Geotechnical Technical Director

Vickerstock are pleased to be partnering with an established engineering consultancy specialising in the design and delivery of technically complex heavy civil engineering projects across the UK. As part of continued growth and long-term succession planning, they are seeking a Geotechnical Technical Director to take a leading role within the business from their County Armagh office.

This is an opportunity for an experienced geotechnical engineer who has progressed into leadership without wanting to move away from engineering. You will lead and develop an existing geotechnical team, represent the business with key clients and contribute commercially, while remaining directly involved in the technical delivery of complex Design & Build projects.

With the geotechnical function currently led by the Managing Director, this is a strategically important appointment with the opportunity to take increasing ownership of the discipline as the team continues to grow.

Why this opportunity?

• Take a key leadership position within an established geotechnical function as part of long-term succession planning
• Work directly alongside the Managing Director, progressively taking greater ownership of the discipline
• Lead and grow an existing team while remaining actively involved in engineering
• Deliver complex geotechnical solutions across heavy civil engineering, tunnelling and power generation projects
• Work predominantly within a Design & Build environment, providing solutions focused on technical excellence, constructability and commercial value
• Represent the business directly with major contractors and clients across the UK
• Join a business with an established project pipeline and plans to further grow its geotechnical capability
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements

Your new role as Geotechnical Technical Director

As Geotechnical Technical Director, you will provide technical leadership across the geotechnical function while working closely with the Managing Director to develop the team, capability and future direction of the discipline. This is not a purely managerial appointment. You will remain close to project delivery, providing senior technical input into complex engineering challenges while developing the engineers around you and becoming a trusted technical partner to clients and contractors.

You will be responsible for:

• Providing technical leadership across complex geotechnical and ground engineering projects
• Leading geotechnical input into major Design & Build schemes across heavy civil engineering, tunnelling and power generation
• Developing practical, buildable and commercially considered engineering solutions in collaboration with contractors and multidisciplinary design teams
• Taking responsibility for the technical quality, review and delivery of geotechnical design outputs
• Remaining hands-on where required, providing senior technical input into complex engineering challenges and project delivery
• Leading, mentoring and developing the existing geotechnical team while supporting future recruitment and growth
• Working alongside the Managing Director as responsibility for the geotechnical function progressively transitions over time
• Representing the consultancy at senior level with clients, contractors and project stakeholders
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with existing and prospective clients
• Supporting bids, fee proposals and work-winning activity, contributing approximately 10-20% of business unit fee generation while overall commercial responsibility remains with the Managing Director
• Supporting the continued development of technical standards, processes and engineering capability across the business

What you will need to succeed as Geotechnical Technical Director

Technical experience:

• A degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or a related discipline
• Chartered Engineer status
• Approximately 15+ years' experience within geotechnical engineering
• Significant experience gained within an engineering consultancy environment
• Strong technical expertise across geotechnical design and ground engineering
• Experience delivering technically complex heavy civil engineering or major infrastructure projects
• Strong understanding of Design & Build delivery and the relationship between design, constructability, programme and commercial outcomes
• Experience within tunnelling, power generation or similarly complex infrastructure environments would be particularly advantageous

Leadership and commercial experience:

• Experience leading, mentoring and developing engineers within a consultancy environment
• The technical credibility to lead complex projects and provide senior engineering guidance to both colleagues and clients
• Strong contractor and client-facing experience with the confidence to represent the business at senior level
• Experience contributing to bids, proposals, client development and work-winning activities
• Commercial awareness and a value-driven approach to engineering design
• The ability to combine leadership responsibilities with continued involvement in technical delivery
• The ambition to take increasing ownership of an established geotechnical function and shape its future growth

What's in it for you?

In return, you can expect:

• Salary of £80,000-£90,000 plus package
• A genuine succession opportunity within an established engineering consultancy
• The opportunity to take increasing ownership of an established geotechnical function
• Direct access to and collaboration with the Managing Director
• Leadership of an existing team with scope to recruit and develop the capability further
• Continued involvement in technically challenging engineering rather than moving into a purely managerial position
• Exposure to complex Design & Build projects across the UK
• Significant influence over technical direction, team development and future growth
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, or similar Technical Director and senior engineering appointments across Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK, please contact Brian Mitchell at Vickerstock Recruitment.