Associate Director - Civil Engineer (Water)

Russell Taylor Group; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Taylor Group is seeking an Associate Director / Technical Director in Civil Engineering (Water) to lead a portfolio of river engineering, flood alleviation and water infrastructure projects in the UK. You will shape technical solutions from feasibility to detailed design and provide leadership across engineers, hydraulics and environmental specialists.

The role offers hybrid working with preferred locations including Manchester, Bristol or Leeds, and travel across the UK.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil, Structural, Water Engineering or related discipline.
• Chartered status with ICE or CIWEM.
• Experience in civil engineering, hydraulics and drainage design.
• Delivery of UK water-sector projects.
• Experience with water company projects, CSO improvements or river engineering.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects.
• Strong client and stakeholder management and commercial awareness.
• Commitment to health, safety and quality.
• UK driving licence holder.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of complex water, flood risk and river engineering projects.
• Develop outline and detailed design solutions.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate inputs.
• Build long-term client relationships and manage senior stakeholders.
• Provide technical advice and support key decisions.
• Manage project risks, budgets, forecasting and commercial performance.
• Contribute to bids, proposals and contract development.
• Mentor engineers and develop future technical leaders.
• Drive health, safety, quality and continuous improvement.

Skills

Senior water/civil engineering

Client leadership

Commercial awareness

Health & safety commitment

Team leadership

Technical problem solving

UK project delivery

Stakeholder management

Driving licence

Hydraulics & drainage

Education

Civil/Structural/Water Engineering degree

Chartered status (ICE or CIWEM)

Job description

Vacancy Title: Associate Director - Civil Engineer (Water) Salary: Excellent salary package + flexible working arrangements Vacancy Title: Associate Director - Civil Engineer (Water) Contract Type: Permanent Location: Leeds Industry: Civil & Structural Salary: Excellent salary package + flexible working arrangements Start Date: 2026-05-04 REF: J91988458 Contact Name: Tony Marsden Contact Email: [e-mail] Vacancy Published: 1 day ago

Associate Director / Technical Director - Civil Engineering (Water)

Flexible UK Location | Hybrid Working

Salary - £75,000 to £85,000 plus excellent benefits package

Are you an experienced Senior Civil Engineer with a strong background in water, hydraulics, drainage or river engineering, looking for an opportunity where your technical expertise can make a genuine environmental and societal impact?

We are working with a leading multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental consultancy that is expanding its senior leadership capability within its Flood Risk & Sustainable Water Engineering team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is looking to take that next step into an Associate Director / Technical Director position and to take a leading role on high-profile programmes of work focused on improving water quality, reducing flood risk and delivering more resilient water infrastructure across the UK.

The Opportunity

You’ll take a senior role in the delivery of a diverse portfolio of river engineering, flood alleviation, drainage and water infrastructure projects, working closely with major clients and multidisciplinary project teams.

You’ll be responsible for shaping technical solutions from early optioneering and feasibility through to detailed design and delivery, while providing technical leadership across Engineers, Hydraulic Modellers, Environmental Specialists and other consultants.

As a key client contact, you’ll combine technical leadership with project, commercial and financial accountability, ensuring projects are delivered effectively, sustainably and in line with client objectives and budgets.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the technical delivery of complex water, flood risk and river engineering projects.
• Develop and shape outline and detailed design solutions.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate technical inputs.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with clients and senior stakeholders.
• Provide technical advice and support key project and client decisions.
• Manage project risks, budgets, forecasting and commercial performance.
• Contribute to bids, proposals and wider contract development.
• Support and mentor engineers, helping develop the next generation of technical leaders.
• Drive high standards of health & safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the wider growth and delivery strategy of the business.

About You

We’re looking for an established water/civil engineering professional who combines strong technical capability with commercial awareness and confident client leadership.

You’ll ideally bring:

• A degree in Civil, Structural, Water Engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered status with ICE or CIWEM.
• Strong experience in civil engineering, hydraulics and drainage design, including sustainable/nature-based solutions.
• Significant experience delivering UK water-sector projects.
• Experience of water company projects, CSO improvement programmes and/or river engineering.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex projects.
• Strong client and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial awareness, including project financial management and supporting bids/proposals.
• A demonstrable commitment to health & safety and quality.
• UK project experience and a full UK driving licence.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is more than a project delivery role. It offers the chance to influence major UK water and environmental programmes, develop people, shape technical strategy and play an important role in growing a successful specialist team.

You’ll work on challenging, multidisciplinary projects addressing issues such as storm overflow pollution, water quality, flood resilience and water reuse - work with tangible environmental benefits and a clear long-term purpose.

The role offers hybrid working and genuine flexibility around location, with opportunities available across the UK. Manchester, Bristol and Leeds are preferred locations, although other UK offices can be considered. Some UK-wide travel will be required.

Interested?

If you’re an experienced Associate, Principal Engineer or Senior Civil/Water Engineer who is ready to take the next step in your career - and you want to work on projects that have a genuine environmental impact - I’d be keen to hear from you.

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