Project Director - Water

Job Description

Overview

Take our vision into the future.

You might know us for the great work we do across a wide variety of projects. We’re proud to say it’s driven by the diversity of thought, expertise and experience of our people. When you join us, you’ll be part of a genuinely collaborative environment where every voice is valued and treated equally.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Project Director to join our expanding Project Delivery Practice, supporting delivery of our growth ambitions in the Water sector. You will lead the delivery of major and complex programmes and projects for our water sector clients, while playing a key role in strengthening client relationships, growing our capability, and ensuring consistently high standards of delivery and commercial performance.

Your role

• Provide strategic leadership and overall accountability for the successful delivery of major water sector programmes and projects.
• Set and drive delivery strategies aligned with client objectives, regulatory requirements, and business priorities.
• Act as the senior client interface, building trusted relationships at executive level.
• Lead commercial performance, including revenue, margin, forecasting, and contract compliance (e.g. NEC).
• Oversee programme governance, ensuring effective management of risk, cost, schedule, and quality.
• Drive business growth through client engagement, framework development, and work winning.
• Lead, inspire, and develop high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Champion a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement across delivery.

About you

• Proven experience as a Project Director (or equivalent) delivering major infrastructure projects within the water sector.
• Strong track record across large-scale capital programmes (e.g. treatment works, networks, reservoirs).
• Collaborative, credible leader with a focus on client outcomes and delivery excellence.
• Highly developed stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing at senior and executive levels.
• Strong commercial acumen, including financial management, risk management, and contract delivery.
• Demonstrated leadership of high-performing teams within complex, regulated environments.
• In-depth understanding of NEC contracts and programme/project governance.
• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline and professionally chartered (e.g. ICE, APM, RICS).

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. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

#LI-INFRASTRUCTURE | ​#PDPractice | #PDPJOBS

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.