Contribute to capability development, training programs, and technical knowledge sharing across the Roads & Highways team.
• Support recruitment and talent development initiatives within the Transport business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
• 20+ years of experience in Roads & Highways design, with at least 10 years in the UAE and significant experience in Abu Dhabi.
• Strong understanding of Abu Dhabi authority standards, design manuals, and approval processes.
• Proven track record delivering major highways, arterial roads, interchanges, and infrastructure corridor projects.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams in a consultancy environment.
• Chartered/Professional Engineer status (CEng, PE, or equivalent) highly desirable.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and client-facing skills.

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