Associate (Highways, Development & Infrastructure)

SYSTRA; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SYSTRA is seeking an Associate in the Highways, Development & Infrastructure team to lead designs, manage projects, and drive delivery for a range of highway schemes. You will oversee budgets, planning, and coordination across disciplines, while mentoring junior staff and ensuring compliance with technical standards.

The role focuses on development infrastructure from feasibility through detailed design, with strong client engagement and performance management across projects in the UK.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in highways and development infrastructure projects.
• Degree in Civil Engineering (MEng/MSc or BEng).
• Chartered status with ICE or CIHT preferred.
• Experience delivering projects within a consultancy environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead designs on mid-large scale highway and infrastructure projects.
• Coordinate with disciplines, prepare outputs, and manage budgets and resources.
• Oversee technical reports, cost estimates, and contract documents.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and collaborate with clients.

Skills

Highways/Development Infrastructure

Civil Engineering

Chartered Engineer

Project management

Team leadership

AutoCAD / Civil 3D

Health and Safety (CDM)

Client communication

Education

MEng/MSc or BEng in Civil Engineering

Chartered status (ICE or CIHT)

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Job description

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day.

For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

Context

The primary role of an Associate (HIghways, Development & Infrastructure) is to utilise substantial experience to win and deliver projects safely and in accordance with the divisional controls for bidding and revenue and margin delivery on projects, primarily for our Highways, Development & Infrastructure team, but working collaboratively across teams and projects as required.

The role will form part of an existing team already delivering a varied programme of highway and transportation schemes for a wide range of public and private sector clients across both the local and strategic highway networks. It will focus on development infrastructure projects from feasibility through to detailed design including highway design and drainage design, associated technical and statutory authority approvals.

Missions/Main Duties

• You will be responsible for managing and leading designs on mid-large scale projects, whilst also inputting and assisting in delivery, budgets, resourcing, planning, and programming on other projects with the senior team.
• Preparation of technical outputs, coordinating with other disciplines and represent the team internally and externally (Drawings, Specifications, Cost Estimates, Contract Documents and Technical Reports);
• Responsible for the financial, technical and project management control of the civil engineering aspects of projects of various sizes.
• Delegate to, manage and direct less experienced Engineers and Technicians involved on projects.
• Support the development of less experienced Engineers
• Responsible for all stages of highway designs (adoptable or non-adoptable) ensuring compliance with appropriate standards (DMRB, MCHW, MfS, TSM, Local Authority guides, etc)
• Design and detail highway and drainage infrastructure.
• Liaising with relevant project teams to ensure designs are fully co-ordinated.
• Liaising with other construction professionals in the development of designs
• Preparation and pricing of scope/briefs, proposals, and deliverables for new projects
• Identify, develop and maintain relationships with clients and understand ultimate objectives and desired outcomes for each project, effectively managing client expectations,
• Ensure successful project delivery to time, cost, quality and other contractual requirements
• Make presentations to clients, third parties and colleagues as appropriate
• Attend meetings with clients as required to effectively support project delivery and business development
• Undertake site visits to monitor the progress of works against specifications, and highlight issues to the contractor, client and/or (internal or external) project manager as necessary.
• Undertake line management responsibilities for up to 6 direct reports including onboarding, development, performance management, and retention of team members to build a high-performing and engaged team
• Communicate relevant business updates, strategic objectives, and key information to the team in a timely and effective manner, ensuring clarity and alignment
• Ensure full compliance with people policies and procedures, proactively managing people-related risks to maintain a fair and safe work environment
• Create and maintain a working environment in which SYSTRA’s behavioural expectations are recognised and demonstrated through daily interactions with colleagues and clients. Actively lead by example by consistently role-modelling SYSTRA behaviours, recognising and celebrating team members who exemplify these behaviours, providing constructive feedback for improvement, and fostering a supportive environment that enables all colleagues to contribute and develop

Profile/Skills

• Substantial experience in the Highways/Development Infrastructure sector
• MEng/MSc or BEng in Civil Engineering, or equivalent
• Chartered status (ICE or CIHT),
• Extensive Civil Engineering experience within a consultancy environment.
• Significant experience of taking a lead role in project delivery and manage dynamic project teams delivering high-quality projects successfully
• Substantial knowledge and experience of delivering highway design and appropriate approval processes
• Experience of highway technical design on major and minor projects including a good understanding of design principles and the ability to practically apply them,
• Substantial knowledge and use of appropriate standards (DMRB, MCHW, MfS, TSM, Local Authority guides, etc)
• Substantial knowledge of standard engineering practices and a demonstrable understanding of Health and Safety including CDM
• IT literate with excellent knowledge in the use of Auto-CAD/Civils 3D and/or other civil engineering packages to design and detail highway and drainage infrastructure.
• Substantial experience of project management and responsibility for financial and commercial aspects of projects.
• Experience of drainage design would be beneficial.
• Ability to determine appropriate solutions with innovation and value
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients and third parties
• Ability to effectively manage, mentor and supervise less experienced colleagues
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of design teams and project stakeholders
• Excellent written communication skills
• Ability to prepare technical reports and fee proposals which are fit for purpose.
• Ability to effectively represent the Company externally
• Ability to effectively manage own workload and that of others, prioritising competing demands

Workplace Type

Hybrid