Associate Director

Ayesa; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working

Pension Match Scheme

Life Assurance

Training and Development Programme

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Ayesa Engineering is seeking an Associate Director – Marine & Coastal Engineering to lead technical delivery for major marine infrastructure projects in the UK. The role involves coordinating multidisciplinary teams, ensuring technical excellence, and guiding projects from feasibility to completion.

You will manage budgets, fees and client relationships, contribute to business development, and help grow our Marine division across Ireland, the UK and internationally.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil, Structural Marine Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with ICE or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the design and delivery of complex marine and coastal engineering projects, ensuring technical excellence and compliance.
• Take responsibility for the commercial performance of assigned projects including budgets and profitability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients across marine, flood and coastal sectors.
• Lead projects from feasibility through to construction and completion, coordinating multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Leadership

Client relations

Technical leadership

Education

Civil Marine Eng degree

Job description

Company Description

Ayesa Engineering is a global consultancy with more than 3,200 employees. Its UK & Ireland business combines the strength and resources of an international organisation with the agility and autonomy typically associated with an SME.

Operating in 16 countries across 40 disciplines, Ayesa Engineering generates annual revenues of approximately €312 million and has established a strong international reputation across a broad range of engineering sectors. Its expertise spans water and flood infrastructure, transportation, marine and coastal engineering, geoscience, environmental services, energy, and building structures.

The UK & Ireland teams deliver technically complex and varied projects that enable professionals to develop broad expertise rather than being confined to highly specialised roles. This provides the opportunity to make a meaningful local impact while benefiting from the stability, technical knowledge, and career development opportunities of a well‑established global consultancy.

As part of our continued growth, we are seeking an experienced Associate Director – Marine & Coastal Engineering to join our team in London or Guildford, UK.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior engineering professional to take a leading role in the technical and commercial delivery of major marine infrastructure projects, support the development of our engineering teams and contribute to the continued growth of our Marine division across Ireland, the UK and internationally.

Position

What you will be doing:

Technical Leadership & Project Delivery

• Report to the business Director and support them in reaching agreed growth and delivery objectives.
• Lead and oversee the design and delivery of complex marine and coastal engineering projects, ensuring technical excellence, quality and compliance with relevant standards.
• Nurture and grow, through direct contact, relationships with contracting entities across marine, flood and coastal and defence areas of our business, developing strong trust levels and excellent serviceability to these clients.
• Lead projects from feasibility studies, concept development and detailed design through to construction and completion.
• Oversee marine structural and geotechnical engineering design, including foundations, retaining structures and maritime infrastructure.
• Review and approve engineering calculations, technical specifications, design reports and drawings within delegated authority.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Eurocodes, BS 6349, Irish and European standards and applicable environmental regulations.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, including structural, geotechnical, coastal, civil, environmental and hydraulic engineering specialists.
• Identify and manage technical risks, design challenges and opportunities for innovation throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team of engineers and technical specialists within the Marine & Coastal division.
• Provide technical guidance, design assurance and oversight of project deliverables.
• Manage project resources, workload allocation and technical priorities to ensure effective project delivery.
• Support recruitment, professional development and succession planning across the team.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with senior leadership to support the strategic development and growth

Commercial & Project Management

• Take responsibility for the commercial performance of assigned projects, including budgets, profitability, resource utilisation and financial forecasting.
• Lead the preparation of technical proposals, tender submissions, fee estimates and project programmes.
• Manage project scope, deliverables, contractual obligations and commercial risks.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to the required technical standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve project efficiency, delivery performance and client satisfaction.
• Support business planning, revenue growth and the development of new project opportunities.

Client Relationships & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients, including port authorities, harbour operators, government agencies, developers and marine contractors.
• Act as a senior technical point of contact, providing specialist engineering advice and practical solutions to complex marine infrastructure challenges.
• Support the identification, development and securing of new business opportunities across Ireland, the UK and international markets.
• Contribute to strategic bids, framework submissions and major project proposals.
• Represent Ayesa at client meetings, technical workshops, conferences and industry events.
• Collaborate with other business units to identify cross-disciplinary opportunities and develop integrated engineering solutions.

Requirements

Requirements

• Degree in Civil, Structural Marine Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) or an equivalent recognised professional institution.
• Minimum 10–15 years' relevant engineering experience, with substantial experience in marine, coastal or maritime infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience operating at Associate, Associate Director or equivalent senior engineering level within a consultancy or multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• Strong demonstrable technical expertise in all aspects of marine engineering
• Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and delivering complex infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrable experience managing client relationships, preparing technical proposals and contributing to business development activities.
• Proven experience across the full project lifecycle, including feasibility, design, procurement and construction support.
• Excellent commercial awareness, including project budgeting, fee management, resource planning and contractual risk management.
• Established experience of business development to include managing and growing relationships with private sector clients/contractors
• Established relationships with port authorities, public sector clients, contractors or marine infrastructure developers.
• Experience supporting offshore renewable energy infrastructure, including offshore wind port developments.
• Understanding of UK planning, licensing and consenting requirements.

Other information

What We Offer

We offer a competitive salary package along with a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support your professional growth and enhance your overall well-being:

• Competitive Salary: We offer a competitive salary package to attract and retain top talent in the industry.
• Flexible Working: Enjoy flexible working hours and hybrid working, allowing you to achieve a better work‑life balance.
• Employer Pension Match Scheme: We offer a pension match scheme to help you secure your financial future.
• Income Protection: Receive support in safeguarding your income in the event of illness or injury.
• Life Assurance: Gain peace of mind with life assurance coverage.
• Training and Development Programme: Access a range of training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Family & Well-Being Support: Benefit from our Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Benefits and our confidential support services to address personal or professional challenges, included in our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Sports and Social: Engage in our vibrant sports and social activities to foster a sense of community and well‑being among our team members.
• Increased Annual Leave: 25 days’ annual leave plus statutory bank holidays, enjoy increased annual leave entitlements based on years of service.
• Recognition Awards: Receive recognition for your contributions through our awards program, celebrating achievements and excellence.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.