Associate Director (Civil) in Birmingham

Robert Bird Group is a global consulting engineering firm delivering innovative, sustainable and buildable solutions across structural, civil, geotechnical, construction engineering and virtual design & construction (VDC). Established in Brisbane in 1982, we now have more than 850 staff across twelve offices in Australia, the UK, Asia, the Middle East and North America. As part of SJ Group, a diverse collective of problem solvers for the built environment, we are connected to a global network reimagining a smarter, more sustainable future.

About the role

We are seeking an Associate Director to join our expanding Civils Team in the Birmingham office. This role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer looking to take a senior leadership position within a growing and dynamic consultancy. You will play a key role in project delivery, client engagement, team development, and the continued growth of the UK practice, working closely with Directors, clients, contractors, and multidisciplinary design teams. The role combines technical leadership with commercial and people management responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Development
  • Motivate and lead project teams proactively and ethically to deliver outstanding outcomes.
  • Provide supervision, mentoring, and career development support to staff under your direction.
  • Identify training needs and ensure team members receive appropriate development opportunities.
  • Contribute to technical excellence, culture, procedures, professional development, and continuous improvement across the UK practice.
• Client & Business Development
  • Promote Robert Bird Group to existing and prospective clients.
  • Establish new clients and strengthen relationships through excellent project delivery and repeat business.
  • Lead client liaison with Project Directors, ensuring expectations are met or exceeded.
  • Ensure client requirements are understood by all project personnel and manage changes as they arise.
  • Prepare and negotiate fee proposals and fee variations.
  • Represent the company at client, consultant, and coordination meetings.
• Technical & Project Delivery
  • Take an active, hands-on role in all projects under your direction, ensuring exemplary service and high technical standards.
  • Develop concept design and design philosophy in conjunction with the Project Director.
  • Review design and documentation, including design checking as required (Director approval required prior to issue).
  • Select and manage sub‑consultants, including scope, programme, and commercial terms.
  • Manage project programming, resource planning, and project cost control, including invoice compilation.
  • Undertake project coordination and oversee multidisciplinary interfaces.
  • Implement RBG’s Quality System on all assigned projects.
• Health, Safety & Site Support
  • Implement and oversee Health & Safety policies and procedures on projects.
  • Participate in the Workplace Health & Safety Committee when required.
  • Provide technical support and problem‑solving guidance to both site and office teams.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• Chartered Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), or an equivalent internationally recognised professional body, demonstrating high technical competence and professional responsibility.
• A minimum of 10 years’ relevant engineering experience, ideally within structural, construction, or multidisciplinary engineering environments, showing progressive responsibility and technical leadership.
• At least 2 years’ experience in design and design development, including preparation, coordination, and review of engineering deliverables.
• A minimum of 2 years’ account or client management experience, demonstrating the ability to build strong relationships, manage expectations, and support fee and project delivery.
• Client-facing experience, with the ability to manage relationships and support commercial delivery.
• Demonstrated experience in managing, mentoring, and developing engineers and technical staff, with a commitment to supporting career progression, capability building, and team performance.
• A familiarity with, and eagerness to deploy computational design workflows is advantageous.
• Experience in nuclear, rail, or water infrastructure projects would be advantageous, reflecting our strong and growing pipeline in these sectors. Candidates without prior experience in these areas are encouraged to apply, as support and development will be provided where required.

What we offer you:

RBG is a growing, fast-paced business which offers birthday leave, corporate health insurance rates, paid parental leave, recognition awards, an active and engaging social club, along with a supportive team environment where healthy lifestyle balance is encouraged.

If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every criterion, we’d love to hear from you.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments or additional support—such as receiving the application form in an alternative format—please don’t hesitate to contact our recruitment team.

Your experience throughout the application process is important to us. We welcome feedback on how we can improve and are happy to provide any further information you may need to help you make an informed decision about joining us.

If there’s anything more we can do to support you, please let us know, we’re here to help.

Agency

Please note that any unsolicited resumes or CVs submitted through our website or directly to SJ Group employees’ personal email accounts will be considered the property of SJ Group. As such, we will not be liable for any agency fees associated with these submissions.

To be recognized as an authorized recruitment agency or search firm for SJ Group, a formal written agreement must be in place. Additionally, agencies must be invited by our Recruitment Team to submit candidates for specific roles.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.