Associate / Associate Director (Urban Highways) in Birmingham

Overview

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day. For more than 60 years, the Group has helped cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. The team in the UK is now looking for someone at either an Associate or Associate Director level to advance the engineering design capability, develop strong client relationships in the public and private sector and grow the infrastructure team. The role is based in Birmingham with the flexibility to work from home. The successful candidate will support the delivery of a wide range of multi‑disciplinary traffic, highways, and infrastructure projects for public and private sector clients across the UK, including preliminary and detailed design for active travel projects, bus priority schemes, urban traffic management schemes and public realm enhancement projects. It is essential that the candidate can project manage and technically lead on schemes.

Responsibilities

• Function as Project Manager/Director for development & transport infrastructure design projects across the business
• Project manage schemes with control over project budgets
• Manage staff in the preparation of outline, preliminary, and detailed design projects
• Client facing and lead a team of engineers to deliver projects on time and to budget
• Oversee teams in the preparation of contract documents, tendering process, and construction phase of projects
• Ensure work produced is technically accurate and delivered in accordance with the appropriate standards
• Manage the production of scheme deliverables
• Review technical documents and reports and assist in the preparation of expressions of interest and tenders
• Staff development and mentoring
• Ensure compliance with relevant health, safety, and environmental legislation
• Consult with sector directors across D&I and the wider business to identify and secure opportunities

Qualifications

• A relevant degree qualification with substantial experience working for a design consultancy
• Chartered Engineer (ICE or CIHT)
• The ability to form constructive, lasting relationships with clients and professional partners
• Understand the process and drive the provision of highway design and engineering services for developments/active travel projects
• Successful record in project management, supporting clients through the tendering & award process
• A background in detailed highway design, preferably using industry leading design software
• Experience of leading infrastructure development teams
• Engineering management of major transport infrastructure projects
• Technical coordination and integration of multi‑discipline design inputs
• Preparation of preliminary and detailed design for highways, drainage, and infrastructure projects
• Ideally, demonstrable experience in active travel projects, bus priority schemes, urban traffic management schemes or public realm enhancement projects
• Mentoring staff and developing engineering capabilities across the business
• Support the sector director and the infrastructure resource manager to deliver D&I projects across the consultancy

Benefits

• Our three core values: Excellence, Connected Teams and Bold Leadership are kept at the heart of everything we do.
• We strive for the highest levels of technical excellence, achieving the best results through teamwork, locally and internationally, and reward innovative thinking.
• We offer a competitive remuneration package including a bonus and private healthcare, an electric car scheme and a broad suite of flexible benefits to suit your lifestyle.
• Flexibility: We offer hybrid working, balancing the benefits of working from home with time in modern, well‑equipped offices for crucial in‑person contact, team development and collaborative working.
• A dedicated flexible working policy supports you to tailor your work life to reach your full potential.
• Diversity & Inclusion: We provide a warm welcome and encourage applications from a diverse range of people who can enrich our company and offer perspectives that will drive better solutions in a truly inclusive environment.
• Wellbeing: Our Wellness Programme offers a wide range of support, including wellness champions, free health checks, healthy eating workshops, regular seminars, and access to external support.
• Two paid days for charity work and an ever‑growing social calendar are also provided.

Equal Opportunity

We pledge to offer an interview to any candidates with a disability who apply for a role and meet the minimum criteria.