Location
Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Capabilities
Civil and Structural
Office Setup
Hybrid
Job ID
#41568
Market
Water
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
Shape the Future of Water. Lead Major Infrastructure. Make a Lasting Impact.
The UK water sector is experiencing unprecedented investment and transformation, creating one of the most exciting periods of growth in a generation. This is your opportunity to play a leading role in delivering vital water and wastewater infrastructure that will serve communities for decades to come.
As an Associate Director – Civil Engineering, you'll provide technical leadership across high-profile Design & Build programmes, influencing strategy, innovation and delivery on some of the industry's most complex projects. In the North West, you'll be a key leader within C2V, our Design Build Joint Venture with VolkerStevin, delivering United Utilities' largest-ever AMP8 programme.
If you're looking for a role where your expertise, leadership and ideas will genuinely shape the future of water, we'd love to hear from you.
What's In It for You?
✅ Lead major regulated water infrastructure programmes with real visibility and influence
✅ Shape technical strategy, innovation and best practice across large-scale projects
✅ Clear pathway towards Director-level progression
✅ Work within a collaborative, supportive and high-performing leadership team
✅ Flexible working arrangements and a strong commitment to wellbeing
✅ Opportunity to develop people, grow capability and leave a lasting legacy
✅ Be part of one of the largest water infrastructure investment programmes in the UK
Your Impact
In this role, you'll do more than deliver projects, you'll help shape how critical infrastructure is designed, built and operated. You'll provide senior technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring safe, sustainable and buildable solutions while influencing programme outcomes, client relationships and long-term business growth. Your expertise will drive technical excellence, improve project delivery, reduce risk and create better outcomes for clients, communities and the environment.
Here's what you'll need
As a trusted leader and technical authority, you'll oversee complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects throughout the design and delivery lifecycle.
Working closely with clients, construction partners and project teams, you'll:
Lead technical governance, assurance reviews and design approvals
Drive robust, coordinated and buildable civil engineering solutions
Champion Safety by Design and ensure compliance with industry standards
Influence programme planning, resourcing and delivery strategy
Lead technical risk management and design change processes
Embed constructability, operability and innovation into project delivery
Develop and mentor high-performing engineering teams
Build strong client relationships and support strategic growth opportunities
This is a highly visible leadership role combining technical excellence, people leadership and client engagement across major AMP programmes and long-term frameworks.
Degree qualified in Civil Engineering or a related discipline
Chartered Engineer (CEng) with ICE or equivalent professional institution
Significant experience delivering detailed design for water and wastewater infrastructure projects
Strong experience working within Design & Build environments
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and provide senior technical leadership
Excellent stakeholder management and client-facing communication skills
Ready to Make Your Mark?
Join us at a time of exceptional growth and help deliver the next generation of water infrastructure. If you're passionate about technical excellence, developing people and shaping major programmes that matter, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and help lead the future of water. #LI-MF3
Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.
With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs .
We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here .
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As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.
We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
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