Transport Sector Lead - Design

RPS Group Limited; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transport design consultancy in the UK is seeking a Transport Sector Lead to drive strategy and lead a team of experts. This senior role involves shaping business development efforts and fostering partnerships in the aviation and rail sectors. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in winning complex design projects and hold Chartered status with a relevant professional body. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact in the transport sector.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in the transport sector.
• Deep knowledge of design project procurement.
• Experience winning or delivering complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategy across aviation and rail sectors.
• Lead business development initiatives.
• Foster long-term partnerships with key clients.

Skills

Leadership

Business Development

Strategic Planning

Team Management

Market Insight

Education

Chartered status with a relevant professional body

Job description

Overview

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Transport Design. This is a rare opportunity for a senior transport sector professional to take on a high-impact leadership role within Tetra Tech RPS. As Transport Sector Lead, you’ll drive strategy, forge long-term partnerships, and lead a team of experts to secure complex, multidisciplinary design projects across aviation and rail. If you're an engaging and visionary leader with a passion for technical excellence and powering business growth, this is your chance to elevate your career and help position Tetra Tech RPS as the partner of choice in the UK transport sector.

Purpose & Scope of the Role

We’re seeking an experienced and successful leader to shape the future of our aviation and rail business and bring significant Business Development experience to the role. You will bring deep knowledge of the procurement, development, and delivery of design projects in these sectors. You’ll work closely with our Strategic Development Director and play a critical role within the Tetra Tech RPS Design leadership team, developing and implementing a strategy that secures profitable, new and repeat business - projects our teams are excited to deliver.

You’ll be joining a passionate team of like-minded transport design experts within a high-performing, multidisciplinary consultancy. With over four decades of experience, we’ve built a reputation based on partnering and have delivered innovative solutions across the UK’s transport infrastructure—from airport masterplans and airside developments to terminal buildings, hangars, railway stations, depots, logistics hubs, and multimodal transport projects. Your leadership will be key to accelerating our growth strategy and elevating the Tetra Tech RPS brand as a market-leading transport specialist.

Your Impact in this Position

In this senior leadership role, your goal will be clear: to establish Tetra Tech RPS as the partner of choice for the sector’s leading clients. You will be instrumental in steering our business development strategy, identifying opportunities, and building long-term partnerships with international and regional airports, rail operators, and specialist contractors across the transport sector.

Your ability to think big-picture and lead a team of transport specialists will be critical in securing complex, multidisciplinary design projects. You’ll foster collaboration across disciplines, ensuring our solutions are integrated, future-ready, and aligned with client needs. Through strategic engagement and technical insight, you’ll build on our legacy, unlock new opportunities, and drive forward our ambition to deliver transformative projects that shape the way people move and connect.

Your Toolkit for Success at Tetra Tech RPS

At Tetra Tech RPS, we recruit using core capabilities—the toolkit of essential skills, experience, competencies, and responsibilities required to perform the role effectively. As we strive to find the best fit for this position, we are seeking individuals that meet a benchmark level of expertise.

But we’ll let you in on a secret: there’s no such thing as the ‘perfect’ candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Strategy & Sector Leadership

Drive strategic growth across aviation and rail by crafting and executing a sector-specific business plan that positions RPS as the go-to consultancy partner. Set measurable performance targets—pipeline, win rates, key accounts—and lead with insight, commercial acumen, and a sharp strategic mindset. This is a role for a forward-thinker who blends creativity with data-driven decision-making to shape the future of infrastructure.

Team Leadership & Delivery Excellence

Shape high-performing teams with a leadership style rooted in integrity, collaboration, and strategic alignment. Demonstrate proven capability in mentoring technical talent, driving delivery against sector goals, and fostering a culture of accountability and innovation. This is a role for a hands-on leader who builds trust, inspires performance, and delivers results.

Technical Authority & Sector Expertise

Bring deep domain expertise in aviation and rail, underpinned by a solid foundation in the procurement and delivery of major complex multidiscipline design projects. Represent Tetra Tech RPS as a thought leader, engaging at industry events, contributing to sector dialogue, and elevating our technical brand. Combine sharp communication skills with technical credibility to deliver compelling insights and presentations that influence clients and peers alike.

Business Development & Market Intelligence

Lead strategic growth by leveraging deep market insight across regional, national, and international opportunities and markets. Stay ahead of emerging trends and innovations, translating intelligence into actionable opportunities. Play a key role in securing major bids, collaborating with sector specialists. Operational Directors and the bid teams to shape winning propositions that position Tetra Tech RPS at the forefront of aviation and rail consultancy.

Training, Qualifications, and Experience

Ideally, you’ll hold Chartered status with a relevant professional body and have extensive experience of working in the transport sector, winning or delivering complex design projects.

Submit your application today and discover what’s possible at Tetra Tech RPS.