Technical Director - Waste Water Process Engineering

Overview

Shape the Future of our cities and environments. The Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Technical Director for Waste Water Process to join our team in the UK. We are looking for an energetic and experienced Waste Water Process Engineer that can both lead as technical expert in wastewater treatment and driving forward business results. AtkinsRéalis specialises in all aspects of process engineering within the Water Sector, including water, wastewater and bioresources in the UK and internationally. Process Engineering project opportunities also stretch to other sectors such as nuclear and defence. We're committed to providing industry-leading engineering solutions right through the project lifecycle from feasibility to process commissioning, with value added through client-side support as well as construction phases.

As a key member of our technical leadership team, you'll play a vital role in shaping and delivering transformational programmes of critical UK infrastructure for our Water market clients – clients like Thames Water, Anglian Water, Environment Agency, Welsh Water, United Utilities, Scottish Water, and more. You'll be part of and lead in talented, multi-disciplinary teams delivering cutting edge, iconic projects across water sector at home (UK) and abroad. Projects like Strongford STW Net Zero, Scottish Water Resource Recovery Facility, UKWIR Chemical Investigation Programme, Oxford STW growth, Heathrow runoff treatment, NEOM, and many more.

By providing technical leadership across the organisation you'll drive results, by contributing to functional strategy, influencing senior stakeholders, and leading within the process group and multidisciplinary project teams, to deliver measurable outcomes. In this role, you will set direction for complex, high-impact projects and initiatives, anticipate business and regulatory challenges or changes, and develop innovative solutions and offerings that move the business forward.

Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients' toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries. For us, collaboration isn't a buzzword. We value the different perspectives our people bring and recognise everyone for their contributions equally. We also know that different people have different priorities, which is why we're here to support you with whatever you need.

Being a Technical Director with us involves UK wide travel. We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week travel/office based. This position can be based at any of our main locations: Epsom, London, Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, or Glasgow. It can also be based in our other offices but may require additional travel to main locations as needed: Peterborough, Cambridge, Cardiff, Swansea, Derby, Leeds, Belfast, Edinburgh.

Your role

As a Waste Water Process Technical Director in the D&AT Practice, the successful candidate would have the following responsibilities:

• Provide Technical Leadership within discipline for the national D&AT practice.
• Influence D&AT Practice wide initiatives and recommend best practices to improve internal process and services.
• Serve as a recognised expert and technical authority in Waste Water Process Engineering across the D&AT Practice and wider AtkinsRéalis business.
• Provide visible representation of your and AtkinsRéalis' Waste Water Process Engineering technical expertise to our current and prospective clients.
• Collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, including internal and external clients, operational staff, project teams, or external stakeholders.
• Recommend and drive improvements to processes, services, and technical practices while ensuring robust engineering governance is consistently upheld.
• Oversee technical input into bid proposals, defining the delivery strategy and working with cross‑functional teams to prepare high‑quality, compliant, competitive submissions.
• Proactively identify opportunities for cross‑selling and business growth, using commercial insight to strengthen and expand client relationships and selling our value proposition to clients.
• Grow, develop, and manage the Waste Water Process engineering capability within the national practice, supporting talent development and succession planning.
• Anticipate emerging business, regulatory, and technology challenges, identifying risks and opportunities early and advising senior leadership.
• Provide strategic oversight across multiple complex, multidisciplinary projects, ensuring technical excellence, safe delivery, and alignment with client and practice objectives.
• Work independently even in the most challenging situations. Act as the point of escalation for the most complex technical matters and exercise personal judgement to find solutions.

About You

The ideal candidate would be a well‑rounded and versatile individual who exemplifies the following key skills and attributes:

• A degree in Chemical Engineering or equivalent (e.g. Environmental, Water Engineering, etc.)
• Chartered Engineer (preferably IChemE or CIWEM).
• Extensive experience in progressively senior technical roles, including significant leadership of complex, high‑risk, cross‑disciplinary projects and programmes.
• Nationally or internationally recognised subject matter expertise in a waste water treatment process and principles. Expert understanding of the integrated nature of treatment processes and principles, including: preliminary, primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary treatment, sludge treatment and their impact on emissions-, odour -, carbon and energy management, required as a minimum.
• Experience in the UK Water market is essential.
• Expert knowledge of current design codes and standards as well as industry best practices including, including CDM Regulations.
• Extensive experience of design and delivery of projects with adherence to UK safety and environmental regulations, process safety techniques (e.g. HAZOP), knowledge of capital and operational costs - and risk assessments, as well as whole life carbon assessments.
• Commercially astute, with experience shaping winning proposals and driving practice and business growth.
• Champion continuous improvement, driving enhancements to processes, services, technical standards, and innovation across the practice.
• Demonstrates strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas with clarity, anticipating challenges and persuading senior stakeholders to adopt new perspectives, and navigate diverse, international and cross‑cultural delivery.
• Demonstrable comprehensive knowledge in leading treatment process design and integrating elements as part of an existing or new treatment process with experience across all design phases, including construction.
• Experienced in identifying and promoting innovative solutions, challenges the status quo.
• A proactive, highly motivated mindset with a collaborative approach to drive teamwork and shared success across projects and the wider AtkinsRéalis D&AT practice.

Meet some but not all of the criteria? We'd still love to hear from you! Please submit your CV along with a cover letter letting us know your motivation for applying and highlighting how your skills and experience align with the role.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

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