Overview
AtkinsRéalis is delivering transformative change across the water sector, supporting utilities, regulators, and infrastructure providers to meet the challenges of climate change, water quality, and environmental resilience. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are now central to this agenda offering integrated, catchment-led approaches that complement engineered assets, enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and deliver long-term value. Within the water industry, NBS is shifting from optional enhancement to core delivery, driven by regulatory expectations, carbon reduction targets, and the need to build more adaptable and resilient systems.
We are seeking an Associate Director – Nature-Based Solutions, to join our growing Environment team at AtkinsRéalis UK. In this role, you will lead the delivery of NBS across major water sector programmes, including water and wastewater infrastructure. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, water company clients, and regulators to embed NBS from feasibility through to design and delivery. Success will be defined by your ability to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions that improve water outcomes, de-risk regulatory approvals, and demonstrate measurable environmental benefits across projects and portfolios. With a strong focus on supporting the water sector across the UK and Ireland. You will bring proven experience in delivering NBS within regulated environments, alongside the ability to lead technical teams, influence clients, and grow a strategically important service area.
Working with water companies, regulators, and internal technical specialists, you will play a key role in shaping how NBS is embedded into asset planning, capital delivery, and long-term investment strategies. You will contribute to high-profile frameworks and programmes, helping position AtkinsRéalis as a trusted partner in delivering sustainable water infrastructure.
In this role, you will lead by example, ensuring that projects are delivered safely and sustainably, with a strong focus on risk management and environmental stewardship. You will support a culture that prioritises wellbeing, encourages collaboration, and enables teams to perform at their best while delivering positive outcomes for clients, communities, and the environment.
This role is offered on a flexible basis, with a primary location in Birmingham supporting key water clients and programmes.Hybrid working is available, with a mix of office, site, and home working depending on project and client requirements. Travel will be required to support engagement with water company clients, regulators, and project teams.
Your role
As an Associate Director – NBS, you will:
- Lead NBS Delivery across Water Programmes: Provide technical leadership and accountability for NBS delivery across major water sector projects, including water and wastewater treatment schemes, catchment programmes, and flood resilience initiatives.
- Drive Feasibility & Optioneering: Lead NBS feasibility studies and optioneering processes, applying multi-criteria assessment to identify robust, deliverable solutions aligned with regulatory and asset performance requirements.
- Integrate NBS into Engineering Design: Collaborate with process, civil, and hydraulic engineers to embed NBS within asset design such as wetlands, reedbeds, SuDS, and catchment measures supporting treatment, attenuation, and water quality outcomes.
- Ensure Technical Excellence & QA: Maintain high standards of technical quality across all NBS outputs through governance, peer review, and application of best practice guidance.
- Coordinate Multidisciplinary Inputs: Lead collaboration across hydrology, geomorphology, ecology, process engineering, planning, GIS, and asset management teams to deliver integrated solutions.
- Engage Clients, Regulators & Stakeholders: Build strong relationships with water companies, the Environment Agency, local authorities, and other stakeholders, acting as a trusted technical advisor.
- Drive Innovation & Programme Certainty: Champion innovative NBS approaches that reduce programme risk, improve cost efficiency, and enhance deliverability within regulated capital programmes.
- Manage Specialist Inputs: Oversee subcontractors and specialist partners, defining scope, managing budgets, and ensuring quality delivery aligned with project objectives.
- Lead Project & Programme Management: Take responsibility for financial performance, programme delivery, and resource management across projects, ensuring alignment with client and organisational expectations.
- Develop People & Capability: Mentor and develop team members, building capability in NBS delivery within the water sector and fostering a collaborative, inclusive team culture.
- Support Business Development & Growth: Lead and contribute to bids, tenders, and client relationship management, supporting growth across water company frameworks and strategic programmes.
- Strengthen Industry Leadership: Contribute to thought leadership and industry engagement, positioning AtkinsRéalis as a leading advisor in delivering NBS for water resilience, water quality, and sustainable infrastructure.
About you
Education
- A Bachelor's degree in a relevant environmental science, planning, or engineering discipline (e.g., Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Ecology, Planning, Sustainability or a related field) is required.
Chartership
- Chartered status with a relevant professional body (e.g., CIEEM, CIWEM, or an equivalent environmental/planning institute) is required, reflecting your professional competence and commitment to industry standards.
Professional Experience
- Substantial experience in environmental consultancy, with a strong track record of successfully managing /coordinating and delivering complex NBS projects.
Technical Excellence
- Expert capabilities in NBS and reporting, including scoping, coordinating specialist studies (air quality, noise, water, ecology, cultural heritage, landscape, etc.), and producing high‑quality EIAR documentation.
- A commitment to quality assurance in report writing, data analysis, and technical review is critical.
Innovation & Problem‑Solving
- A track record of employing innovative approaches to improve environmental deliverables.
- Familiarity with tools and practices for enhancing NBS processes (e.g., digital NBS tools, GIS‑based analysis, and NBS assessments such as feasibility studies and optioneering.
Client & Business Skills
- Strong client‑facing skills, including effective communication, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities.
- A proven ability to develop and maintain client relationships is crucial, as is experience contributing to successful project bids and proposals.
- You should demonstrate commercial acumen and an understanding of business priorities in consultancy project delivery.
Other Requirements
- Excellent technical report writing and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
- Full clean driving licence and willingness to travel for site visits, client meetings, and project commitments.
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.
