Associate Director - Power Engineering in City of London

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About The Role

Join HDR’s vibrant team and work with high‑profile clients, including leading utilities and global tech giants, on ground‑breaking projects like data centres and low‑carbon power solutions. As an Associate Director, you will be at the forefront of transforming power infrastructure, with the chance to lead, innovate and leave a lasting impact.

Our Glasgow office is our UK power hub and operates like an innovative startup within the framework of HDR\’s global presence of over 12,000 employees. You’ll be part of a small, rapidly growing team with the opportunity to influence the direction of local operations in a supportive and entrepreneurial environment. While our team in Glasgow is intimate and dynamic, you will have the full backing and support of HDR’s well‑established 600+ employee power team in the US, providing a wealth of resources, expertise and collaboration opportunities to ensure you succeed and thrive in your role.

As part of our 100% employee‑owned organization, you’ll have endless opportunities to excel, grow and achieve your career goals. You will leverage your broad technical expertise to guide multi‑disciplinary teams in developing detailed designs and specifications, taking projects from concept to completion across a diverse range of initiatives.

This role offers you the chance to lead teams, mentor and inspire the next generation of engineers while shaping a growing team of substation specialists. By building strong connections with industry experts and Project Managers, you’ll drive innovative solutions and contribute to delivering outstanding projects, making your mark in a field that’s critical to the future of energy.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the delivery of complex engineering projects, setting standards for technical excellence, innovation and client satisfaction across the business.
• Define and deliver business plans for your discipline or regional team, including revenue, profitability and growth targets, ensuring alignment with company strategy and objectives.
• Lead the development and delivery of multiple projects and frameworks, from concept to detailed design, ensuring they meet client expectations, achieve commercial success and uphold company quality standards.
• Act as a senior technical authority for high‑voltage electrical design up to 765 kV, providing expert guidance, oversight and peer review across multiple projects and teams.
• Establish and nurture strong, long‑term client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor to key clients and stakeholders and driving repeat business through exceptional service and technical leadership.
• Oversee and influence major bids, proposals and tender strategies, including fee negotiations, scope definition and risk assessment, ensuring commercially successful outcomes.
• Champion innovation in design and delivery, embedding sustainability, digital engineering and emerging technologies into project approaches and company standards.
• Drive performance, engagement and development within your team by setting clear objectives, mentoring senior staff and ensuring robust succession planning to build future leadership capability.
• Provide governance and assurance for project delivery, ensuring all work complies with relevant legislation, regulations and internal Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001, 14001) and Health & Safety procedures.
• Collaborate closely with other Associate Directors and Directors to deliver strategic initiatives, shape company‑wide policy and continuously improve business processes and project outcomes.
• Represent the business externally through professional institutions, industry forums and technical working groups, promoting the company’s expertise and contributing to industry best practice.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum of 9 years’ experience in electrical engineering design, with significant exposure to high‑voltage switchyard and substation projects up to 765 kV.
• Deep understanding of electrical, civil and structural aspects of substation design and broad familiarity with IEC, IEEE, ANSI and other relevant standards.
• Proven record in leading large, multidisciplinary design teams, managing multi‑million‑pound projects or frameworks from concept to completion.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in budget setting, financial management, risk assessment and contract negotiation.
• Demonstrated success in client relationship management, business development and securing new work through tenders, frameworks or strategic partnerships.
• Knowledge in Power System Studies software (e.g., DigSILENT, IPSA, ETAP) and capable of providing high‑level guidance to technical teams.
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to inspire high performance and foster a collaborative culture across teams and disciplines.

Primary Location

United Kingdom – Scotland – Glasgow

Other Locations

United Kingdom – England – London; United Kingdom – England – Manchester

Schedule

Full‑time

Employment Status

Regular

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. HDR is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.