Director - Discipline Team Leader - Building Structures

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

Our portfolio of work is diverse and continues to expand. In the UK WSP specialises in providing consulting, management and design services to a variety of public and private sector clients. The business has successfully completed numerous high profile building projects, both new and refurbished, across a variety of sectors including civic, aviation, rail, commercial, education, health, hotel, industrial, data centres, leisure, residential, retail as well as stadia and arenas. 

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 Scotland we continue to deliver major healthcare, 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. 

Structures UK North

Our Structures team in the UK Northern Region works from our offices in Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Stockton, Newcastle, Edinburgh & Glasgow with 100 + 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 into 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 2027. 

As a result of senior staff role changes and succession-planning we need to fill the role of Director Structures North (DTL).  The DTL will report to the Head of North but will be fully responsible and accountable for the Structures North team from the beginning of their appointment. All responsibilities and accountabilities listed below will be undertaken by the DTL, within the framework of the UK P&B strategy and Structures UK leadership.

A little more about your role…

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. Attend Structures DTL meetings as required.

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 region 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 50%

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

Ensure that Monthly Project Reviews across the centre are complete to suit discipline reporting requirements. Act as project reviewer for other relevant projects. 

Represent Structures North at monthly DELG meetings. 

Oversee line management structure and allocations. Act as line manager for appropriate staff. 

Commercial:

Accountable for the operational performance of Structures North 

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

Deliver monthly management meetings for team leaders within 50212, which includes an interface with Health & Safety, HR and Finance teams.

Attend and report on behalf of Structures North at weekly UK Structures Resource calls

Attend and report on behalf of Structures North at month end performance  reviews.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

Experience in the construction industry, in particular in the 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 North market place 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 team work, through an open and inclusive leadership style

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

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.

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.