Director - Structural Engineering

Our structures teams have been involved in many high-profile UK projects and complex structural engineering challenges such as Buckingham Palace, Claridge’s Hotel, London Bridge Quarter (including The Shard and the re-development of London Bridge Station), Crossrail Bond Street Station and oversite redevelopment, HS2 Stations in London and Birmingham and Alder Hey and Great Ormond Street Hospitals. In The North we continue to deliver major urban regeneration, leisure, residential, commercial, industrial, defence, healthcare, energy, higher education and data centre projects alongside our expertise in refurbishment and heritage projects. 

The truly multidisciplinary nature of the organisation means that WSP is able to offer a wealth of experience in all sectors and has cemented their reputation at the forefront of the market. 

A little more about the role..

Structures UK North

Our Structures team in the UK Northern Region works from our offices in Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Stockton, Newcastle, Edinburgh & Glasgow with around 110 structural engineers and technicians.  The Regional team is further split into three Centres, namely Scotland, Northeast & North. 

North Centre includes our team based in Leeds, Manchester & Sheffield with around 35 structural engineers and technicians. The offices work together as one regional unit and report operationally as one unit. Around the UK each of our Centre teams is led by a discipline team leader (DTL) reporting their respective regional discipline leader. 

Structures North Centre is successful because we have maintained a diverse workload in key sectors underpinned by major project delivery in Residential, Commercial, Defence Logistics, Healthcare and Energy sectors.  – We have robust secured workload to support our budgeted team growth in 2026. 

To support our growth strategy for and beyond 2026, we are recruiting a Director role to be based in our Leeds Office.  This role will report directly to the North Centre DTL and play a key part in the strategic and operational direction of the regional business.  All responsibilities and accountabilities listed below will be undertaken by the Director in this role, within the framework of the UK P&B strategy and Structures UK leadership.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Providing highly visible, inspirational leadership, strategic direction and support for the centre 

• Contributing to the national Property & Buildings business - liaising and providing support to other offices and teams. 

• Promoting WSP Vision and Values

• Leading/support on recruitment, staff development and personal development reviews

• Leading and supporting and implementing strategies for resource management

• Inspiring the teams through actions and behaviours aligned to the WSP values

• Liaising with other parts of WSP and assist in the co-delivery to our clients a range of multi-disciplinary building design, transportation and environmental services

• Encouraging open and effective two- way communication and contribution including holding regular team meetings.

Business Development and Marketing:

• Build on a culture of Business Development in the centre. 

• Actively secure work through existing contacts and new focused marketing initiatives

• Remain a point of contact for key clients and adopt key account management processes

• Generate new and repeat business through focused marketing efforts

• Lead Business Development Initiatives within the Leeds office including attendance at monthly BD/Marketing Update meeting.

Technical and Project Management

• Act as Project Director on strategic and/or significant projects. The role is based on a minimum average utilisation of 75%

• Attend principal meetings and make client presentations

• Instil a strong project management and project delivery culture 

• Maintain/raise the level of technical competence and innovation within the teams

• Support strategic innovation 

• Promote technical excellence in all our projects

• Undertake technical reviews and contribute to the concept design

• Undertake Project Reviews and act as Project Director on significant projects.

• Provide line management to appropriate staff

Commercial:

• Accountable for the commercial management of projects

• Responsible for all aspects of developing and implementing budgetary strategies, including fee bidding, working capital management, debtors, invoicing and project forecasting 

• Implement the project delivery systems and structures

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate..

• Experience in the construction industry - property sector

• Proven track record in delivering growth and profit against a background of excellent client care and a motivated team

• Strong Business Development focus with a good reputation in the Leeds/Regional marketplace within relevant supply chains (asset owners, architects, other relevant professional services firms and contractors) 

• Proven experience of work winning, client care, repeat business and a considerable client facing role

• Evidence of creating and/or maintaining a culture of Business Development within a team

• Experience in leading a team of people, able to recruit, develop and retain individuals at the most senior level

• Experience in developing and retaining ECPs

• Proven track record of project delivery, including notable projects across a variety of sectors, major developments and multidisciplinary working

• Previous experience in working within a variety of sectors. 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, particularly demonstrating the ability to influence and negotiate both internally and externally

• Experience in driving a culture of teamwork, through an open and inclusive leadership style

• Chartered Structural or Civil Engineer with an interest in promoting technical excellence and innovation

The Opportunity:

This is a fantastic and interesting opportunity for an ambitious individual to take a senior leadership role in the WSP UK Structures business with a view to potential further progression in the future. The UK business is keen to support an individual who can help grow the business in line with discipline and UK strategies. The scale and complexity of the projects that WSP UK get involved with and their holistic method of working make them one of the leading players within the market.  The success of this role will be pivotal to continue the success into the future, and the right individual will ultimately gain considerable recognition and reward for their contribution.