Technical Director - Civil Engineering

Job Description

Overview

The Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a highly experienced and commercially minded Civil Engineering Technical Director to play a key role in the continued growth of our Land Development business. This is an opportunity to shape the future of sustainable development, leading the delivery of some of the UK's most significant projects across major infrastructure, transportation, energy, water, aviation, and development sectors.

The successful candidate will oversee the delivery of complex land development projects while driving the growth of our civil engineering capability. Working closely with our market and technical leadership teams, you will strengthen our position with major developers, public sector organisations, local authorities, investors, and strategic land promoters, while identifying and securing new opportunities across the sector.

A key aspect of this role will be providing technical leadership and governance across a diverse portfolio of land development projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative, commercially successful and sustainable outcomes for clients and communities. You will also help develop and grow our civil engineering capability, mentoring emerging leaders and ensuring AtkinsRéalis continues to be recognised as a market leader in the delivery of land development and infrastructure solutions.

This opportunity is ideal for a technically accomplished leader with extensive experience delivering complex development infrastructure projects and a strong track record of winning and growing business with key clients. You will be looking to expand your influence within a leadership position that combines technical excellence, client engagement, business growth and team development.

You'll benefit from:

• Opportunities to work across a wide variety of sectors, projects and clients.

• Working within an industry-leading multidisciplinary team in a highly regarded global organisation.
• Combining technical leadership, client engagement, business growth and team development in a senior leadership role.
• Shaping the growth of our Land Development business and future civil engineering capability.

• A culture that encourages innovation, technical excellence and professional growth.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements that support work-life balance.
• Clear career progression pathways for continued career growth, including progression into senior market, director and business leadership roles.

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 hub offices of Epsom, London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, or Glasgow.  It can also be based from one of our regional offices of Peterborough, Cambridge, Cardiff, Swansea, Derby, Exeter, Leeds, Newcastle, Belfast, or Edinburgh, but may require additional travel to main locations as needed.

Your role

As a Technical Director within AtkinsRealis, the successful candidate would have the following responsibilities:

Project Leadership & Technical Governance

• Provide strategic technical leadership and project oversight major land development and regeneration programmes, acting as Project Director, Technical Director, or Design Authority as appropriate.
• Provide technical assurance, quality oversight, and engineering governance across a portfolio of complex development projects.
• Act as the technical authority for civil engineering, guiding multidisciplinary teams and ensuring compliance with client, regulatory, and industry requirements.

Team Leadership & Capability Growth

• Provide strategic oversight on resource planning, demand forecasting, and capability development to ensure successful delivery of a growing portfolio of land development projects.
• Lead, mentor, and develop senior civil engineers, building a strong succession pipeline and future technical leaders.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture that champions technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement in engineering standards, delivery practices, and governance.

Client Engagement & Business Development

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key clients, acting as a strategic advisor to government organisations, asset owners, operators, and developers.
• Represent AtkinsRéalis in senior client, stakeholder, regulatory, and industry engagements, strengthening our reputation and market presence.
• Lead the identification, pursuit, and securing of strategic opportunities, shaping bid strategies and major proposals.
• Drive business growth through client account development, market planning, and the expansion of long-term opportunity pipelines.

About you

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

Experience & Expertise

• Degree qualified in Civil Engineering (or equivalent) with Chartered Engineer status through the ICE or an equivalent professional institution.
• Extensive experience in the planning, design and delivery of development infrastructure projects ranging from local residential and commercial developments to complex infrastructure programmes.
• Recognised technical authority in civil engineering with expertise in areas such as utilities, drainage, paved and unpaved surfaces, access and accessibility, earthworks and construction logistics.
• Significant experience providing technical leadership and governance across major multidisciplinary development projects.

Leadership & Commercial Skills

• Proven track record of developing senior client relationships, leading major bids and proposals, securing strategic commissions and driving business growth within the land development sector.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with experience developing high-performing teams, shaping technical strategy and engaging effectively with senior clients and business leaders.
• Commercially astute with the ability to balance technical excellence, client outcomes and business performance across a portfolio of complex multidisciplinary projects.
• Experience contributing to business planning, market development and strategic growth initiatives.

Personal Attributes

• Demonstrates strong technical judgement, accountability and ownership, providing clear direction on complex engineering challenges within a consultancy environment.
• Operates effectively at both strategic and technical levels, balancing commercial objectives with high-quality engineering outcomes.
• A collaborative and forward-thinking leader who communicates complex ideas clearly, fosters innovation and drives continuous improvement.
• Passionate about sustainable development and creating places that deliver long-term value for communities, clients and the environment.

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 #TechDirec

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.