Associate / Associate Director - Highways Engineer in Exeter

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

This is an opportunity to join our Local Government Highways and Bridges team based in Exeter, Devon. We provide highways design and consultancy services for local authority clients within the South West. We are passionate about supporting our Local Authority clients to deliver improvements for local communities, prioritising Active and Healthy Travel modes and caring about the provision of mobility across the transport network. Our team is based in WSP's vibrant city centre office alongside other teams from our diverse business, there is easy access to public transport links and city centre amenities.

As an Associate or Associate Director (dependent on experience), you will provide technical leadership to our design and contract supervision teams and will use your knowledge and skills to deliver the right quality to time and budget. You will use those attributes to lead design teams and to mentor and support junior team members.

• Leading and/or managing a variety of transport infrastructure projects for local highway authority clients primarily in the Southwest of England.
• Responsibility for project team management and co-ordinating multi-disciplinary inputs, budgeting, programming and technical excellence.
• Managing resources and developing relationships with other teams.
• Agreeing fees and managing the commercial position on projects.
• Developing client relationships and leading tenders/bids.
• Supervision and mentoring of junior members of the team.

It is anticipated that you will be a Chartered Civil Engineer. It is expected that this experience will include the following:

• A broad range of project experience, both within civil engineering discipline and multi-disciplinary projects ideally focused on highway, traffic and civil engineering projects.
• Project management expertise, including reviewing client briefs and tenders, developing fee proposals, and leading project delivery through workload supervision, task delegation, junior staff mentoring and managing client expectations.
• A proven ability to act in client facing roles and maintain good client relationships.
• Proven working knowledge of key UK highways design guidance such as the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Manual for Streets, Traffic Signs Manuals and Local Transport Notes.
• Experience in preparing and managing engineering and construction contracts using NEC4.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills and excellent working knowledge of MS Office tools, excel spreadsheets.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with confidence in engaging with clients, stakeholders, and colleagues, as well as presenting at meetings, workshops, and public forums.
• A passion for mentoring and developing talent.

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team. Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world. With us, you can. Apply today.

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

• Work-life balance: At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. 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. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.
• 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. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.
• 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. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
• 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.