Technical Principal / Technical Director - Materials Engineering

Responsibilities

• Helping to lead and grow the materials engineering workstream through engagement with new and existing clients to win exciting and challenging new projects.
• Raising the profile of the workstream, and of our wider team, within the industry through helping to publicise its capabilities, strengths and successes. This will require you to be involved in producing technical papers and articles for publication, attending meetings and conferences and giving presentations.
• Providing technical direction and leadership to our team and ensuring application of sound and appropriate technical approaches in developing solutions, ensuring the highest technical standards are met and quality assurance processes are in place and rigorously followed.
• Identifying opportunities with new and existing clients, developing proposals and bids in response to tenders and winning interesting and rewarding new work for yourself and the team.
• Ensuring the technical and commercial outcomes of our projects and of the overall workstream, and achieving high levels of client satisfaction with our solutions and deliverables.
• Producing technical reports and other project deliverables to a high standard and supervising and guiding others to do the same through reviewing, checking and approval of their work.
• Team development through line management, mentoring and guiding the technical and professional development of colleagues and, as appropriate, through selective recruitment.
• This is an opportunity to take a senior role in our high performing team and to help to shape it and share in its success.
• You will help to manage and lead a small team of specialist material technologists/engineers delivering a diverse workload ranging from answering materials‑related technical queries from colleagues and clients to supporting the materials selection, specification and construction‑stage troubleshooting of large and complex construction projects worldwide.
• You will take personal responsibility for the technical and commercial outcomes of a variety of projects and delivering sustainable and cost‑effective solutions for our internal and external clients.
• You will have a remit to strengthen our materials workstream, help guide its technical direction and support its growth and successful technical and commercial performance.
• This will require you to use your professional knowledge and network to improve our team's profile in the industry, identify opportunities for new work, develop sound technical solutions, produce bids in response to tenders and be successful in winning and delivering new work for yourself and colleagues.
• You will have line management responsibility for others in the team and be responsible for supporting their development and strengthening the team through targeted recruitment as opportunities allow.

Qualifications

• You are a skilled and experienced professional specialising in construction materials technology with sound technical knowledge and considerable relevant experience gained in an engineering or materials testing/consultancy context, or similar.
• You will hold academic qualifications (Bachelor's or Masters Degree and/or PhD) within Materials, Civil or Structural Engineering and be Chartered through a relevant professional engineering/materials institution (e.g. ICE, IStructE, IMMM, ICT) with evidence of ongoing involvement and activity within the profession.
• In addition to your technical expertise, you will have a demonstrable track record of building and maintaining good client relationships and helping to win and successfully deliver technically challenging work.
• You will have experience of working collaboratively and effectively with colleagues from a diverse range of technical backgrounds to develop bespoke and innovative materials‑related solutions for infrastructure projects within the built environment, and of managing, mentoring and motivating people to deliver technical excellence.
• Your key strengths and areas of expertise will include:

• A strong technical knowledge of construction materials commonly used in civil engineering structures, including concrete, steel and preferably others.
• A detailed knowledge of concrete performance, specification and durability in service, including low carbon concrete and sustainable construction.
• Preferably, expertise in steel and other metallics, including corrosion assessment and protection measures including cathodic protection.
• Significant experience of materials selection, use and specification for major civil engineering projects.
• Knowledge and experience in the characterisation of construction materials in existing structures using a range of in situ and laboratory testing, including intrusive and non‑destructive methods, and the interpretation of test results to provide advice on their condition, performance, durability and, where necessary, repair.
• Knowledge of/interest in new materials.
• Evidence of profile and recognition within the industry, publication of your work and the ability to draw upon an extensive professional network across industry and academia/research.
• A track record of being proactive and successful in developing close and sustained working relationships with internal and external clients and in winning and delivering new work.
• Involvement in innovation, research and development gained in industry and/or academia.
• Highly collaborative, personable and positive by nature, you will have the willingness and drive to share responsibility for managing, strengthening, promoting and leading our existing team of material technologists/engineers.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others through effective written and verbal communication, including presentations and report‑writing.
• An interest in guiding and supporting early career professionals as they progress towards chartership and beyond.

Benefits

• Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%. Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary. Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury. Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing. As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.
• Employee Ownership: Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success. Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long‑term impact and contribution. Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future. For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.
• Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments. Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues. A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family. Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.
• Holiday and leave: A minimum of 33‑35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme. Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years' service. Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.
• Enhanced family and carers leave: Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave. Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay. Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• Learning and development: Primary annual professional institution subscription. A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.
• Networks, communities, and social outcomes: Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities. Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.