Associate Director /Technical Director – Water Quality

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible leave

Wellbeing support

Diversity & inclusion

CPD & chartership

Job summary

WSP is seeking an Associate / Technical Director in Sustainable Water Management Consulting to lead a portfolio of high-profile water quality projects across infrastructure, water resources and the environment. You will direct technically, mentor staff, develop training and oversee bid proposals and client deliverables.

You'll collaborate across disciplines, promote a safety-first culture, and drive innovative solutions while managing scope, outcomes and performance in a flexible hybrid work

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in geography, geology, geochemistry, earth/environmental science, civil engineering.
• Experience on national-level infrastructure projects (DCOs, RAPID, National Highways).
• Strong project management and direction skills; framework management experience desirable.
• Excellent report-writing, numerical and analytical skills.
• Chartered or working toward chartership with a relevant professional body.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery of water quality projects.
• Provide project direction including financial and change control; ensure quality assurance.
• Mentor, develop and supervise junior colleagues; potential People Management.
• Develop water quality training programmes with the Water Quality Service Lead.
• Define scopes of services in collaboration with the team.
• Generate high-quality bid proposals and innovative solutions for clients.
• Oversee production of client- and public-facing deliverables with clear communication of complex data.
• Collaborate with other sectors to deliver water quality aspects of projects.
• Promote a safety-first culture in line with health and safety policy.

Skills

Project management

Client engagement

Bid proposals

Data analysis

Mentoring

Education

Degree-level qualification in a relevant subject

Higher degree desirable

Chartered or working toward chartership

Job description

Position: Associate / Technical Director – Sustainable Water Management Consulting

As an Associate / Technical Director within WSP’s Sustainable Water Management Consulting group, you will lead a portfolio of high-profile projects addressing water quality challenges in the water resources, environmental and infrastructure sectors. Your role will involve technical delivery, project direction, mentoring, training development, bid proposal generation, client-facing deliverables, collaboration across disciplines, and promoting a safety‑first culture.

Responsibilities

• Leading the technical delivery of projects covering all aspects of water quality.
• Project direction including financial and change control, and quality assurance through checking and reviewing.
• Mentoring, developing and supervising junior colleagues (with opportunities for formal People Management).
• Working with the Water Quality Service Lead to develop a programme of water quality training.
• Collaborating with the team and the Water Quality Service Lead to develop and agree scopes of services.
• Generating high quality bid proposals and developing innovative solutions to meet client needs.
• Overseeing the production of high quality client- and public-facing deliverables, demonstrated through excellence in communication and the presentation of complex data.
• Collaborating with other sectors/disciplines to deliver water quality aspects of diverse projects.
• Displaying and promoting a ‘safety first’ attitude in line with WSP's health and safety policy and procedures.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree-level qualifications in a relevant subject (e.g., geography, geology, geochemistry, earth/environmental science, civil engineering). Higher degree desirable.
• Experience working on national-level infrastructure projects such as DCOs, RAPID schemes, or National Highways (HEWRAT, CEMPS, EMPS).
• Strong project management and direction skills, with experience managing projects from start to finish; framework management experience desirable.
• Clear understanding of client needs, with a track record of leading and winning work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence at all levels and develop junior staff.
• Strong commercial awareness; experience in identifying and developing business opportunities and preparing winning proposals.
• Excellent report-writing, technical review, numerical and analytical skills, with an eye for detail and a passion for solving challenging water quality problems.
• Chartered or working toward chartership with a relevant professional body.

Benefits

• Flexible hybrid working – home two days a week and modern offices across the UK.

• Work‑life balance initiatives such as “WSP My Hour” and flexible leave options.

• Health & wellbeing support – Thrive programme, virtual GP service, gym membership schemes, menopause support.

• Inclusivity and belonging – diverse workforce, employee resource groups, culture of inclusion.

• Continuous professional development – training, mentoring and chartership support.

Equal Opportunity

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status or pregnancy. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. Please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.