Associate Director – Nature Based Solutions in Birmingham

AtkinsRéalis is delivering transformative change across the water sector, supporting utilities, regulators, and infrastructure providers to meet the challenges of climate change, water quality, and environmental resilience. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are now central to this agenda offering integrated, catchment-led approaches that complement engineered assets, enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and deliver long-term value. Within the water industry, NBS is shifting from optional enhancement to core delivery, driven by regulatory expectations, carbon reduction targets, and the need to build more adaptable and resilient systems.

We are seeking an Associate Director – Nature-Based Solutions, to join our growing Environment team at AtkinsRéalis UK. In this role, you will lead the delivery of NBS across major water sector programmes, including water and wastewater infrastructure. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, water company clients, and regulators to embed NBS from feasibility through to design and delivery. Success will be defined by your ability to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions that improve water outcomes, de-risk regulatory approvals, and demonstrate measurable environmental benefits across projects and portfolios.

With a strong focus on supporting the water sector across the UK and Ireland, you will bring proven experience in delivering NBS within regulated environments, alongside the ability to lead technical teams, influence clients, and grow a strategically important service area.

Your role as an Associate Director – NBS will include:

• Lead NBS Delivery across Water Programmes: Provide technical leadership and accountability for NBS delivery across major water sector projects, including water and wastewater treatment schemes, catchment programmes, and flood resilience initiatives.
• Drive Feasibility & Optioneering: Lead NBS feasibility studies and optioneering processes, applying multi-criteria assessment to identify robust, deliverable solutions aligned with regulatory and asset performance requirements.
• Integrate NBS into Engineering Design: Collaborate with process, civil, and hydraulic engineers to embed NBS within asset design such as wetlands, reedbeds, SuDS, and catchment measures supporting treatment, attenuation, and water quality outcomes.
• Ensure Technical Excellence & QA: Maintain high standards of technical quality across all NBS outputs through governance, peer review, and application of best practice guidance.
• Coordinate Multidisciplinary Inputs: Lead collaboration across hydrology, geomorphology, ecology, process engineering, planning, GIS, and asset management teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Engage Clients, Regulators & Stakeholders: Build strong relationships with water companies, the Environment Agency, local authorities, and other stakeholders, acting as a trusted technical advisor.
• Drive Innovation & Programme Certainty: Champion innovative NBS approaches that reduce programme risk, improve cost efficiency, and enhance deliverability within regulated capital programmes.
• Manage Specialist Inputs: Oversee subcontractors and specialist partners, defining scope, managing budgets, and ensuring quality delivery aligned with project objectives.
• Lead Project & Programme Management: Take responsibility for financial performance, programme delivery, and resource management across projects, ensuring alignment with client and organisational expectations.
• Develop People & Capability: Mentor and develop team members, building capability in NBS delivery within the water sector and fostering a collaborative, inclusive team culture.
• Support Business Development & Growth: Lead and contribute to bids, tenders, and client relationship management, supporting growth across water company frameworks and strategic programmes.
• Strengthen Industry Leadership: Contribute to thought leadership and industry engagement, positioning AtkinsRéalis as a leading advisor in delivering NBS for water resilience, water quality, and sustainable infrastructure.

About you:

• Education: A Bachelor's degree in a relevant environmental science, planning, or engineering discipline (e.g., Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Ecology, Planning, Sustainability or a related field) is required.
• Chartership: Chartered status with a relevant professional body (e.g., CIEEM, CIWEM, or an equivalent environmental/planning institute) is required, reflecting your professional competence and commitment to industry standards.
• Professional Experience: Substantial experience in environmental consultancy, with a strong track record of successfully managing /coordinating and delivering complex NBS projects.
• Technical Excellence: Expert capabilities in NBS and reporting, including scoping, coordinating specialist studies (air quality, noise, water, ecology, cultural heritage, landscape, etc.), and producing high‑quality EIAR documentation.
• Innovation & Problem‑Solving: A track record of employing innovative approaches to improve environmental deliverables.
• Client & Business Skills: Strong client‑facing skills, including effective communication, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Other Requirements: Excellent technical report writing and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail. Full clean driving licence and willingness to travel for site visits, client meetings, and project commitments.

Rewards & benefits: Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

About AtkinsRéalis: We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world.

Additional information: This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.