Location
Bristol

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Technical Director, or someone looking to take the next step in their career, to join our Infrastructure Planning and Environmental Assessment team. This role is of strategic significance for our business and represents a challenging and exciting opportunity to identify, win and deliver environmental assessments for strategic long-term plans in the water sector.

Working with a range of water companies, you will deliver environmental assessments in support of emerging strategic plans including Water Resource Management Plans (WRMPs), Drought Plans (DPs) and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). As a Technical Director, you will collaborate with a diverse team of technical specialists and professionals to lead and coordinate key environmental assessment projects.

Your work will support clients in addressing long-term strategic challenges such as providing sustainable water resources and drainage, embedding sustainability into plan-making and decision-taking. You will lead growth opportunities and the team, driving improvements and enhancing our client offer.

The role involves directing and leading projects including recruitment, bidding, project team management, project delivery, and financial management. You will play a key role in expanding and diversifying our water sector offer, providing thought leadership and winning new business alongside sector leads and client account managers.

Key responsibilities include providing environmental assessment advice and support, leading large and complex projects with oversight of technical, quality, commercial, and health and safety performance, building client relationships, and identifying new opportunities. You will proactively develop new client relationships, market services, cross-sell, and represent WSP at conferences.

You will lead and contribute to innovative techniques such as Digital Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and automated assessments, drive performance improvement and career advancement across the team, promote a positive team culture, and be a 'go to' person supporting problem solving and achieving business goals.

Promoting an inclusive workplace and demonstrating a strong understanding of Health and Safety while living WSP’s values is essential. You will undertake actions contributing to the success of WSP’s business strategy while being self-motivated towards goals relevant to your role, team, and projects.

Experience
Proven experience leading the successful delivery of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA), including coordination and delivery of wider assessments such as Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA), Water Framework Directive (WFD) Assessments, Natural Capital Assessments, and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments in support of water sector plans (WRMPs, DPs, DWMPs).

Detailed understanding of SEA regulatory requirements, case law, and guidance.

Excellent understanding of how environmental assessments inform and support decision-making for water sector plans.

Familiarity with other assessment processes including HRA, WFD, Natural Capital assessments, and Biodiversity Net Gain.

Proven people management experience with a track record of developing and upskilling internal teams.

Evidence of key market and water sector understanding, including challenges and opportunities to drive business growth.

Confidence engaging with clients, regulators, and stakeholders.

About you
Enthusiastic and motivated individual looking to influence, lead, and deliver environmental and sustainability appraisal and assessment projects.

Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects and teams.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong report writing, review capabilities, attention to detail, and a focus on quality assurance.

Proactive in business development, client relationship building, and marketing services.

Committed to promoting an inclusive workplace and living the values of health, safety, and wellbeing culture.

Qualifications
Relevant qualifications and professional experience in environmental assessment, sustainability, or related disciplines are expected but not explicitly stated. A strong technical background and demonstrable expertise in Strategic Environmental Assessment and related fields are essential.