Management - Technical Director

Avove Limited; East Midlands, Birmingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension scheme

Life assurance

Private GP Helpline

Health Cash Plan

Avove Discount Scheme

Family friendly policies

Volunteer days and charity matching

Job summary

Avove Limited seeks a Technical Director to lead the Severn Trent Water Design team from Derby or Birmingham. This permanent role requires steering the design input from concept to commissioning, with responsibility for technical excellence and multidisciplinary leadership.

You will manage senior staff, drive PDRs, and maintain relationships with clients to identify future opportunities while ensuring health, safety, and environmental compliance across projects.

Qualifications

• Strong technical background in water and wastewater design.
• Computer literate with MS Office; basic AutoCAD knowledge.
• Strong written and oral communication and organisational skills.
• Proven ability to lead in a team environment and meet deadlines.
• Client-focused service delivery approach.
• Self-motivated with drive for continuous improvement.
• Strong health & safety focus.
• Degree qualification, preferably with professional qualifications.
• Full UK Driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead design input (technical, commercial, risk) into tenders per Avove governance.
• Own relationships with client organisations to identify opportunities.
• Provide national technical leadership within the Water Design business.
• Develop design services to improve technical excellence.
• Prepare and update technical datasheets, case studies, and briefing notes.
• Manage senior staff and drive performance through PDRs.
• Set culture and performance agenda for the Design Team.
• Monitor project budgets and staff utilisation; report resources/finances.
• Coordinate specialist sub-consultant and supplier support as needed.
• Ensure design team has necessary skills, resources, and systems.

Skills

Water/wastewater design

Leadership

Project management

Communication

MS Office proficiency

Team leadership

Driving licence

Education

Relevant degree with professional qualifications

Tools

AutoCAD

MS Office

Job description

We’re looking for a Technical Director to lead on our Severn Trent Water Design team.

Location: Derby or Birmingham. We will also consider applications from candidates located outside the region, provided they can travel to and work from one of our Avove offices when required.

Contract Type: Permanent

As Technical Director you will lead our design team on the Severn Trent Water Framework, playing a key role in the delivery of some of the region’s most important water and wastewater projects.

In this strategic leadership role, you will provide technical direction, inspire and develop multidisciplinary design teams, and ensure the successful delivery of innovative, high-quality solutions from concept through to detailed design, construction and commissioning. You will be instrumental in driving technical excellence, fostering collaboration, and helping shape the future of sustainable water infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design input (technical, commercial, risk) into tenders in accordance with the Avove governance process.
• Own relationships with Key individuals within client organisations, identify future opportunities and understand potential future opportunities.
• Provide national technical leadership within the Water Design business.
• Develop design services to deliver and improve technical excellence in accordance with business aspirations.
• Provision, review and updating of technical datasheets, case studies, technical papers/briefing notes as required.
• Manage senior staff within the design team. Carryout PDRs for senior staff and drive the importance of PDRs and consistent objectives throughout the team.
• Set the agenda in terms of culture and performance for the Design Team.
• Preparation and monitoring of project budgets and staff utilisation including the reporting of project resources and finances.
• Identify and secure specialist sub-consultant and supplier support when needed.
• Ensure that the design team have the right skills, resources and systems to deliver the requisite design service.
• Provide project challenge where appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant health, safety and environmental legislation, particularly the CDM Regulations.

About you

• A strong technical background in the design of water and wastewater non-infrastructure projects.
• Computer literate and conversant with the MS Office suite with a basic knowledge of engineering packages such as AutoCAD.
• Strong written and oral communication and organisational skills
• Proven ability to lead and work within a team environment with a dedicated approach to meeting project deadlines.
• Client focused approach to service delivery.
• Self-motivated with the drive to achieve continuous improvement targets.
• Strong health & safety focus.
• Candidates should have a relevant degree qualification preferably with an additional professional qualification(s)
• Full UK Driving licence

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Visa process. Applicants must therefore have, and maintain, an alternative right to work for the duration of employment.

What’s in it for you?

• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Private GP Helpline & Health Cash Plan
• Avove Discount Scheme
• Family friendly policies
• A selection of lifestyle benefit optionsFinancial wellbeing programme
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing and onsite mental health first aiders to support our colleagues
• We love to give back so we offer you volunteering days in your community and charity matched giving where we will boost your fundraising.

At Avove, we’re proud to create an environment where people can build meaningful careers, develop their skills and feel supported to reach their full potential. We invest in training and development, provide opportunities to grow, and are committed to a workplace where safety, wellbeing and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do. With a strong focus on supporting our people and their families through a broad range of benefits, Avove is a place where you can feel valued, make a real impact and take the next step in your career with confidence.

About Avove

Avove is a leading infrastructure services provider, delivering critical utility and energy solutions across the UK. With a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and innovation, we specialise in the design, maintenance, and renewal of essential infrastructure for water, energy, and telecoms networks. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to long‑term investment in training, development, and modern equipment to support our teams in delivering high-quality, reliable services for our clients and communities.

We are an equal opportunities employer

At the heart of what we do is a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We celebrate what makes each of us unique and are building a workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves. If you require any reasonable adjustments or support during the application or interview process, please let us know and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can support you.