Associate Director - Facade Engineering

WSP; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking an Associate Director to lead the Façade Engineering team, directing design and delivery of façade projects, developing client relationships, winning new work, and contributing to growth and reputation of the business.

The role requires a capable technical leader who can manage multidisciplinary delivery, provide strategic advice, mentor future leaders, and drive commercial success while upholding WSP values and standards.

Qualifications

• A recognised degree in built environment discipline.
• Experience in façade design/engineering or related building physics/sustainability.
• Willingness to progress towards Chartered Engineer status.
• Strong technical and design skills in building envelope design and detailing.
• Ability to manage workload and communicate with diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of façade projects from concept to construction.
• Lead client meetings, presentations and design reviews.
• Oversee technical quality and coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces.
• Mentor engineers and promote collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop client relationships and pursue new business opportunities.
• Lead bids, proposals and negotiations; contribute to strategy and growth.
• Represent WSP in industry forums and knowledge sharing.
• Support design meetings and prepare design reports.

Skills

Client relationship management

Project leadership

Technical façade design

Multi-disciplinary coordination

Chartered status pursuit

Education

Built environment degree

Tools

Strand7

ANSYS

SolidWorks

Mepla

Vitrages

Bisco

Trisco

Builddesk

Flixo

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

A little more about the role...

The Associate Director will play a key leadership role within the Façade Engineering team, responsible for leading the design and delivery of façade projects, developing client relationships, winning new work, and contributing to the growth and reputation of the business. The role requires a highly capable technical leader who can successfully manage multidisciplinary project delivery, provide strategic advice to clients, develop future leaders within the team, and actively contribute to achieving business objectives through work winning, market engagement, and client account development. The Associate Director will act as a trusted adviser to clients and a role model for technical excellence, collaboration, and commercial awareness.

• Lead the delivery of façade engineering projects from concept through construction. Lead client meetings, presentations, workshops and design reviews.
• Act as Project Director, Project Manager or Discipline Lead on complex and high-profile projects. Manage project risks, programme, resources and commercial performance. Ensure compliance with WSP quality, governance and project delivery procedures.
• Oversee technical quality and compliance with relevant standards, regulations and project requirements. Coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces including architecture, structures, MEP, fire, sustainability, acoustics and access maintenance.
• Provide technical direction, design reviews and mentoring to project teams. Mentor and develop engineers, senior engineers, associates and future leaders. Promote a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team culture. Encourage knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the team.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, architects, developers, contractors and key stakeholders. Act as a trusted adviser, providing strategic and commercially focused façade engineering advice.
• Identify opportunities to add value and expand services within existing client accounts. Participate in strategic client engagement activities including networking events, roundtables and industry forums. Support client satisfaction initiatives and proactively seek feedback.
• Lead or support bids, proposals, fee submissions and interview presentations. Represent WSP during key project negotiations and technical discussions.
• Contribute to strategic business planning and annual revenue targets. Actively identify and pursue new business opportunities with both existing and prospective clients. Promote cross-selling opportunities across WSP disciplines. Collaborate with sector leaders and multidisciplinary teams to strengthen client relationships across WSP.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to identify emerging opportunities.
• Lead by example in demonstrating WSP values and behaviours.
• Raise the profile of WSP within the façade engineering industry. Contribute to technical publications, conference presentations and industry working groups. Enhance WSP's reputation as a trusted market-leading façade engineering consultant.
• Participate in design meetings, contributing to discussions and presenting scheme calculations and sketches.
• Conduct research on potential cladding materials.
• Prepare design reports for various stages of the project, including concept, scheme, and detail.
• Collaborate with architects, structural engineers, environmental engineers, fire engineers, acousticians, and contractors.
• Participate in site inspections and assist in writing/reviewing reports.
• Carry out project delivery reviews, identify areas of improvements and feed back to the whole team via lessons learnt sessions.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

• A recognised degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) in built environment discipline (Façade Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture or similar area)
• Proven experience in a façade design/engineering role or other relevant industry experience in building physics and sustainability design
• A willingness to progress towards Chartered Engineer status with a recognized professional institution.
• In-depth technical and design skills related to building envelope design and detailing, construction techniques, procurement routes and risk assessment
• Ability to maintain personal effectiveness particularly during periods of higher-than-normal workload
• Ability to communicate with people at all levels in both technical and non-technical environments and to develop and maintain successful client relationships.
• Planning and organizational skills with excellent communications skills (both written and verbal).
• Understanding of and some ability to use analysis software tools (structural or thermal) such as Strand7, ANSYS, Solid Works, Mepla, Vitrages, Bisco, Trisco, Builddesk or Flixo will be an advantage.
• Familiarity with international codes including European standards will be a plus.

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.