Location: London (Hybrid Working Available)
Position: Permanent, Full Time
Salary: Competitive and Negotiable (dependent on experience)
About the Role
We are looking to appoint an experienced Associate Director – Highways to establish and lead Wilde’s highways business in London and the South East.
This is an exciting opportunity for a senior highways professional who enjoys both winning work and leading its delivery, and who wants the autonomy to build something of their own with the backing of an established and growing consultancy.
Our London office currently has a strong Building Structures presence, and this role will be the first dedicated highways leadership position based in London. You will have the opportunity to develop our existing presence across the South East, build strong client relationships and, as the workload grows, recruit and lead a local highways team.
You will be supported by our established highways team in Stockport, providing additional technical and delivery support as the London business develops.
The Role
The role will combine business development, project leadership and team development, with the successful candidate playing a key role in establishing Wilde’s highways presence across London, Kent, Essex and the wider South East.
You will be responsible for developing client relationships, identifying new opportunities and leading bids and fee proposals, while remaining hands-on and fee-earning through the delivery of projects.
There is genuine autonomy within the role, with the opportunity to help shape the direction of the London highways business and play a significant part in its future growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with highways clients across London and the South East.
- Maximise opportunities through Wilde’s existing frameworks and identify new framework and direct-award opportunities.
- Lead bids, fee proposals and client presentations.
- Develop and manage a qualified pipeline of new business opportunities.
- Identify opportunities to introduce Wilde’s wider highways, drainage and structures capabilities to clients.
- Act as Project Director or Lead Engineer on commissions secured.
- Lead client meetings and site visits across London and the South East.
- Coordinate delivery support from the established Stockport highways team, ensuring projects are delivered to programme, budget and quality requirements.
- Recruit, develop and lead a London-based highways team as the workload grows.
- Manage the London highways P&L and report progress against agreed targets.
- Contribute to the wider leadership of the Highways business and Wilde’s continued growth.
About You
We are looking for a senior highways professional who combines strong technical and project delivery experience with a proven ability to develop client relationships and win work.
You will have:
- Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status (CEng or IEng) with ICE or equivalent.
- Significant experience in highways design and delivery, ideally working with local authorities or strategic road clients.
- Established relationships with clients across London, Kent, Essex or the wider South East.
- A proven track record of winning work, including leading bids, framework submissions and fee proposals.
- Experience leading projects and teams, including managing budgets and programmes.
- Strong commercial awareness and excellent client relationship skills.
- The ability to work independently and take ownership within a growing, entrepreneurial environment.
- A genuine interest in building and developing a highways team and business.
Experience in highway structures, drainage or traffic schemes, local authority frameworks, or building and growing a team or office would also be advantageous.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary, commensurate with experience, including London weighting.
- Performance-related bonus.
- Opportunity to share in the profit generated from work you originate as the London highways business grows.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Buy and sell up to 5 days’ annual leave.
- 37 hour week with paid overtime.
- Flexible and hybrid working.
- Company pension scheme.
- Professional development and support for membership of professional institutions.
- The opportunity to build and lead a new London highways team.
- Support from an established highways team in Stockport.
- Varied, challenging and rewarding projects.
- Friendly, collaborative and supportive working environment.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Organised social events.
- Strong, financially sound company.
- Family-run business, not run by shareholders.
- One professional membership paid.