Director - AMP8 Water Utilities Growth

ARUP; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in the UK is seeking a motivated individual for a leadership role focused on the water utility market. The candidate will build strong relationships with clients and partners, drive collaboration, and promote innovative approaches. This position requires excellent networking skills and the ability to influence key stakeholders. Candidates should hold a degree and relevant chartership, with experience in maximizing business opportunities within frameworks. An inspiring workplace culture and various benefits are offered, including healthcare and professional development.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Profit share

Flexible benefits

Learning opportunities

Qualifications

• Good understanding of the political, regulatory and industry context that Water Companies are operating within.
• Strong network of senior c-suite contacts across the UK utility market.
• Ability to ‘future-gaze’ and provide credible advice grounded in strong understanding of the sector.
• Experience of working successfully to maximise opportunities within a framework.
• Enthusiasm to consider new ways of working and champion digital and data-enabled insights.
• Willingness to challenge constructively both internally and externally.
• Be inquisitive and motivated to continuously learn and question the status quo.
• Ability to build followership and understanding to help enthuse and empower members.

Responsibilities

• Lead UK water utility market-facing activities and drive collaboration.
• Build client and partner relationships and ensure accurate market understanding.
• Promote a client-centric culture and advise on investment.
• Stay ahead of market trends and lead communications and work winning initiatives.
• Maximise value from existing frameworks and secure new business opportunities.

Skills

Understanding of political and regulatory context

Strong network of senior contacts

Ability to provide credible advice

Maximizing opportunities within a framework

Championing digital and data-enabled insights

Constructive challenge internally and externally

Inquisitive and motivated to learn

Building followership

Education

Degree level education

Chartership at a relevant professional body

Job description

Joining Arup

At Arup we recognise the critical role water plays in sustaining life, enabling economic growth and regenerating the natural environment. We aim to work with others to shape a new future for the water sector. We will help drive change through influencing the policy agenda and building the supporting frameworks, enabling growth in global investment in water infrastructure, helping organisations deliver on their purpose and be fit for the future and enhancing water resilience and stimulating nature recovery.

Our UK Water Business has been growing at pace for the past five years; expanding the range of services, our client reach and level of influence. Linking with our colleagues from diverse backgrounds we have retained our focus on value-based work with purpose whilst developing a healthy pipeline, award recognition for delivery and established an enthusiastic cohort members dedicated to deliver of water across the water and project lifecycle. We have secured multiple routes to market in England and Wales for AMP8 and into AMP9 plus Northern Ireland, working for most of the UK water companies; at the last count over 2,000 individuals were assisting with delivery.

The role

This is a Region level leadership role focussed on leading UK water utility market-facing activities, driving collaboration, and supporting growth, aligning the firm reputation, strategic priorities, and resource planning with client needs and external market conditions. You will be part of a small Senior Leadership Team reporting directly to the Regional Water Business Lead, Catherine Wenger.

You will drive client and partner relationship activities, ensure accurate market understanding, represent the firm externally, and contribute to global business success through collaboration and best practice sharing. You will promote a client-centric culture, set strategic priorities, advise on investment, and shape marketing activities. Staying ahead of market trends will be vital, as well as advocating on key issues, leading communications and work winning initiatives.

Arup has already secured many long-term framework contracts across a wide range of services including engineering design, design and build and broader strategic services. We need to maximise our value from these existing frameworks and ensure that we continue to renew and secure new frameworks as they come to the market. As part of the ability to drive best value, as opposed to purely maximising income, we wish to further enhance our relationships and influence across the range of c‑suite executives within our key clients.

Is this role right for you?

You will be a motivated, enthusiastic, curious, and competent individual with a strong track record of delivery through building excellent client and partner relationships, with the ability to maximise opportunities and routes to market and engage and motivate across a large organisation.

You will require the following knowledge, skills and attributes:

• Good understanding of the political, regulatory and industry context that Water Companies are operating within.
• Strong network of senior c‑suite contacts across the UK utility market – both with partner and client organisations – to be able to convene and influence for optimal understanding, insight, visibility, positioning and delivery.
• Ability to ‘future-gaze’ and provide credible advice grounded in strong understanding of the sector.
• Experience of working successfully to maximise opportunities within a framework.
• Enthusiasm to consider new ways of working and champion digital and data-enabled insights recognising that over the lifespan of the frameworks working patterns and requirements will change dramatically.
• Willingness to challenge constructively both internally and externally in a manner which helps bring clarity and introduce novel and innovative approaches to resolve issues.
• Be inquisitive and motivated to continuously learn and question the status quo both in a technical and broader social context. Canvas opinions, source new ideas and proactively bring those into discussions.
• Ability to build followership and understanding to help enthuse and empower members.

Qualifications

Education to degree level; chartership at a relevant professional body.

Please note candidates can be based from any of our UK offices.

What We Offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact [e-mail] to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/.

Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.

All applications will be considered, and we will make every effort to respond within 72 hours of receipt. Please note that response times may be subject to delays during the festive period.

Closing Date: 9th January 2026