Technical Director - Roads & Highways

We are seeking an accomplished Technical Director to lead and grow the Roads & Highways practice within the UK Local Government Business. This senior leadership role is responsible for strategic direction, high‑level technical oversight, operational excellence, and sustained client and stakeholder engagement. The Technical Director will ensure the successful delivery of complex multi‑disciplinary infrastructure projects, foster a high‑performance technical culture, and drive innovation across the service line.

WSP is one of the world's leading professional services consulting firms. We are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower. We are technical experts and strategic advisors including engineers, technicians, scientists, architects, planners, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as other design, program and construction management professionals. We design lasting solutions in the Transportation & Infrastructure, Property & Buildings, Earth & Environment, Power & Energy, Resources and Industry sectors, as well as offering strategic advisory services. Our talented people around the globe engineer projects that will help societies grow for lifetimes to come.

With approximately 4,000 talented people across 3 locations (Noida, Bengaluru & Mumbai offices) in India and more than 73,000 globally, in 550 offices across 40 countries, we engineer projects that will help societies grow for lifetimes to come.

At “WSP” we draw on the diverse skills and capabilities of our employees globally to compete for the most exciting and complex projects across the world and bring the same level of expertise to our local communities. We are proud to be an international collective of innovative thinkers who work on the most complex problems. Unified under one strong brand, we use our local expertise, international reach and global scale to prepare our cities and environments for the future, connect communities and help societies thrive in built and natural ecosystems. True to our guiding principles, our business is built on four cornerstones: Our People, Our Clients, Our Operational Excellence and Our Expertise.

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We are

• Passionate people doing purposeful and sustainable work that helps shape our communities and the future.
• A collaborative team that thrives on challenges and unconventional thinking.
• A network of experts channeling our curiosity into creating solutions for complex issues.

Inspired by diversity, driven by inclusion, we work with passion and purpose.

Working with Us

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 Hybrid Working Module

With us, you can operate in a flexible, agile, yet structured work environment and follow a Hybrid Work Model.

• Maximize collaboration.
• Maintain product quality and cultural integrity.
• Balance community, collaboration, opportunity, productivity, and efficiency.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Our people are our greatest asset, and we prioritize a safe work environment. Health, safety, and wellbeing are integral to our culture, with each of us accountable for fostering a safe workplace through our “Making Health and Safety Personal” initiative. Our Zero Harm Vision drives us to reduce risks through innovative solutions, earning recognition for our global health and safety practices with the prestigious RoSPA Health and Safety Awards for six consecutive years.

Inclusivity and Diversity

WSP India is dedicated to fostering a sustainable and inclusive work environment where our greatest strength - Our People -feel valued, respected, and supported. We ensure an unbiased approach in hiring, promotion, and performance evaluation, regardless of age, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, physical ability, education, social status, or cultural background.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of over 73,300 talented global professionals dedicated to making a positive impact. Together, we can make a difference in communities both near and far.

With us, you can.
Apply today.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.

Strategic & Technical Leadership

• Provide overall Technical and Strategic leadership for the UK Local Government Roads/ Highways discipline, ensuring alignment with WSP’s business priorities, vision, and values.
• Act as the Principal Technical Authority on highways engineering, setting standards of excellence and assuring technical quality across all deliverables.
• Define and drive the Technical Strategy, including adoption of emerging technologies, digital engineering tools, and industry best practice.
• Oversee complex or high‑risk projects, providing guidance on design challenges, client expectations, and integrated solutions.
• Champion continuous improvement in design methodologies, processes, and technical governance across the discipline.

Operational Management & Governance

• Oversee programme, resource, commercial, and risk management for the Roads & Highways portfolio, ensuring profitable and predictable delivery.
• Ensure that all projects adhere to Health & Safety, Quality Assurance, risk management, and WSP Business Management Systems.
• Lead internal audit processes, ensuring corrective actions and continuous compliance.
• Drive operational efficiencies, productivity improvement initiatives, and KPI achievement across the team.

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Provide visible and inspirational leadership, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and innovation.
• Lead strategic workforce planning including succession planning, capability development, and competency mapping.
• Mentor senior staff and technical leaders, supporting progression towards professional accreditation and leadership roles.
• Support recruitment at scale to achieve planned team growth, and identify capability gaps needed to expand service offerings in India and the UK.
• Manage change effectively, building resilience and engagement across a multi‑cultural and multi‑disciplinary environment.

Client, Market & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring high levels of satisfaction, repeat business, and strategic growth.
• Lead technical and strategic input into major bids, frameworks, proposals, and business development activities.
• Represent WSP at industry forums, conferences, and professional institutions, contributing to thought leadership and market visibility.
• Maintain strong awareness of market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities in the Transportation & Infrastructure sector.

Commercial & Business Performance

• Drive the commercial success of the Roads & Highways portfolio by ensuring budget, margin, utilisation, and revenue targets are consistently achieved or exceeded.
• Identify and manage project changes, opportunities, and risks to deliver commercial advantage.
• Ensure that appropriately qualified staff are assigned to projects with full awareness of commercial and technical constraints.

• Master’s degree in Highway or Transportation Engineering or related field.
• Over 15 years of Highway Engineering experience with significant leadership responsibilities.
• Strong track record of delivering complex, high‑profile Highways/ Roads projects in consultancy.

Mandatory Skills

• Extensive experience in senior technical leadership roles within the Highways sector, ideally within a professional services environment.
• Deep and proven working knowledge of UK Highways Design Standards and relevant technical guidance.
• Demonstrated success in leading complex, large‑scale highways design projects.
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing large, diverse teams across multiple locations.

BGV:

• Employment with WSP India is subject to the successful completion of a background verification (“BGV”) check conducted by a third-party agency appointed by WSP India.
• Candidates are advised to ensure that all information provided during the recruitment process — including documents uploaded — is accurate and complete, both to WSP India and its BGV partner”.