Associate Director Civil Engineering Aviation

Associate Director Civil Engineering Aviation

Flexible UK Location

Lead the Future of Airside Infrastructure Design

This is a rare opportunity for a technically accomplished and commercially astute civil engineer to take on a leadership role within Tetra Tech RPS’s Aviation team. As Associate Director, you will lead the delivery of complex airside infrastructure projects, shape client relationships, and mentor the next generation of engineering talent. If you are passionate about technical excellence, stakeholder engagement, and driving innovation in airport design, this is your chance to make a lasting impact and help position Tetra Tech RPS as a trusted partner in the aviation sector.

Purpose & Scope of the Role

We are seeking an experienced civil engineer with a strong background in airfield design and multidisciplinary project delivery. You will take ownership of projects from feasibility through to construction support, ensuring compliance with UK 139, ICAO, and EASA standards. Acting as the primary point of contact for airport operators and contractors, you will manage design programmes, coordinate inputs across disciplines, and deliver high-quality technical outputs. You will also play a key role in mentoring junior engineers and contributing to business development efforts that support the long-term growth of the aviation team.

You will be joining a dynamic and client-focused team with a growing portfolio of work across regional and defence airports, including Leeds Bradford, Alderney, Norwich, Bournemouth, Guernsey, and BAE Warton. With a strong pipeline of opportunities and a collaborative operating model, this role offers significant scope for leadership, influence, and career progression.

Technical Expertise & Knowledge

You will bring strong technical competence in runway and taxiway design, pavement rehabilitation, and drainage integration. Proficiency in DMG 27 pavement design and a solid understanding of UK 139, ICAO, and EASA regulations are essential. While AGL and electrical design are handled by specialists, you will be expected to review and coordinate these interfaces to ensure alignment with civil works and operational needs. You will also assess hydrological assumptions and drainage system capacity, ensuring that all elements of the design are integrated and operable. Your ability to resolve unfamiliar technical challenges and deliver outputs that meet rigorous client and peer review standards will be critical to success in this role.

Stakeholder Management & Engagement

As the primary client liaison, you will ensure clarity, responsiveness, and trust throughout the project lifecycle. You will lead technical discussions, present design concepts, and translate complex engineering into actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders. At major airports, you will operate as a technical peer, aligning design decisions with operational and commercial objectives. For smaller or regional airports, you will guide clients through scoping, standards interpretation, and delivery readiness. Internally, you will coordinate survey teams, geomatics specialists, and ground investigation inputs, integrating outputs into coherent design packages. You will also represent the business at conferences and networking events to strengthen relationships and secure future opportunities.

Leadership, Management & Mentoring

This is a leadership role within the aviation team, requiring the ability to manage resources across multiple projects, maintain quality standards, and ensure timely delivery. You will mentor junior engineers and technicians, providing guidance on technical challenges, professional development, and chartership progression. You will promote knowledge sharing, encourage innovation, and support the adoption of digital design tools such as Civil 3D and BIM workflows. Cross-disciplinary coordination with architectural and building services teams will be essential to deliver integrated, operable solutions that respect operational phasing and safety requirements.

Commercial Awareness

Commercial acumen is integral to the role. You will contribute to the preparation of fee proposals, scopes, and design programmes, ensuring clarity of deliverables and assumptions. During delivery, you will monitor scope, manage change control, and identify opportunities for additional services, either progressing these directly or escalating to business development colleagues. You will be expected to understand contract forms, internal governance, and service agreements when working across operating units. You will also identify cross-selling opportunities, particularly for survey and investigation services, and manage associated logistics such as airside access and permits. Your overarching objective will be to maintain profitability while delivering value and certainty to clients.

Project Delivery & Report Writing

You will manage projects through all stages, from feasibility and concept design to detailed design and construction support. Programmes must be realistic, actively managed, and aligned with client milestones and operational constraints. Designs will be coordinated across civil, AGL, and drainage interfaces, with staging plans that protect operational continuity and safety. Technical reporting is a critical responsibility, typically accounting for up to ten percent of your workload. Reports must be well-structured, logically sequenced, and tailored to project-specific requirements. Typical content includes pavement design summaries, drainage strategies, construction staging plans, risk assessments, and end-of-stage deliverables. You will ensure that reports present a coherent narrative, enabling informed client decisions and smooth progression through project gateways.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

Ideally, you will be a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer with ICE or hold equivalent experience. You will have extensive experience in airfield civil engineering and multidisciplinary project delivery, with a track record of managing complex projects and building strong client relationships.

Why Join Tetra Tech RPS?

At Tetra Tech RPS, our people are our success. We thrive on solving the problems that matter—whether in urbanisation, natural resources, or sustainability. With a collaborative culture, agile working, and access to some of the brightest minds in the industry, we empower our teams to deliver exceptional outcomes while building fulfilling careers.

In 2023, RPS became part of Tetra Tech, a global leader in consulting and engineering with 30,000 employees across 550 offices in 120+ countries. Together, we combine deep local expertise with global reach, delivering science-led solutions to complex challenges in water, environment, infrastructure, and clean energy. Join us and be part of a connected, forward-thinking community that’s shaping a better future.

Submit your application today and discover what’s possible at Tetra Tech RPS.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. Flexible working options are available in this role, with working patterns agreed collaboratively to support wellbeing and performance.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on this list and any submitted will be taken as a gift. Please refer to the careers page on our website if you require any further information.