Associate Director / Technical Director – Civil Engineering (Water)

Tetra Tech Europe; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Tetra Tech is seeking an Associate Director/Technical Director in Civil Engineering (Water) with flexible UK location and hybrid working. You will lead multi-disciplinary teams on flood risk, drainage design and water infrastructure projects across the UK, ensuring technical excellence, profitability and client satisfaction.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate designs, and drive project delivery from option development through to final solutions, while maintaining strong client relationships

Qualifications

• Degree in civil, structural or water engineering
• Chartered with ICE or CIWEM
• UK project experience essential
• Full UK driving licence
• Eligibility for SC clearance advantageous

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of infrastructure river engineering, flood alleviation and water projects across the UK.
• Client facing with commercial accountability for projects.
• Guide technical development from option development through to detailed design solutions.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary inputs and mentor technical staff.
• Engage with clients and project managers, informing decision-making at key stages.

Skills

Technical Expertise

Project and commercial management

Leadership and people development

Project Delivery & Development

Stakeholder and client engagement

Health, safety and continuous improve

Education

Degree in relevant discipline

Chartered with ICE or CIWEM

Job description

Associate Director/Technical Director - Civil Engineering (Water) - Flexible Location

At Tetra Tech, you’ll work on high-impact projects across the UK, helping to tackle some of the most complex engineering and environmental challenges facing our society: By tackling storm overflow pollution and developing water reuse infrastructure you will improve water quality and reduce water scarcity. This is complex, challenging truly multi-disciplinary work. If you want to make a real environmental impact, join our team.

We have opportunities across the UK

Purpose & Scope of the Role

This is an opportunity to work on a high-profile programme of work with clear environmental benefits, focused on delivering better outcomes for rivers and wastewater assets.

As an Associate Director/Technical Director within our Flood Risk and Sustainable Water Engineering team, you will lead the delivery of a wide range of infrastructure river engineering, flood alleviation and development projects across the UK.. This role will be Client Facing with commercial and financial accountability for your projects. You will lead the outline and detailed design shaping solutions to meet Client needs outcomes and budgets. You will lead the technical development of schemes, coordinate multidisciplinary inputs, and help guide projects from early option development through to agreed design solutions.

You will be the point of Contact with the Client and project managers, leading a team of Engineers, hydraulic modellers, environmental specialists and other consultants, taking ownership of technical outputs and inform decision-making at key stages. This role suits an experienced engineer with strong knowledge of water company projects, CSO improvement work & river engineering.

You will be involved throughout the project lifecycle, from early-stage optioneering and client engagement through to detailed design and delivery to project close-out.

Your Impact in this position

You will be responsible for delivering effective, sustainable flood risk and drainage solutions that support resilient communities, infrastructure and the environment. Your technical understanding will help clients navigate complex planning and environmental requirements, while your collaboration and mentoring will strengthen team capability and project outcomes. In the longer term you will shape delivery strategy, develop future leaders and contribute to business growth and contract development.

Core Capabilities

• Technical Expertise Experience in Civil engineering, hydraulics and drainage design including nature-based and sustainable design. chartered with either the ICE or CIWEM.
• Project and commercial management - Strong track record of delivering projects to time and budget, managing risk, forecasting commercial performance and supporting bids and proposals.
• Leadership and people development – Client Facing, p roven ability to lead, motivate and manage multidisciplinary teams, set priorities, drive performance and mentor technical staff.
• Project Delivery & Development - Experience in leading projects from inception through to delivery; Ability to deliver project management activities and assist with bids and proposals.
• Stakeholder and client engagement - Skilled at building collaborative client relationships, influencing at senior levels and translating technical outcomes into actionable business decisions.
• Health, safety and continuous improvement - Demonstrable commitment to H&S, quality assurance and implementing continual improvement to raise efficiency and delivery standards.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Degree in a relevant discipline with experience in civil, structural or water engineering, Holding chartership with ICE or CIWEM. UK project experience is essential, along with a full UK driving licence. Eligibility for SC clearance is advantageous.

Working Environment

This role can be based in any of our leading UK offices, preferably Manchester, Bristol or Leeds however other locations can be considered. Hybrid working is supported. Projects are UK wide, so occasional travel and flexibility in working hours may be required.

About Tetra Tech

Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting and engineering services working across the full project lifecycle worldwide. We have a wide range of expertise across our teams, providing a global support network with a personalised approach to client relationships to better understand where we can add value. We provide a collaborative environment that supports individual performance, innovation, and creativity.

We support public and private sector clients on local, national, and international projects to deliver sustainable and resilient solutions. Our operations in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands include more than 6,000 employees who Leading with Science to solve our clients’s most complex problems.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. This could include adaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day-to-day role