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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape highways and civil infrastructure projects with a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Tetra Tech RPS, a leader in innovative infrastructure solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on complex infrastructure schemes while mentoring future engineers.
- Qualifications: Degree in Civil Engineering and substantial experience in highways engineering required.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to diversity and career development.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 ÂŁ per year.
Tetra Tech RPS is seeking an experienced and credible Technical Director to lead and shape our Highways and Civil Infrastructure capability based from Birmingham or Newark, with travel and hybrid working. This is a senior leadership role for a technically strong highways professional who thrives on guiding complex schemes, supporting and influencing teams, and playing a central role in commercial performance and work winning. This position offers the opportunity to take technical and commercial ownership of a well‑established highways team delivering complex infrastructure schemes across residential, industrial, commercial and strategic development projects.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership, commercial oversight, and strategic direction across a portfolio of highways and civil infrastructure projects.
- Act as the senior technical authority within the highways discipline, supporting project teams through complex technical challenges, stakeholder engagement, and third‑party approvals.
- Lead and stay technically engaged, giving direction, challenge, and assurance on design development, approvals strategy, and compliance with standards and regulation.
- Lead client engagement and key account management.
Your Impact
You will support and influence a highways and civils team of approximately 12 engineers, primarily based in Newark, with additional presence in Birmingham and London. The team delivers highway infrastructure designs for residential developments (estate roads, junction improvements, earthworks, S278 highway improvements) and crucial highway works for industrial and commercial developments. You will collaborate across disciplines and locations, working with senior leads in Birmingham and London and interacting with aviation and utilities to ensure a coordinated approach.
Technical Expertise
- Extensive experience delivering and overseeing highway infrastructure and associated civil works design, with strength in Section 278 highway improvement schemes and infrastructure works within constrained or existing networks.
- Lead the technical approval process, guiding projects through third‑party approvals with local authorities and national highway bodies, including negotiations and departures from standard where required.
- Lead technical discussions, presentations, and formal submissions, making robust technical cases under pressurised stakeholder environments.
- Experience with highway works forming part of major development schemes, including large‑scale commercial and data centre projects, and exposure to earthworks, utilities coordination, and infrastructure phasing.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and influence to project leaders and senior engineers, helping them navigate complex technical decisions.
- Collaborate with peers across Birmingham, Newark and London, sharing expertise and ensuring a consistent technical and commercial approach, including with aviation, utilities, and wider civils capabilities.
Commercial & Business Development
- Oversee performance of multiple projects across the highways portfolio, ensuring robust fee management, risk control, and successful delivery outcomes. Typical project fees range from tens of thousands up to £500k–£1m.
- Lead work winning and client relationship management, developing existing clients and new opportunities with developers, contractors, strategic land promoters, and industrial clients.
- Identify new opportunities, support bid strategies, and position the highways team as a trusted advisor delivering high‑value infrastructure solutions.
Strategic Vision & Growth
- As Technical Director, contribute to the growth and evolution of the highways and civils capability, strengthening technical reputation and supporting utility and infrastructure‑led workstreams.
- Help shape how highways expertise integrates with wider civil engineering, planning, and multidisciplinary services.
Technical Governance & Assurance
- Provide robust technical governance and assurance across multiple schemes and delivery teams, maintaining high technical standards and challenging designs where required.
- Oversee approval strategies, lead technical reviews, support departures from standards, and ensure quality, compliance, and defensible engineering decisions.
Mandatory Requirements
- Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline and Chartered Engineer (CEng) through a recognised professional institution.
- Substantial experience in highways engineering and civil infrastructure design delivery, with a proven record of leading and assuring complex highway schemes, including third‑party approvals and stakeholder negotiation.
- Strong technical credibility, commercial awareness, and the ability to act as a senior technical authority.
Beneficial Experience
- Experience in Section 278 highway schemes, residential‑led infrastructure, utilities coordination, industrial and commercial developments, and engagement with third‑party regulators.
- Exposure to large multidisciplinary projects and strategic infrastructure planning and coordination.
About Tetra Tech RPS
Tetra Tech RPS is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment lifecycle in line with the Equality Act 2010.
Recruitment Agencies
We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on this list. Please refer to the careers page on our website if you require any further information.
Technical Director - Highways & Civils in Birmingham employer: RPS
Contact Detail:
RPS Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Director - Highways & Civils in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for highways and civils, and how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from showcasing your technical expertise during interviews. Bring examples of past projects where you’ve led teams or tackled complex challenges. This is your chance to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Tetra Tech RPS.
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Director - Highways & Civils in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the Technical Director role. Highlight your experience in highways engineering and any leadership roles you've held, as we want to see how you can lead our team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about highways and civils, and how your background makes you the perfect fit for this position. We love seeing genuine enthusiasm!
Showcase Your Technical Expertise: Don’t shy away from detailing your technical achievements. Whether it's leading complex projects or navigating third-party approvals, we want to know how you've tackled challenges in the past and what you can bring to our team.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Tetra Tech RPS!
How to prepare for a job interview at RPS
✨Know Your Technical Stuff
As a Technical Director, you’ll need to showcase your extensive knowledge in highways and civil infrastructure. Brush up on key projects you've led, especially those involving Section 278 schemes, and be ready to discuss the technical challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership, so prepare examples of how you've guided teams through complex projects. Think about times when you mentored junior engineers or influenced project outcomes positively. Highlight your ability to collaborate across disciplines and locations.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Client engagement is crucial for this position. Be prepared to discuss your experience in managing client relationships and navigating stakeholder negotiations. Share specific instances where you successfully managed third-party approvals or made robust technical cases under pressure.
✨Show Your Commercial Acumen
Understanding the commercial side of projects is key. Be ready to talk about how you've overseen project performance, managed fees, and identified new business opportunities. Discuss your strategies for work winning and how you’ve positioned your team as trusted advisors in previous roles.
