Overview

Drainage Highway Market Lead / Associate Director - UK Wide

Jacobs, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Role summary

As a Drainage Highway Market Lead, you’ll play a central role in supporting the future of infrastructure across the UK and beyond. You’ll lead the delivery of high‑quality drainage design solutions for transportation and urban infrastructure projects, applying your deep technical expertise and understanding of UK standards to complex, multidisciplinary challenges. You’ll guide a geographically diverse team across Ireland, the UK, and global offices—mentoring junior engineers, collaborating across disciplines, and ensuring technical excellence at every stage of project delivery. Your leadership will foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing, while your proactive approach will help drive sustainable, compliant, and efficient design outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead drainage design across all project stages, ensuring compliance with UK standards and client expectations.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers, supporting their growth and technical development.
• Collaborate with clients and approval authorities, building trusted relationships and delivering strategic solutions.
• Champion innovation and sustainability in drainage design, contributing to decarbonisation and resilient infrastructure.
• Work flexibly across offices and client sites.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng) or equivalent
• Extensive experience in drainage design for highways and urban environments
• Strong knowledge of UK Transport Infrastructure standards and the SuDS Manual and other drainage guidance
• Proven experience obtaining design approvals from authorities
• Proficiency in drainage modelling software and tools
• Strong understanding of health and safety legislation
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust across teams and with clients

About Jacobs

Jacobs is a global company delivering high-profile transportation and infrastructure projects. We value safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging, and we support flexible working to maximize potential. We are committed to inclusion and belonging and provide employee networks and initiatives to foster connection, purpose, and belonging. We are a disability confident employer and welcome flexible working and applicants who may not meet all listed requirements.

Additional information

Joining Jacobs connects you locally and globally with a culture that prioritises safety, wellbeing, and career growth. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact Careers Support.