Associate Director - Civil Engineering (Transmission & Distribution) in Exeter

We are seeking an Associate Director – Civils to provide strategic leadership across frontend engineering design (FEED) and detailed civil/structural design for high-voltage (HV) AIS/GIS substations (132–400 kV), HVDC converter stations, overhead line (OHL) interfaces and underground cable projects. You will shape technical assurance, delivery excellence and market growth in the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead civil/structural design packages from concept through detailed design and construction support for National Grid and DNO clients.
• Define civil layouts for substations, including platforms, foundations, bunds, drainage, access roads, ducting, fencing, and security features, integrating geotechnical and structural inputs with electrical plant layouts.
• Drive technical reviews and approvals covering foundation design, structural framing, equipment plinths, transformer bunds/oil containment, flood risk/SuDS, access/haulage, drainage and outfalls.
• Chair design reviews; assure compliance with client procedures.
• Ensure adherence to CDM 2015 and Jacobs’ quality processes.
• Plan resources, programmes and budgets; coordinate with back‑office engineers, sub‑consultants and suppliers to ensure seamless delivery via common data environments and BIM workflows (e.g., Civil 3D, Revit, MicroStation).
• Provide construction‑phase support (RFI responses, site inspections, NCR closeout), attend site visits, pre‑construction reviews and witnessing of civil elements (e.g., foundations, bund systems, drainage structures).
• Lead and contribute to tenders (technical and commercial), proposals and client presentations; maintain and grow strategic client relationships; position Jacobs in industry forums and standards working groups.
• Line‑manage and mentor Senior/Principal Engineers; build succession and capability; set technical standards and foster a culture of innovation and excellence.

What You’ll Need

• A degree in Civil Engineering or another relevant engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status with a relevant institution.
• Experience within a civil discipline and experience in delivering complex multi‑disciplinary projects for the Energy Transition industry.
• Proven leadership of complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure projects within UK T&D, with strong client‑facing capability.
• Fluency in BIM/CDE processes and design tools (Civil 3D, Revit, MicroStation, Tekla/Tedds), data governance and model assurance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, stakeholder engagement, and business development acumen; able to manage competing priorities and deliver under pressure.

Why Jacobs?

People are Jacobs’ greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent. In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive free single medical cover and digital GP service, family‑friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay and free membership of employee assistance and parental programmes, plus reimbursement toward relevant professional development and memberships. We also give back to our communities through our Collectively program, which incorporates matched‑funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations. 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. Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.