Director - Discipline Team Leader - Building Structures

WSP; Clydebank; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A multinational consulting firm is seeking a Director for Structures Scotland. This role requires inspirational leadership and strategic management of a team focused on diverse engineering projects. The ideal candidate will have experience in construction and business development, alongside strong interpersonal skills. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence major projects and support business growth in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in delivering growth and profit in property sector.
• Experience leading a team and developing individuals at senior level.
• Strong reputation in London market with relevant supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Provide inspirational leadership and strategic direction.
• Act as Project Director for significant projects.
• Accountable for operational performance and commercial management.

Skills

Experience in the construction industry

Strong Business Development focus

Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Leadership capabilities

Education

Chartered Structural or Civil Engineer

Approved Certifier of Design (SER) status

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you. Our portfolio of work is diverse and continues to expand. In the UK WSP specialises in providing consulting, management and design services to a variety of public and private sector clients. The business has successfully completed numerous high profile building projects, both new and refurbished, across a variety of sectors including civic, aviation, rail, commercial, education, health, hotel, industrial, data centres, leisure, residential, retail as well as stadia and arenas.

Our structures teams have been involved in many high-profile UK projects and complex structural engineering challenges such as Buckingham Palace, Claridge’s Hotel, London Bridge Quarter (including The Shard and the re-development of London Bridge Station), Crossrail Bond Street Station and oversite redevelopment, HS2 Stations in London and Birmingham and Alder Hey and Great Ormond Street Hospitals. In Scotland we continue to deliver major healthcare, higher education and data centre projects alongside our expertise in refurbishment and heritage projects.

The truly multidisciplinary nature of the organisation means that WSP is able to offer a wealth of experience in all sectors and has cemented their reputation at the forefront of the market.

Structures Scotland

Our Structures team in Scotland works from our Glasgow and Edinburgh offices with around 30 engineers and technicians split evenly between both locations. The offices work together as one regional unit and report operationally as one unit. Around the UK each of our structures teams is led by a discipline team leader (DTL) reporting their respective regional discipline leader.

Structures Scotland is successful because we have maintained a diverse workload in key sectors underpinned by major project delivery in healthcare, higher education and data centre sectors – we are currently engaged in the design and delivery of the civil and structural engineering design for the new Monklands Replacement Project for example. We are on track to exceed our revenue budget for 2025 and have robust secured workload to support our budgeted team growth and fee income in 2026.

As a result of senior staff role changes and succession-planning we need to fill the role of Director Structures Scotland (DTL). The DTL will report to the Head of North but will be fully responsible and accountable for the Structures Scotland team from the beginning of their appointment. All responsibilities and accountabilities listed below will be undertaken by the DTL, within the framework of the UK P&B strategy and Structures UK leadership.

A little more about your role…

Leadership:

• Providing highly visible, inspirational leadership, strategic direction and support for the centre
• Contributing to the national Property & Buildings business - liaising and providing support to other offices and teams. Attend Structures DTL meetings as required.
• Promoting WSP Vision and Values
• Leading/support on recruitment, staff development and personal development reviews
• Leading and supporting and implementing strategies for resource management
• Inspiring the teams through actions and behaviours aligned to the WSP values
• Liaising with other parts of WSP and assist in the co-delivery to our clients a range of multi-disciplinary building design, transportation and environmental services
• Encouraging open and effective two- way communication and contribution including holding regular team meetings.

Business Development and Marketing:

• Build on a culture of Business Development in the centre.
• Actively secure work through existing contacts and new focused marketing initiatives
• Remain a point of contact for key clients and adopt key account management processes
• Generate new and repeat business through focused marketing efforts
• Lead Business Development Initiatives within the London office including attendance at monthly BD/Marketing Update meeting.

Technical and Project Management

• Act as Project Director on strategic and/or significant projects. The role is based on a minimum average utilisation of 50%
• Attend principal meetings and make client presentations
• Instil a strong project management and project delivery culture
• Maintain/raise the level of technical competence and innovation within the teams
• Support strategic innovation
• Promote technical excellence in all our projects
• Undertake technical reviews and contribute to the concept design
• Undertake Project Reviews and act as Project Director on significant projects.
• Represent Structures Scotland at monthly DELG meetings.
• Provide line management to appropriate staff

Commercial:

• Accountable for the operational performance of Structures Scotland
• Accountable for the commercial management of projects
• Responsible for all aspects of developing and implementing budgetary strategies, including fee bidding, working capital management, debtors, invoicing and project forecasting
• Implement the project delivery systems and structures
• Deliver monthly management meetings for team leaders within 50212, which includes an interface with Health & Safety, HR and Finance teams.
• Attend and report on behalf of Structures Scotland at weekly UK Structures Resource calls
• Attend and report on behalf of Structures Scotland at month end performance reviews.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Experience in the construction industry, in particular in the property sector
• Proven track record in delivering growth and profit against a background of excellent client care and a motivated team
• Strong Business Development focus with a good reputation in the London market place within relevant supply chains (asset owners, architects, other relevant professional services firms and contractors)
• Proven experience of work winning, client care, repeat business and a considerable client facing role
• Evidence of creating and/or maintaining a culture of Business Development within a team
• Experience in leading a team of people, able to recruit, develop and retain individuals at the most senior level
• Experience in developing and retaining ECPs
• Proven track record of project delivery, including notable projects across a variety of sectors, major developments and multidisciplinary working
• Previous experience in working within a variety of sectors.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, particularly demonstrating the ability to influence and negotiate both internally and externally
• Experience in driving a culture of team work, through an open and inclusive leadership style
• Chartered Structural or Civil Engineer with an interest in promoting technical excellence and innovation
• Hold Approved Certifier of Design (SER) status in Scotland and act as Certifier of Design when appropriate

This is a fantastic and interesting opportunity for an ambitious individual to take a senior leadership role in the WSP UK Structures business with a view to potential further progression in the future. The UK business is keen to support an individual who can help grow the business in line with discipline and UK strategies. The scale and complexity of the projects that WSP UK get involved with and their holistic method of working make them one of the leading players within the market. The success of this role will be pivotal to continue the success into the future and the right individual will ultimately gain considerable recognition and reward for their contribution.

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team.

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