Technical Director / Associate Director: Ground Engineering

AECOM; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Technical Director / Associate Director for Ground Engineering to lead technical development and strengthen client relationships. In this senior role you will oversee geotechnical data and design calculations, mentor junior engineers, and coordinate multi-disciplinary projects for UK and international clients.

The position supports a hybrid work model and offers opportunities across energy, water, rail and other ground engineering initiatives.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or Engineering Geology with a 2:1 classification (or equivalent) or higher.
• MSc/MEng in Soil Mechanics, Geotechnical Engineering or Engineering Geology is advantageous.
• Chartered status and strong knowledge of UK ground conditions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee input, peer review and verification of geotechnical data and design calculations.
• Provide consultative advice through all project stages including site selection and optioneering, design and construction.
• Effectively manage geotechnical projects including planning, scheduling, coordination and budget.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to the Ground Engineering team to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
• Maintain relationships with clients to support a healthy pipeline of opportunities.
• Lead multi-disciplinary project delivery with internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentor junior team members and foster professional development.

Skills

Geotechnical expertise

Leadership and mentoring

Client relationship management

Project coordination

Collaboration

Education

Bachelors in Civil Engineering or Engineering Geology

MSc/MEng in Soil Mechanics/Geotechnical Engineering

Chartered status

Job description

Technical Director / Associate Director: Ground Engineering

• Full-time
• State/Province: Newcastle upon Tyne
• Business Group: DCS
• Legal Entity: AECOM Limited
• Business Line: Transportation
• Work Location Model: Hybrid
• Operating Group: International
• Primary Location: UK - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

At AECOM, our Ground Engineering Practice serves a wide range of end markets including the energy, water, nuclear (decommissioning and new build), defence, aviation, ports, data centres, highways and rail. We provide one-stop access to services in feasibility and desktop studies, ground investigation, interpretation, detailed design, contract administration, technical advisory and construction supervision for geotechnical works.

We work for leading UK and International clients, including National Grid, BP, Sellafield, Associated British Ports, Transport Scotland, National Highways, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Network Rail, and local authorities, as well as for prominent contractors and developers. Our impressive portfolio features a range of regional and national projects, such as the Great Grid Upgrade, STEP Fusion, pumped storage hydro projects in the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia VIP, A83 Rest and be Thankful, M54-M6 Link Road, water schemes for various water utilities clients (UK&I) and HMNB Devonport redevelopment. Additionally, we are involved in overseas projects such as Eastlink in Sweden.

As our business continues to expand nationwide, we are dedicated to fostering high-performing teams across all sectors through strong and inspiring leadership.

Technical Director / Associate Director - Ground Engineering Team:

In this pivotal senior role, you will drive the technical development of our Ground Engineering team while strengthening its capabilities and supporting business growth through the development and management of strong client relationships.

Here’s what you’ll be doing

• Overseeing input, peer review and verification of geotechnical data and analyses as well as design calculations based on sound technical understanding and experience.
• Providing consultative advice to external partners during all stages of the project life cycle including site-selection and optioneering, design and construction.
• Effectively managing or overseeing geotechnical projects including planning and developing schedules, co-ordination and to meet objectives, programme and budget.
• Providing effective leadership and support to the Ground Engineering team to ensure the successful completion and delivery of projects to clients and internal partners in accordance with time and quality expectations.
• Maintaining a strong industry presence and building relationships with past, current, and prospective customers to support a consistent pipeline of business opportunities. Taking the Ground Engineering lead for the delivery of multi-disciplinary projects to internal and external stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with other members of the Ground Engineering and Tunnelling team as well as members of Transport, Water, Energy and Buildings and Places teams providing inputs to project works and tenders.
• Ensuring adequate mentoring and development of junior team members, ensuring they receive appropriate guidance and support.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

Here’s what you’ll need

• A degree in Civil Engineering or Engineering Geology/Geology, with a 2:1 classification (or equivalent) or higher.
• An MSc/MEng in Soil Mechanics, Geotechnical Engineering or Engineering Geology is advantageous.
• Chartered status.
• Strong knowledge of UK ground conditions and ground investigation practices.
• Demonstrable understanding of current design codes, standards, and best practices in geotechnical design, but also open to exploring new methods and innovations.
• Ability to collaborate closely in project delivery, work winning and maintaining high levels of client satisfaction.
• Knowledge of typical ground conditions interpretation/parametric assessment and correlation methods applicable to common geotechnical design problems.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Effective networking capabilities in local, regional, and national markets to promote the AECOM brand as a preferred consulting partner.
• Insightfulness, the ability to recognise opportunities and challenges and make informed decisions.
• Passion for developing team members to be the next generation of talented engineers and leaders.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options.Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility.As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are aDisabilityConfidentEmployer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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