Associate Director- Bridges

Associate Director – Bridges Buro Happold is seeking an experienced and knowledgeable Associate Director to join our UK Bridges Team in London, delivering excellence on Bridges and Civil Structures projects. Here at Buro Happold, we expect the exceptional. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world, we offer an exceptional workplace. We value sustainability, equity, and performance at the heart of our mission and are looking for professionals ready to lead by example and shape the future of bridge engineering. Our Bridges team combines technical excellence with practical construction insight to deliver efficient, buildable, and sustainable designs from concept through to completion, driven by the highest standards and a passion for elegant, innovative solutions. You will guide the delivery of multidisciplinary bridge projects, balancing technical excellence with strategic, commercial, and leadership responsibilities. This is a post for an engineer with a strong technical bridge engineering background who is motivated by winning work, executing high-profile UK and international infrastructure, and developing colleagues. Skills and Experience Extensive technical experience of bridge engineering in the UK, including leadership of major public infrastructure projects. In-depth understanding of the UK’s public infrastructure and procurement landscape. Proven track record in management of complex, multidisciplinary delivery of projects including highways, rail, utilities, or urban civil structures. Demonstrable experience of successful work winning, commercial stewardship, and client relationship development in the public sector. Chartered status with a relevant professional institution (e.g., MICE, MIStructE) and commitment to professional progression. Key Duties Lead the design and delivery of significant bridge and civil engineering projects across UK public infrastructure. Serve as Project Director/Leader on major multi‑ or single‑disciplinary commissions, establishing robust management systems and ensuring high‑quality output. Provide team leadership, coaching, and mentoring of engineers, promoting best practice in technical and commercial delivery in the Bridges team. Oversee project finances, actively managing resources, monitoring and controlling fee expenditure, and conducting commercial negotiations. Take a lead role in work winning: identify opportunities, produce compelling bids, and pursue strategic business development with focus on the UK public sector and other sectors and geographies. Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, collaborators, and stakeholders and fellow professionals, acting as a principal representative for Buro Happold. Advance knowledge of industry trends, digital best practice, sustainability, and reduction of embodied carbon in bridge design. Champion health, safety, environment and welfare, and improve quality standards in all activities. Vision for growth and development of the discipline, the team, and the wider business. What We Offer Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum, exclusive of Bank Holidays. Hybrid working arrangements. Private Medical Health (family cover). Company Pension Scheme. Life Assurance. Income Protection. Flexible Benefits – including Cycle scheme, Dental insurance, Optical Cover, Travel insurance and Corporate discounts. Early leaving at the end of the month – we actively encourage employees to finish at 3pm on the last Friday of each month (depending on business demands). These hours can equate to an additional 4 days leave per annum. A Place for Everyone Buro Happold values flexible approaches to working patterns and welcomes applications from those seeking flexibility in their careers. Our portfolio is the result of diverse thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. We appreciate each other’s differences so that employees can thrive without masking aspects of their identity. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels underrepresented in the industry. If you need adjustments in the application process, please contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can support you. #J-18808-Ljbffr