Marine Associate Director

Tony Gee and Partners LLP; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in the UK is seeking an Associate Director/Director with coastal civil engineering expertise to drive strategic development and technical excellence across marine projects. The role offers opportunities to lead client engagements, develop proposals, and foster a high-performing technical team. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years' experience in coastal engineering and relevant advanced degrees. Competitive benefits and a flexible working environment are provided.

Benefits

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working hours

Generous company pension contributions

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of consultancy experience in coastal/marine civil engineering.
• Demonstrable track record leading large, technically complex coastal or marine engineering projects.
• Proficiency in leading the application of coastal modelling software.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development and technical excellence of coastal engineering projects.
• Drive and apply coastal engineering capability and growth strategy.
• Manage project budgets, programmes, and resource allocation.

Skills

Coastal engineering expertise

Business development

Client relationship management

Numerical modelling

Technical leadership

Education

MSc or PhD in Coastal/Marine Engineering, Oceanography, Hydrodynamics

Tools

HEC-RAS

MIKE by DHI

Delft3D

XBeach

Job description

Role Summary

Tony Gee and Partners is currently recruiting for a key individual to join our growing Marine team based in any of our UK offices. Base: Any Tony Gee UK Office - Ashford, Glasgow, Manchester or Birmingham Preferred. As an Associate Director/ Director with coastal civil engineering expertise, you will lead the strategic development, delivery and technical excellence of coastal, marine and maritime civil engineering projects for our clients. You will bring deep expertise in estuarine and coastal hydrodynamics, numerical modelling, wave‑structure interaction and coastal resilience. You will combine technical leadership with business development, client relationship management and team development. You will be responsible for ensuring the practice remains at the forefront of technical innovation, quality, safety and sustainability, driving growth and profitability while maintaining high standards of technical integrity and client service.

Responsibilities

• Drive and apply coastal engineering capability and growth strategy within the marine civil engineering business: identifying new market opportunities (UK & international), client sectors (ports, harbours, coastal defence, offshore support, renewable energy, urban waterfront, resilience engineering).
• Lead client engagements, build and maintain senior client relationships (government agencies, port authorities, developers, contractors, international multinationals).
• Lead proposal development, bid teams and tendering activities for frameworks and large‑scale contracts.
• Monitor market trends (coastal climate adaptation, sea‑level rise, resilience, wave energy, decommissioning) and help to position the business accordingly.
• Serve as the technical lead for major coastal & marine civil engineering projects: feasibility, optioneering, modelling (numerical including CFD modelling), design, construction support, monitoring and assessment.
• Provide expert oversight of hydrodynamic modelling, wave‑structure interaction analyses, overtopping and scour assessments, sediment transport, beach and foreshore works, harbour and breakwater design.
• Ensure projects adhere to relevant UK & international design standards and guidance (e.g. BS 6349, EurOtop, Rock Manual) and client/industry quality assurance.
• Review technical deliverables (reports, drawings, models, specifications), act as a final technical reviewer and mentor for senior engineers.
• Drive innovation in modelling methods, software tools (e.g. HEC‑RAS, MIKE by DHI, Delft3D, XBeach, CFD etc) and best practice approaches.
• Oversee risk management in terms of geotechnical, environmental, hydraulic, structural and contractual risks on coastal/marine projects.
• Lead cross‑discipline collaboration (marine, geotechnics, structural, environment, dredging) to deliver integrated solutions.
• Manage project budgets, programmes, resource allocation and ensure delivery to time, cost and quality.
• Build, lead and mentor a high‑performing coastal/marine engineering team (senior engineers, modellers, technicians).
• Foster an environment of continuous technical development, knowledge sharing, innovation and chartership progression.
• Set the technical direction and capability development plan for the practice (including training, research collaboration, publication, conferences).
• Possess knowledge and advise on the regulatory and consenting environment and promote a culture of safety and sustainability across the team.
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance, quality assurance, HSE, and sustainability requirements on projects.
• Represent the business in industry forums, professional institutions (e.g., Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and regulatory consultations).
  Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng) registered with ICE or equivalent recognised body.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of consultancy experience in coastal/marine civil engineering.
• MSc and/or PhD in Coastal/Marine Engineering, Oceanography, Hydrodynamics or closely related discipline (preferred).
• Demonstrable track record leading large, technically complex coastal or marine engineering projects (UK & international) including wave modelling, numerical modelling, wave‑structure interactions, port & harbour works, breakwaters, sea‑walls, revetments and beach/foreshore works.
• Proficiency in leading the application of coastal modelling software (e.g., MIKE, Delft3D, XBeach, CFD etc) and interpreting results in design context.
• Advanced technical experience in hydrodynamics, wave/wind/tide forcing, sediment transport, coastal processes and modelling frameworks.
• Proven team leadership, staff development, mentoring, plus experience in business development, client relationship management.
• Experience in working through project full lifecycle: feasibility, design, construction supervision and monitoring.

Desirable Skills

• Exceptional technical judgement and decision‑making capability.
• Strong commercial acumen: ability to manage budgets, resource utilisation, risk and opportunities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, able to engage with senior clients, stakeholders (including regulators), present at conferences, publish technical papers.
• Strong leadership presence, able to inspire technical teams, lead change and foster innovation.
• Advanced modelling literacy: able to review and challenge complex modelling outputs; comfortable commissioning physical and numerical modelling and interpreting results.
• Deep understanding of UK and international design codes, standards, procurement/contractual frameworks and environmental/permits regime.
• Strong understanding of sustainability, climate resilience, net‑zero initiatives and digital engineering trends.
• Ability to travel (UK & international) and to lead multi‑site/multi‑discipline teams.
• Highly self‑motivated and commercially aware.
• Credible, visible technical ambassador for the business, comfortable in the public/industry domain.

Benefits

• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Eye care vouchers
• Family friendly
• Flexible annual leave allowance
• Flexible working hours
• Fundraising & volunteering opportunities
• Generous company pension contributions
• Group income protection
• Life assurance
• Private medical insurance
• Social fund
• Travel insurance