Associate Civil Engineer

Anne Corder Recruitment; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water-sector consultancy in Birmingham is seeking an Associate Civil Engineer to take technical ownership, mentor a team, and consult with clients. This role offers autonomy, immediate client interaction, and a pathway to a Principal/Technical Director position based on performance. Candidates must be Chartered Civil Engineers with 8-15 years of UK water sector experience and a strong record in delivering non-infrastructure projects. The position includes a competitive salary of £60k-£81k plus benefits, alongside hybrid working options.

Benefits

Private medical

Life insurance

Pension

Flexible bank holidays

Professional membership

Qualifications

• 8-15 years experience in the UK water sector.
• Strong record delivering non-infrastructure schemes.
• Confidence to guide, review, and sign-off design deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Full civil design ownership for non-infrastructure projects.
• Technical governance, sign-off, and quality assurance.
• Supporting and mentoring engineers across the team.

Skills

Technical ownership

Mentoring

Leadership

Technical authority

Education

Chartered Civil Engineer (ICE / IStructE / CIWEM)

Job description

Overview

Associate Civil Engineer - Water (Non-Infrastructure)

Location: Birmingham (Hybrid)

Salary: £60,000-£81,000 + benefits

Confidential Opportunity - Senior Leadership Track

This is a strategic hire for a water-sector consultancy scaling fast. They want an Associate Civil Engineer who can take technical ownership, mentor a team, and act as a trusted advisor to clients.

If you're a Senior / Principal in a large consultancy and you're frustrated by bureaucracy, slow progression, or being boxed into narrow scopes — this role gives you autonomy, influence, and a direct line to decision-makers.

Why Associate Civil Engineers move into roles like this

• You sign off work instead of watching it pass through five layers.
• You shape delivery strategy, not just execute it.
• You get immediate client interaction and technical authority.
• You develop the team, set direction, and influence the wider business.
• You're not pigeonholed — projects are varied and move quickly.

What you'll lead as Associate Civil Engineer

• Full civil design ownership for WwTW / WTP / non-infrastructure projects.
• Technical governance, sign-off, and quality assurance.
• Supporting and mentoring engineers across the team.
• Multidisciplinary integration with MEICA, structural, and process leads.
• Design reviews, feasibility studies, detailed design, and construction support.
• Client meetings, workshops, and steering project direction.
• Input into bids, proposals, and overall business planning.

What you'll need to succeed as a Associate Civil Engineer

• Chartered Civil Engineer (ICE / IStructE / CIWEM).
• 8-15 years in the UK water sector.
• Strong record delivering non-infrastructure schemes.
• Leadership capability and the confidence to take technical authority.
• Ability to guide, review, and sign off design deliverables.

What’s on offer

• £60k-£80k base salary
• Bonus
• Private medical
• Life insurance
• Pension
• Hybrid working
• Flexible bank holidays
• Professional membership

Accelerated pathway to Principal / Technical Director depending on performance

This is a confidential recruitment process — discreet conversations welcome before any formal application.

Anne Corder Recruitment Ltd acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and as an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying you will be registered as a candidate with Anne Corder Recruitment Ltd, and your personal data may be added to our database as part of the application process. Our privacy policy is available on our website and explains how we use your data.

Your details will be reviewed by one of our Recruitment Partners, and we will contact you within five working days if your application is progressed further.

INDEEDENG