Technical Director – Roads & Highways

WSP in the Middle East; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 560,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in the Middle East is seeking an experienced Technical Director – Roads & Highways to lead Abu Dhabi's Transport & Infrastructure design practice. The role requires deep highways design expertise, familiarity with Abu Dhabi standards, and a proven track record delivering complex infrastructure across the emirate.

As a senior technical leader, you will guide major design programs, mentor multidisciplinary teams, ensure technical excellence, and drive client satisfaction across projects.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of Roads & Highways design experience.
• At least 10 years in the UAE, with Abu Dhabi exposure.
• Strong knowledge of Abu Dhabi authority standards and design manuals.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design, and delivery of major roads, highways, interchanges, and corridor development projects.
• Oversee the delivery of multiple concurrent projects, ensuring adherence to scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.
• Engage with clients, government authorities, and project partners; lead technical meetings and workshops.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to capability development across the Roads & Highways team.

Skills

Leadership

Client-facing

Mentoring

Strategic direction

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Job description

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.

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.

Leadership & Mentoring

• 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.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can. Apply today.