Associate Director, Power & Substation Leadership

At HDR, our employee‑owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves:
What is our impact on the world? Watch Our Story:  Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

Join HDR’s vibrant team and work with high-profile clients, including leading utilities and global tech giants, on ground-breaking projects like data centres and low‑carbon power solutions. As an Associate Director, you will be at the forefront of transforming power infrastructure, with the chance to lead, innovate, and leave a lasting impact.

Our Glasgow office is our UK power hub and operates like an innovative startup within the framework of HDR’s global presence of over 12,000 employees. You’ll be part of a small, rapidly growing team with the opportunity to influence the direction of local operations in a supportive and entrepreneurial environment. While our team in Glasgow is intimate and dynamic, you will have the full backing and support of HDR’s well‑established 600+ employee power team in the US, providing a wealth of resources, expertise, and collaboration opportunities to ensure you succeed and thrive in your role.

As part of our 100 % employee‑owned organization, you’ll have endless opportunities to excel, grow, and achieve your career goals. You will leverage your broad technical expertise to guide multi‑disciplinary teams in developing detailed designs and specifications, taking projects from concept to completion across a diverse range of initiatives.

This role offers you the chance to lead teams, mentor and inspire the next generation of engineers while shaping a growing team of substation specialists. By building strong connections with industry experts and Project Managers, you’ll drive innovative solutions and contribute to delivering outstanding projects, making your mark in a field that’s critical to the future of energy.

We are seeking a dynamic and technically skilled Associate Director with a strong background in power engineering and substation design to play a key leadership role in our growing Power & Energy business.

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the delivery of complex engineering projects, setting standards for technical excellence, innovation, and client satisfaction across the business.
• Define and deliver business plans for your discipline or regional team, including revenue, profitability, and growth targets, ensuring alignment with company strategy and objectives.
• Lead the development and delivery of multiple projects and frameworks, from concept to detailed design, ensuring they meet client expectations, achieve commercial success, and uphold company quality standards.
• Act as a senior technical authority for high‑voltage electrical design up to 765kV, providing expert guidance, oversight, and peer review across multiple projects and teams.
• Establish and nurture strong, long‑term client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor to key clients and stakeholders, and driving repeat business through exceptional service and technical leadership.
• Oversee and influence major bids, proposals, and tender strategies, including fee negotiations, scope definition, and risk assessment, ensuring commercially successful outcomes.
• Champion innovation in design and delivery, embedding sustainability, digital engineering, and emerging technologies into project approaches and company standards.
• Drive performance, engagement, and development within your team by setting clear objectives, mentoring senior staff, and ensuring robust succession planning to build future leadership capability.
• Provide governance and assurance for project delivery, ensuring all work complies with relevant legislation, regulations, and…