Technical Director - Civil Water Engineering

AtkinsRéalis; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Technical Director for Civil Water Engineering to lead as a technical expert and drive business results in the UK. The role involves shaping strategy, overseeing complex Civil Water projects, and guiding cross‑functional teams across multiple locations.

The ideal candidate will have Chartered status, a Civil Water Engineering degree, and proven leadership in large-scale water projects within the UK market, with strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Water Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Civil Water Engineer with professional registration.
• Significant leadership of large, high-risk cross-disciplinary projects.
• Subject matter expert in Civil Water engineering with UK market experience.
• Experience shaping proposals and business growth in water infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership within the national D&AT practice.
• Act as technical authority in Civil Water across AtkinsRéalis.
• Represent Civil Water Engineering to clients and stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality bids and projects.
• Identify process improvements and govern engineering governance.
• Drive cross-selling and client relationships to grow the practice.
• Develop and manage Civil Water capability and talent within the national practice.
• Anticipate regulatory and technology challenges and advise leadership.
• Oversee multiple complex projects with safety and client alignment.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Technical leadership

Civil water engineering

Stakeholder management

Project risk management

Communication

Business development

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Degree in Civil Water Engineering

Chartered Civil Water Engineer

Job description

Job Description

Overview

Shape the Future of our cities and environments.

The Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Technical Director for Civil Water Engineering to join our team in the UK. We are looking for an energetic and experienced Civil Water Engineer that can both lead as technical expert in civil water design and driving forward business results.

AtkinsRéalis specialise in all aspects of civil water engineering within the Water Sector in the UK and internationally. Civil Water Engineering project opportunities also stretch to other sectors such as nuclear and defence. We’re committed to providing industry-leading engineering solutions right through the project lifecycle from feasibility to commissioning, with value added through client-side support as well as construction phases.

As a key member of our technical leadership team, you’ll play a vital role in shaping and delivering transformational programmes for critical UK infrastructure, with opportunities to work on landmark engineering projects for our Water market clients – clients like Thames Water, Anglian Water, Environment Agency, Welsh Water, United Utilities, Scottish Water, and more. We’re committed to providing industry-leading solutions throughout the project lifecycle, adding value through client-side and construction-phase support.

By providing technical leadership across the organisation you’ll drive results, by contributing to functional strategy, influencing senior stakeholders, and leading within the civil water group and multidisciplinary project teams, to deliver measurable outcomes. In this role, you will set direction for complex, high-impact projects and initiatives, anticipate business and regulatory challenges or changes, and develop innovative solutions and offerings that move the business forward.

Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients’ toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries. For us, collaboration isn’t a buzzword.We value the different perspectives our people bring and recognise everyone for their contributions equally. We also know that different people have different priorities, which is why we’re here to support you with whatever you need.

Being a Technical Director with us involves UK wide travel. We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week travel/office based. This position can be based at any of our main locations: Epsom, London, Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, or Glasgow. It can also be based in our other offices but may require additional travel to main locations as needed: Peterborough, Cambridge, Cardiff, Swansea, Derby, Leeds, Belfast, Edinburgh.

Your role

• As a Civil Water Technical Director in the D&AT Practice, the successful candidate would have the following responsibilities:
• Provide Technical Leadership within discipline for the national D&AT practice and influence D&AT Practice wide initiatives and recommend best practices to improve internal process and services.
• Serve as a recognised expert and technical authority in Civil Water Engineering across the D&AT Practice and wider AtkinsRéalis business.
• Provide visible representation of your and AtkinsRéalis’ Civil Water Engineering technical expertise to our current and prospective clients.
• Collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, including internal and external clients, operational staff, project teams, or external stakeholders.
• Recommend and drive improvements to processes, services, and technical practices while ensuring robust engineering governance is consistently upheld.
• Oversee technical input into bid proposals, defining the delivery strategy and working with cross‑functional teams to prepare high‑quality, compliant, competitive submissions.
• Proactively identify opportunities for cross‑selling and business growth, using commercial insight to strengthen and expand client relationships and selling our value proposition to clients.
• Grow, develop, and manage the Civil Water engineering capability within the national practice, supporting talent development and succession planning.
• Anticipate emerging business, regulatory, and technology challenges, identifying risks and opportunities early and advising senior leadership.
• Provide strategic oversight across multiple complex, multidisciplinary projects, ensuring technical excellence, safe delivery, and alignment with client and practice objectives.
• Work independently even in the most challenging situations. Act as the point of escalation for the most complex technical matters and exercise personal judgement to find solutions.

About you

The ideal candidate would be a well-rounded and versatile individual who exemplifies the following key skills and attributes:

• A degree in Civil Water Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Civil Water Engineer.
• Extensive experience in progressively senior technical roles, including significant leadership of complex, high‑risk, cross‑disciplinary projects and programmes.
• Nationally or international recognised subject matter expertise in Civil Water engineering including thought leadership in risk assessment, quality control, proactive design management and collaboration with key disciplines involved in water infrastructure design and delivery, for example MEICA, structures, and geotechnics.
• Experience in the UK Water market is essential.
• Proven leadership experience in the design and delivery of large-scale Civil Water engineering projects for a design consultancy including within multi-disciplinary environments.
• Experienced in identifying innovative solutions, challenges the status quo.
• Comprehensive knowledge in design and analysis of civil water projects including areas such as hydraulics, waste water and clean water infrastructure, water reuse, pipelines and other disciplines with experience across all design phases and construction.
• Expert knowledge of current design codes and standards as well as industry best practices, including CDM Regulations, Eurocodes, regulatory bodies, water utility standards, NEC, etc.
• A proactive, highly motivated mindset with a collaborative approach to drive teamwork and shared success across projects and the wider AtkinsRéalis D&AT practice.
• Demonstrates strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas with clarity, anticipating challenges and persuading senior stakeholders to adopt new perspectives, and navigate diverse, international and cross-cultural delivery.
• Champion continuous improvement, driving enhancements to processes, services, technical standards, and innovation across the practice.
• Commercially astute, with experience shaping winning proposals and driving practice or business growth.
• Communicates complex ideas with clarity, anticipating challenges and persuading senior stakeholders to adopt new perspectives.
• Meet some but not all of the criteria? We’d still love to hear from you! Please submit your CV along with a cover letter letting us know your motivation for applying and highlighting how your skills and experience align with the role.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

#DAT #SDRDAT

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.