Role: Associate Director – Civil Engineering (Aviation)
Location: Flexible UK Location (Flexible UK Location (London, Leeds, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newark on Trent, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Birmingham)
Clearance: BPSS-level checks (DBS/DS), Financial Probity, Employment History, Medical Questionnaire & Right to Work in the UK
Associate Director – Civil Engineering
Take on a senior role at the forefront of airside civil engineering. As an Associate Director, you'll lead multidisciplinary airport infrastructure projects, guide client relationships, and support the development of emerging engineering talent. Your leadership and technical capability will influence complex programmes across a diverse aviation portfolio.
What You'll Do
Technical & Project Leadership
* Deliver high-quality designs for runways, taxiways, pavements, and drainage systems
* Coordinate interfaces with lighting, electrical, and specialist teams to produce integrated solutions
* Manage projects from feasibility through design and construction support, ensuring aligned programmes and robust technical reporting
* Overcome unfamiliar engineering challenges and produce outputs that meet strict review standards
Stakeholder & Client Engagement
* Act as the primary contact for airport operators and contractors
* Lead technical discussions, clarify requirements, and support informed decision‐making
* Guide clients—large and small—through standards interpretation, scoping, and delivery readiness
* Represent the organisation at industry events to strengthen relationships and promote capability
Team Development & Collaboration
* Mentor engineers and technicians, supporting professional progression and chartership
* Champion the use of digital design tools (e.g., Civil 3D, BIM workflows)
* Coordinate survey, geomatics, and multidisciplinary inputs to form coherent design packages
Commercial Delivery
* Contribute to fee proposals, scopes, programmes, and change control
* Maintain clarity of deliverables while ensuring financial performance
* Identify opportunities for additional services, including survey and investigation requirements, and manage logistics such as airside access and permits
What You'll Bring
* Strong background in airfield civil engineering and multidisciplinary project delivery
* Technical expertise in pavement design (including DMG‐aligned methods), drainage integration, and airfield layout design
* Solid understanding of CAP 168, ICAO, EASA regulations and their practical application
* Proven experience managing complex project portfolios and maintaining trusted client relationships
* Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status (ICE or equivalent) preferred.