At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative coastal engineering projects and mentor a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Arcadis, a global leader in sustainable design and consultancy.
- Benefits: Empowering work culture, career growth, and commitment to equality and inclusion.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional development and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the planet through meaningful engineering solutions.
- Qualifications: Strong background in coastal processes and experience in major infrastructure projects.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 36,000 people, in over 70 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.
Due to a growing portfolio of high-impact projects across the UK and internationally, our WME team is seeking a Technical Director to support our continued expansion. You will join a dynamic, collaborative team of over 30 professionals delivering integrated services across:
- River and coastal engineering
- Dams and reservoirs
- Waterways
- Ports and maritime infrastructure
- Flood risk management
- Climate adaptation
- Nature-based solutions
- Asset management
We are actively strengthening our capabilities in coastal engineering and contributing to major international infrastructure programmes. Our diverse portfolio spans the full asset lifecycle, from feasibility and design to construction supervision and asset refurbishment, and includes bespoke client services such as cost assurance, independent technical reviews, and strategic advisory.
Role Accountabilities
As Technical Director and a subject matter expert, you will:
- Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, driving technical excellence and strategic growth.
- Lead technical delivery across WME projects, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Mentor and develop team members, fostering innovation and continuous learning.
- Promote and integrate emerging technologies into project delivery.
- Collaborate across disciplines and geographies to deliver integrated solutions.
- Represent Arcadis externally through thought leadership and professional engagement.
- Embed health, safety, and sustainability in all aspects of project work.
- Manage a team of 3–5 staff, supporting welfare, career development, and resourcing.
- Expand capabilities in coastal engineering, scour analysis, and hydraulics.
- Lead bid development and contribute to commercial and technical tendering.
- Maintain technical oversight, ensuring quality and financial accountability.
- Manage projects effectively, including planning, coordination, subcontractor management, and client communication.
- Oversee commercial aspects including contracts, invoicing, and client engagement.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and promote a safety-first culture.
Qualifications & Experience
- Strong technical background in coastal processes, scour assessment, and hydraulic design.
- Experience on major infrastructure projects in marine and river environments; experience with dams and reservoirs is advantageous.
- Proven ability to lead design, inspection, and asset management projects.
- Demonstrated success in client engagement, proposal development, and commercial delivery.
- Experienced team leader and line manager.
- Degree in Civil Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science, Water Resources, or Engineering Hydrology.
- Chartered status with CIWEM or ICE.
- Membership of the DEFRA Panel of Reservoir Engineers is desirable.
Why Arcadis?
We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together. You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you. Together, we can create a lasting legacy. Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We believe that by working together diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life and we work closely with our people across six ED&I Workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.
Technical Director - Coastal Engineering / Hydraulics in Cambridge employer: Arcadis
Arcadis is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment where over 36,000 professionals are dedicated to delivering sustainable solutions for natural and built assets. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have the opportunity to mentor and develop team members while engaging in meaningful projects that address complex global challenges. Our inclusive culture prioritises equality and diversity, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, making Arcadis not just a workplace, but a community where you can truly make a lasting impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Director - Coastal Engineering / Hydraulics in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to professionals in the coastal engineering and hydraulics field. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meetups. The more connections we make, the better our chances of landing that dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio showcasing your past projects and achievements in coastal engineering. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, let them see what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get ready for interviews by doing mock sessions with friends or mentors. Focus on articulating your experience and how it aligns with the role of Technical Director at Arcadis. We want to nail those tough questions!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Arcadis. Let’s make that legacy together!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Director - Coastal Engineering / Hydraulics in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Technical Director role. Highlight your expertise in coastal engineering and hydraulics, and don’t forget to mention any relevant projects you've led!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Be sure to mention your experience with client engagement and project management.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Technical Director, you'll be leading a team. Make sure to highlight your experience in mentoring and developing team members. Share examples of how you've fostered innovation and collaboration in past roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arcadis
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around coastal processes, scour assessment, and hydraulic design. Be ready to discuss your experience with major infrastructure projects and how you've tackled challenges in marine and river environments.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Technical Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor a team. Prepare examples of how you've developed team members and fostered innovation in past roles. Highlight any successful projects where you managed a team effectively.
✨Engage with the Company’s Values
Arcadis places a strong emphasis on sustainability and collaboration. Familiarise yourself with their commitment to health, safety, and diversity. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to these values and integrate them into your work.
✨Prepare for Client Engagement Scenarios
Since client engagement is key, think about how you've successfully interacted with clients in the past. Prepare to share specific examples of proposal development and commercial delivery that showcase your ability to drive technical excellence and strategic growth.