Director of Maritime Engineering

Overview

As Director of Maritime Engineering, you lead performance, technical direction and sustainable growth for the Maritime Engineering team, shaping ports, terminals and maritime infrastructure across the UK, Ireland, Europe and selected international markets. You will steward team performance, governance and client outcomes while aligning with WSP’s Ports & Maritime strategy. The role combines leadership, project governance, and business growth across major maritime programmes. You will collaborate with a global network of experts to deliver safe, innovative and compliant maritime solutions. This is a high-impact leadership position at a leading engineering firm with global reach and a strong I

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working policy
• health & wellbeing initiatives (Thrive programme, Virtual GP)
• flexible benefits including Gymflex
• flexible working arrangements and personal time
• Chartership support and development
• inclusive culture and career progression

Responsibilities

• Own the Maritime Engineering team’s overall performance with clear priorities and accountabilities
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing, inclusive team with succession planning
• Provide oversight and Project Director leadership for major commissions ensuring scope, programme, budget, quality and client outcomes
• Manage cost-centre performance, budgets, forecasting, resource allocation and recruitment
• Maintain commercial performance including WIP, debt, risk and change control in collaboration with finance and commercial leads
• Set and uphold technical governance, design standards, and independent review pathways
• Ensure delivery complies with management systems, legislation, standards and client expectations
• Identify and mitigate risks across portfolio while pursuing opportunities and lessons learned
• Promote innovation, digital delivery, automation, resilience and decarbonisation; sponsor continuous improvement
• Coordinate UK, Ireland, European and global teams for capability planning and workload alignment
• Manage strategic client and stakeholder relationships and interface with sector leads and operations
• Lead business development and major pursuits to convert opportunities into profitable commissions
• Represent WSP in client meetings, bid interviews and industry networks
• Coordinate international collaboration to form coherent, locally credible teams across regions
• Drive performance management with objective setting, feedback and recognition as part of a fair process
• Foster external representation and market profile as a senior maritime engineering leader
• Support resource planning and capability development across multiple geographies

Key requirements

• Significant senior leadership experience in maritime, ports or terminal engineering with multidisciplinary teams and complex portfolios
• People-management experience including recruitment, objective setting, performance management and succession
• Accountability for cost-centre or business-unit performance including forecasting and resource planning
• Track record as Project Director or equivalent on major commissions with accountability for programme, cost, quality and risk
• Strong port and marine infrastructure credentials across marine structures, terminal planning and complex delivery environments
• Knowledge of technical governance, design assurance, quality management, safety, regulatory compliance and maritime standards
• Experience leading innovation, new technology adoption and continuous improvement in engineering delivery
• Established senior client network across terminal operators, port authorities, contractors and investors
• History of winning and leading profitable maritime commissions in multiple regions
• Commercial judgement enabling timely, evidence-based decisions and effective leadership across matrix structures

• Strategic thinking and stakeholder management
• Mentoring and people development
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership
• Maritime engineering and port infrastructure expertise
• Technical governance, design assurance and quality management
• Regulatory compliance and health & safety knowledge

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