Principal Civil Engineer - Water Sector

Why This Role? As a Principal Civil Engineer, you’ll have a key role in shaping and expanding our civil engineering capability in drainage and flood risk management promoting a catchment based approach and the use of nature-based and Blue/Green solutions. You will influence strategic decisions for high‑profile UK water clients and play a pivotal role in embedding best practice across the business. This is your opportunity to shape direction, raise standards, and help build a high‑performing civil engineering team from the ground up. If you’re energised by joining a fast‑growing, newly‑formed UK water practice , where you can directly influence the team’s trajectory and help shape the future of national water infrastructure, then this role offers you the platform to make a genuine, lasting impact. Key Responsibilities Technical & Design Leadership • Take ownership of the civil scope within multidisciplinary delivery, promoting best practice and innovation while driving clear decisions on operability, maintainability, access, and whole-life performance. • Lead the development of surface water drainage strategies and the delivery of outline and detailed surface water drainage design (including hydraulic modelling), promoting the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and nature-based-solutions for a range of clients in the regulated and non-regulated water sector. • Lead and support on the civil aspects of appraisal, feasibility, optioneering, design and delivery of flood and erosion risk management projects. • Work on flood risk assessments advising clients on the most appropriate solutions to mitigate flood risk through design in line with policy and regulation. • Support the development of the team’s expertise in river engineering and river restoration. • Supervise and mentor less experienced team members helping them towards achieving professional qualifications. • Fulfil Designer duties under CDM 2015, leading design risk management within the civil scope and, where appointed, undertaking Principal Designer responsibilities in support of the Design Manager during the pre-construction phase. Client Engagement & Delivery • Act as a senior client-facing technical lead, running workshops and design reviews, advising clients, and building long-term relationships with clients both in the regulated and non-regulated water sectors. • Provide design assurance and technical support during delivery phases, including reviewing contractor submissions, answering design queries, and supporting handover/commissioning activities when required. Business Growth & Team Development • Grow the civil capability through business development and work winning: identify opportunities, shape scopes, contribute to bids, and build a healthy forward pipeline. • Help translate the UK water growth strategy into practical actions: target sectors, priority accounts, capability gaps, and delivery plans. • Help in building the civil arm of the UK water consultancy team through recruitment, mentoring and skills development, including pathways, coaching and technical governance. • Work with the wider business to evolve new and improved service offerings, including sustainability-led and value-focused civil solutions.