Associate Director Hydrogeologist

We are seeking an Associate Director Hydrogeologist to play a key role in growing and leading our Ground & Water business, with a strong focus on business development, client leadership, and team growth alongside technical and project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Operate as a senior leader within the Ground & Water team, responsible for driving business growth, strengthening client relationships, and ensuring successful delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary projects.
• Business development leadership
• Client relationship management
• Project and commercial oversight
• People leadership and team development
• Technical direction and assurance

Business Development & Growth – Lead the identification, pursuit, and conversion of new business opportunities across the UK market, while developing and maintaining strong relationships with key clients and acting as a senior point of contact. Drive sector growth across contaminated land and remediation, energy transition and industrial decommissioning, and infrastructure and regeneration. Lead or support strategic bids, including bid strategy development, commercial positioning, and client engagement and negotiation. Contribute to regional and national business development plans and growth targets, while expanding WSP’s market presence and strengthening its reputation within the Ground & Water sector.

Client & Project Leadership – Act as Project Director on key projects, with accountability for delivery to time, cost and quality, alongside full responsibility for commercial performance, financial management, and effective risk management and governance. Provide strategic advice to clients across complex environmental and remediation challenges, while maintaining high standards of technical excellence and client satisfaction, and ensuring the effective coordination and leadership of multi-disciplinary teams.

Leadership & Team Development – Lead, mentor and develop teams within the Newcastle office and wider region, supporting recruitment, retention and capability development aligned to business growth. Build high-performing, collaborative teams and foster a positive working culture, while identifying skills gaps and supporting effective succession planning.

Commercial & Operational Performance – Take accountability for project and regional financial performance, including revenue generation and profitability through effective margin management. Support forecasting, pipeline development and reporting, while ensuring projects are delivered in compliance with WSP governance, quality and health & safety requirements, and contributing to effective operational planning and resource management.

Technical Leadership & Assurance – Provide senior technical oversight and maintain high standards of delivery, acting as a subject matter expert in contaminated land, hydrogeology or remediation (or related disciplines). Support innovation and continuous improvement across the service line, while contributing to technical excellence and promoting knowledge sharing across the wider business.

You will be expected to operate as a trusted advisor to clients, a leader of teams, and a key contributor to regional and national growth strategy.

Qualifications

• A degree (and ideally postgraduate qualification) in environmental science, geology, engineering, or a related discipline
• Chartered status with a relevant professional body
• Significant experience in Hydrogeology
• Managing hydrogeological data and developing conceptual models and interpretation of data
• Developing hydrogeological conceptual models
• Use and learn software such as ConSim, LandSim, P20, FeFlow, Modflow, Seep/W
• Involved in hydrogeological risk assessment, dewatering, groundwater resource, pumping tests, yield tests, modelling, borehole prognosis, abstraction and geothermal
• A proven track record in:
• Winning work and building client relationships
• Delivering complex projects
• Leading teams and developing people
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of consultancy delivery models
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

If you don’t meet all that we are looking for please still consider applying. Not everyone will meet all the requirements, but you might have skills we didn’t know we need.

Benefits

• Work-life balance: Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.
• Inclusivity & Belonging: We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society.
• Health & Wellbeing: We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.
• Flex your time: To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the WSP My Hour, allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.
• Your development: We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.