Associate Director – Ground & Water

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To find out more about our Ground & Water team part of the Earth and Environment business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: Ground risk and remediation | WSP
We are seeking an Associate Director to play a key role in growing and leading our Ground & Water business in the North East, with a strong focus on business development, client leadership, and team growth alongside technical and project delivery.
A little more about your role…
As an Associate Director, you will operate as a senior leader within the Ground & Water team, responsible for driving business growth, strengthening client relationships, and ensuring successful delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary projects.
This role requires a balance of:
Business development leadership
Client relationship management
Project and commercial oversight
People leadership and team development
Technical direction and assurance
You will be expected to operate as a trusted advisor to clients, a leader of teams, and a key contributor to regional and national growth strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Growth (Primary Focus): Lead the identification, pursuit and conversion of new business opportunities across the North East and wider UK market, while developing and maintaining strong relationships with key clients and acting as a senior point of contact. Drive sector growth across contaminated land and remediation, energy transition and industrial decommissioning, and infrastructure and regeneration. Lead or support strategic bids, including bid strategy development, commercial positioning, and client engagement and negotiation. Contribute to regional and national business development plans and growth targets, while expanding WSP’s market presence and strengthening its reputation within the Ground & Water sector.
Client & Project Leadership: Act as Project Director on key projects, with accountability for delivery to time, cost and quality, alongside full responsibility for commercial performance, financial management, and effective risk management and governance. Provide strategic advice to clients across complex environmental and remediation challenges, while maintaining high standards of technical excellence and client satisfaction, and ensuring the effective coordination and leadership of multi-disciplinary teams.
Leadership & Team Development: Lead, mentor and develop teams within the Newcastle office and wider region, supporting recruitment, retention and capability development aligned to business growth. Build high-performing, collaborative teams and foster a positive working culture, while identifying skills gaps and supporting effective succession planning.
Commercial & Operational Performance: Take accountability for project and regional financial performance, including revenue generation and profitability through effective margin management. Support forecasting, pipeline development and reporting, while ensuring projects are delivered in compliance with WSP governance, quality and health & safety requirements, and contributing to effective operational planning and resource management.
Technical Leadership & Assurance: Provide senior technical oversight and maintain high standards of delivery, acting as a subject matter expert in contaminated land, hydrogeology or remediation (or related disciplines). Support innovation and continuous improvement across the service line, while contributing to technical excellence and promoting knowledge sharing across the wider business.
Your Team
You will be part of WSP’s Ground & Water Service Line, a national team delivering contaminated land, hydrogeology, and remediation services across sectors including infrastructure, energy, property, and industrial development.
We’d love to hear from you if you have:
A degree (and ideally postgraduate qualification) in environmental science, geology, engineering, or a related discipline
Chartered status with a relevant professional body
Significant experience in Ground & Water, contaminated land, or related consultancy services
A proven track record in:
Winning work and building client relationships
Delivering complex projects
Leading teams and developing people
Strong commercial awareness and understanding of consultancy delivery models
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team
Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.
Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.
With us, you can. Apply today.
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Skills
Business Development, Negotiation, Risk Management