Technical Director/Director - Development Planning

WSP; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in Manchester is seeking a Technical Director/Director with a strong background in transport planning to drive business growth and market strategy. The role involves managing client relationships, fostering business development, and overseeing multi-disciplinary projects. Candidates should hold a degree in transport planning or civil engineering, possess chartered status, and demonstrate a proven track record in delivering new business opportunities. The position focuses on both local and national projects, emphasizing client-facing activities.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in transport planning or civil engineering.
• Chartered status required.
• Proven track record of identifying and delivering new business opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities to increase market share.
• Liaise with regional leadership to set growth targets.
• Build relationships with public/private sector clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Inter-personal skills

Leadership capabilities

Work winning

Business development

Technical leadership

Education

Degree in transport planning or civil engineering

Chartered status

Job description

A little more about your role…

Specifically supporting the Development team, who provide transport planning, civil infrastructure and urban design support on development and masterplanning projects, you will play a key role in the team’s growth aspirations in and around Manchester and nationally. We are looking to recruit a Technical Director/Director with a development transport planning background, you will already be embedded within the local and regional market and will have a focus on client facing activities, business growth, market strategy and technical leadership and will play an integral part in supporting the initiative to diversify our team, in terms of both staff numbers and revenue.

You will be proven at winning and delivering new work within a multi-disciplinary consultancy environment with experience across both the public and private sectors. A sector specialism would be an added advantage (though not essential). You will also be experienced at managing large multi-disciplinary tender proposals and will be responsible for identifying opportunities for new work with existing and new clients, existing sector leads within the team and colleagues across the wider WSP business.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, leveraging a network of clients, co-professionals and colleagues to help win work and increase market share for the Development team.
• Liaising with the Regional Director for Development South and local office lead in setting and agreeing appropriate growth targets and plans.
• Liaising with public / private sector clients and key stakeholders, such as local planning authorities, to build trusted relationships
• Providing technical advice to clients and supporting them through the planning and design process.
• Exhibiting and demonstrating behaviours and attitudes in accordance with WSP’s core values.
• Working closely with colleagues to ensure coordination across the Development team and sharing of market intelligence, best practice and innovation.
• Leading and supporting bids, including reviewing and authorising submissions, demonstrating commercial and technical added value.
• Acting as Project Director for major projects and strategically important commissions.
• Supporting all aspects associated with H&S / Corporate Responsibility and ensuring the team complies with SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality).

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Degree level qualification in transport planning or civil engineering
• Chartered status
• Commercial and strategic capability with a demonstrable track record in having identified and subsequently delivered new business opportunities
• Excellent inter-personal skills with established leadership and management capabilities and experience
• Proven track record of work winning
• A broad range of relevant project experience