Associate Director - Water

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RPS offers an opportunity for an Associate Director within our Clean Water Technical Team. The role involves overall management, direction and performance of our Analytics and Software teams, as well as building strong client relationships.

This is a unique opportunity for a candidate with experience leading the delivery of large operational and technical programmes in the water/wastewater sector. As a key member of a dynamic and ambitious leadership team, you will work directly alongside our Technical Director and a team of Senior Managers charged with delivering significant programmes of projects to challenging timescales and budgets.

RPS Water Consulting is a team of Engineers, Modellers, and Data Analysts providing Asset Management and Operational Strategy development to our Water Industry clients to support business planning and delivery. This evolving industry requires innovation, dedication, and teamwork to meet client needs.

In addition to the Analytics and Software teams, we also deliver a range of other technical delivery and clean water modelling services for several major water companies across the UK.

We have a broad portfolio of long‑term framework agreements, securing careers for the next 20 years and leaving a lasting legacy.

As a key member of the Water Consultancy business, your role as Associate Director is critical to delivering great projects for our Water Industry clients. You will work alongside a multi‑disciplinary team of water project experts.

You will contribute technically across various frameworks, working on a wide range of demanding projects in Clean Water and software provision.

By joining us, you will have a meaningful impact on millions of lives in the UK, leaving a legacy for generations to come.

• Leadership and management of delivery teams.
• Ensuring project delivery and commercial performance deadlines and targets are met.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with key client contacts to understand strategic direction, risks, issues and needs.
• Developing project delivery strategies to support client needs, with associated training, development, recruitment and/or innovation plans.
• Identifying and cultivating innovative and optimised technical solutions aligned with client objectives.
• Consolidating and coordinating project delivery across the clean water team to drive efficiencies.
• Planning and managing resources.
• Identifying escalated project risks and opportunities, together with risk and opportunity mitigation and management.
• Identifying, implementing and supporting growth opportunities across the UK.

• Extensive experience leading people and major project/programme delivery in the water sector.
• Proven experience in bid delivery and winning client work.
• Commitment to a strong culture of health, safety and wellbeing.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to deliver commercially complex framework programmes.
• Proven ability to build and mentor teams and drive collaborative behaviours.
• Proven ability to coordinate and facilitate teams to deliver successful outcomes at project and programme levels.
• Preferable experience in analytical projects and/or software development.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership and communication skills.
• Skilled in collaborative negotiation.

You’ll receive a company car, performance‑based bonus, and a generous 7.5% employer pension contribution (rising to 10% after five years). A personal development plan and a transparent career pathway support your growth.

We value diverse ideas, perspectives, and styles of thinking. We respect each other and recognise the contribution of everyone. You’ll join a diverse community that prioritises people and well‑being.

A career here is far from ordinary. You’re not a number; you’re part of the solution. We’re a connected community working together to achieve exceptional outcomes. We support flexibility, creating a work‑life balance that suits you. With agile offices and hybrid working standard, we trust our people to find the right balance to meet client…