Director – Marine & Coastal Infrastructure

An outstanding opportunity has arisen for an accomplished leader in infrastructure delivery to establish and lead a new Marine & Coastal Engineering team within a respected multi-disciplinary consultancy. This is a high-profile role with full responsibility for shaping the strategy, building the team, and growing a market-leading offering focused on the UK’s marine and coastal environment.

The Opportunity

You will join a forward-thinking consultancy with a strong track record across the built environment and infrastructure sectors. The business is now investing in a dedicated marine and coastal infrastructure practice and is seeking a Director to lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team.

Based from Winchester, Plymouth or Southampton, you will oversee a diverse portfolio of projects, which may include:

• Port and harbour upgrades
• Coastal protection and shoreline management schemes
• Flood defence and resilience projects
• Maritime infrastructure and offshore support facilities

This is a strategic leadership position that blends business development, team leadership and major project delivery. You will be instrumental in defining the market proposition, building capability, and ensuring excellence in delivery, profitability, and client satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and grow a new Marine & Coastal Engineering team, including recruitment, mentoring and resource planning
• Take full ownership of business growth, including client development, bid leadership, market positioning and strategic planning
• Oversee the delivery of major marine and coastal infrastructure programmes, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest technical and safety standards
• Manage and mentor senior project managers and associates, fostering a collaborative, high-performing and accountable culture
• Provide leadership across technical, commercial and operational aspects of projects, from concept and design through procurement, construction and commissioning
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients at senior and board level, acting as a trusted advisor on marine infrastructure and coastal resilience
• Champion innovation, sustainability and climate resilience within the marine and coastal environment, ensuring compliance with regulatory and environmental frameworks

About You

You are a senior infrastructure professional, ideally with a strong track record in marine and coastal environments, ready to lead at Director level and take ownership of a growing business unit.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience delivering marine, port, harbour and/or coastal flood-defence infrastructure projects in the UK
• Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams, with accountability for P&L, growth and delivery performance
• Demonstrable success in business development and client relationship management, with a track record of winning work and increasing market presence
• Strong technical credibility in marine/coastal engineering, construction delivery and asset resilience
• Strategic and commercially astute, able to align technical delivery with wider business objectives
• Degree-qualified in engineering, project management or a related discipline; chartered status (CEng, ICE, RICS, APM or equivalent) preferred
• Excellent communicator, influencer and networker, confident engaging with clients, contractors and stakeholders at senior levels
• Willingness to travel across the UK as project and client needs require

Why Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a new specialist offering in a growing market. You will:

• Shape the future of a dedicated Marine & Coastal Engineering practice
• Join a consultancy that is investing in your leadership and supporting long-term growth
• Benefit from regional flexibility with bases in Winchester, Plymouth or Southampton
• Access a diverse and expanding project pipeline across the UK’s coastline

A highly competitive salary, executive benefits and clear progression are on offer, together with the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the marine infrastructure sector.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, contact

Caroline Kingsley
Email: caroline@kingsleyrecruitment.co.uk
Phone: 07768 381 831
Calendly: https://calendly.com/caroline-200/15min