Associate Technical Director - Geotechnical

We are seeking to recruit an experienced and talented Associate Technical Director – Geotechnical to join the UK Local Government team. The role involves project management, technical leadership, and ensuring the timely delivery of high‑quality geotechnical outputs from inception through completion, working closely with UK Local Government colleagues and multidisciplinary teams.

Technical & Project Leadership

• Act as the technical lead for UK Local Government geotechnical projects , providing direction on ground investigation, soil and rock engineering, foundation design, earthworks, and related technical areas.
• Lead project, programme and financial management activities, ensuring efficient delivery and proactive risk management.
• Ensure all geotechnical technical outputs (calculations, reports, specifications, interpretative GI reports, design deliverables) meet internal and client quality requirements.
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety, welfare, risk, information security, and design governance standards.
• Oversee the implementation and maintenance of the Business Management System , ensuring consistent use of approved processes and procedures.
• Conduct audits of geotechnical design processes and implement corrective measures where required.
• Support geotechnical input to multidisciplinary projects (Highways, Structures, Water, Rail, Environment) and coordinate with co‑professionals on complex technical interfaces.

Leadership, Team Development & Culture

• Provide highly visible and inspirational leadership for the GCC UK Local Government Geotechnical team, aligned with wider UK business priorities.
• Actively promote WSP Vision, Values and the UK GCC culture; ensure staff deliver on commitments.
• Mentor engineers and senior staff towards professional accreditation (CEng, CGeol or equivalent).
• Carry out staff appraisals, competency reviews and support performance development planning.
• Lead recruitment to support planned team growth and strengthen technical capability.
• Assess skills gaps, software proficiency (e.g. PLAXIS, HoleBASE, GeoStudio, SLOPE/W), and identify training and upskilling needs.
• Identify opportunities to expand geotechnical services delivered from GCC India to support wider UK business requirements.
• Manage people through change, encourage innovation and support succession planning.

Client / External Focus

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external clients, promoting repeat business and long-term partnerships.
• Support the preparation of bids, proposals, technical methodologies and marketing collateral related to geotechnical services.
• Contribute technical knowledge in internal and external forums and maintain up‑to‑date understanding of industry developments, standards, and competitor activities.
• Provide technical reviews, challenge assumptions, and ensure design excellence in all client-facing deliverables.

People & Collaboration

• Provide inclusive leadership, define responsibilities clearly, delegate effectively and give constructive feedback.
• Inspire and motivate the team, promoting technical progression and a culture of quality, safety and excellence.
• Effectively navigate conflict and promote collaborative working across disciplines and cultures.
• Demonstrate self-motivation with a strong focus on timely, high‑quality delivery of geotechnical work.
• Embrace and promote working across international and multidisciplinary project teams.

Business Focus

• Promote Health & Wellbeing principles including Safety by Design , particularly relating to ground-related risks.
• Ensure strong commercial performance by understanding scope, monitoring progress, and meeting agreed financial targets.
• Ensure geotechnical deliverables comply with WSP standards and any specific UK client standards.
• Allocate appropriately qualified geotechnical staff in line with project budgets and delivery needs.
• Champion the use of agreed systems and processes within the geotechnical discipline.
• Identify opportunities to add value, enhance productivity and improve technical and team performance.
• Manage opportunities, risks and project variations to ensure positive business outcomes.
• Ensure budget utilisation and earning capacity targets are achieved or exceeded.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Soil Mechanics, Geo‑Science, or related field.
• Typically 15+ years geotechnical experience with significant leadership responsibilities.
• Strong track record of delivering complex, high‑profile geotechnical projects in consultancy.

Mandatory Skills

• Proven working knowledge of UK geotechnical design standards and practices (e.g. Eurocode 7, CD622, CD225, BS5930, CIRIA C760).
• Strong track record of senior technical experience in geotechnical engineering within major infrastructure projects.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and internal client‑handling skills, with the ability to explain complex geotechnical issues to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrable experience leading geotechnical elements of large, detailed design projects in the UK.
• Experience in resource planning, project management and technical delivery.
• Awareness of emerging technologies, digital ground models, and advanced geotechnical analysis tools.
• Experience collaborating with clients, co‑professionals and multidisciplinary design teams.
• Effective time management and organisational skills.
• Leadership acumen with the ability to inspire, influence and develop technical teams.
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining high technical standards.
• Strong ethical behaviour, fairness, honesty and integrity.
• A self-starter with initiative and the ability to work as part of a collaborative team.
• Ability to adapt communication and leadership styles to suit different people and situations.

Desired

• Experience using digital ground models, 3D subsurface modelling and GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS).
• Knowledge of engineering geology or demonstrable equivalent capability.
• Chartered Engineer/Geologist (ICE, IOM3, IGS, or equivalent) or working towards chartership.

BGV Requirement

• Employment with WSP India is subject to the successful completion of a background verification (“BGV”) check conducted by a third-party agency appointed by WSP India.
• Candidates are advised to ensure that all information provided during the recruitment process — including documents uploaded — is accurate and complete, both to WSP India and its BGV partner”.

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