Associate Director /Technical Director – Water Quality

WSP; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in Cambridge is seeking a water quality specialist to lead technical delivery on diverse projects, ensuring quality, schedule, and budget. You will guide teams, develop training, and shape project scopes in collaboration with the Water Quality Service Lead.

The role emphasizes stakeholder engagement, technical excellence, and advanced data presentation to clients and the public, with opportunities for progressing to chartership and people management.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualifications in a relevant subject (e.g., geography, geology, geochemistry, earth/environmental science, civil engineering or similar).
• Higher degree in a relevant discipline desirable but not essential.
• Working towards or having gained chartership with a relevant professional body.

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.
• Developing a programme of water quality training with the Water Quality Service Lead.
• Agreeing scopes of services with the team and Water Quality Service Lead.
• Generating high-quality bid proposals and developing innovative solutions for clients.
• Producing high-quality client- and public-facing deliverables, presenting data visually and interpretively.
• Collaborating with other sectors/disciplines to deliver water quality across projects.
• Promoting a safety-first attitude in line with policy and procedures.

Job description

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.
• Working closely 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 our clients' needs.
• Undertaking and supervising the production of high-quality client- and public-facing deliverables, demonstrating excellence in communication and an ability to present the visualisation and interpretation of complex data.
• Working collaboratively with other sectors/disciplines to deliver the water quality aspects of a wide range of challenging and engaging projects.
• Displaying and promoting a 'safety first' attitude in line with WSP's health and safety policy and procedures.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualifications in a relevant subject (e.g., geography, geology, geochemistry, earth/environmental science, civil engineering or similar).
• Higher degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., river or lake water quality, water chemistry, hydrogeochemistry, water management, environmental science, or similar), desirable but not essential.
• Working towards or having gained chartership with a relevant professional body.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

• Understanding of how river, lake and TraCs water quality is protected through UK regulations and EU related policy.
• Working knowledge of surface water quality and catchment modelling tools, EIA scoping, reviews and assessments for water/hydrology chapters.
• Strong understanding of UK water quality and environmental and regulatory framework.
• Experience of working on national level infrastructure projects such as DCOs, RAPID schemes or National Highways (e.g., use of HEWRAT, contributing to CEMPS, EMPS etc.).
• Strong project management and direction skills, including managing projects from start to finish and experience of framework management desirable.
• Clear understanding of client needs, the ability to win work and lead projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to engage and influence at all levels, including technical development of junior staff.
• Commercial awareness, experience of identifying and developing business opportunities and preparing winning proposals.
• Excellent report-writing, technical review, numerical and analytical skills with an eye for detail and enjoyment of solving challenging water quality problems.

EEO Statement

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. 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.