Job Description

Transport Sector Lead - Design

TRANSPORT SECTOR LEAD - AVIATION & RAIL

Flexible UK Location

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Transport Design

This is a rare opportunity for a senior transport sector professional to take on a high-impact leadership role within Tetra Tech RPS. As Transport Sector Lead, you'll drive strategy, forge long-term partnerships, and lead a team of experts to secure complex, multidisciplinary design projects across aviation and rail. If you're an engaging and visionary leader with a passion for technical excellence and powering business growth, this is your chance to elevate your career and help position Tetra Tech RPS as the partner of choice in the UK transport sector.

Purpose & Scope of the Role

We're seeking an experienced and successful leader to shape the future of our aviation and rail business and bring significant Business Development experience to the role. You will bring deep knowledge of the procurement, development, and delivery of design projects in these sectors. You'll work closely with our Strategic Development Director and play a critical role within the Tetra Tech RPS Design leadership team, developing and implementing a strategy that secures profitable, new and repeat business - projects our teams are excited to deliver

.

You'll be joining a passionate team of like-minded transport design experts within a high-performing, multidisciplinary consultancy. With over four decades of experience, we've built a reputation based on partnering and have delivered innovative solutions across the UK's transport infrastructure--from airport masterplans and airside developments to terminal buildings, hangars, railway stations, depots, logistics hubs, and multimodal transport projects. Your leadership will be key to accelerating our growth strategy and elevating the Tetra Tech RPS brand as a market-leading transport specialist.

Your Impact in this Position

In this senior leadership role, your goal will be clear: to establish Tetra Tech RPS as the partner of choice for the sector's leading clients. you will be instrumental in steering our business development strategy, identifying opportunities, and building long-term partnerships with international and regional airports, rail operators, and specialist contractors across the transport sector.


Your ability to think big-picture and lead a team of transport specialists will be critical in securing complex, multidisciplinary design projects. You'll foster collaboration across disciplines, ensuring our solutions are integrated, future-ready, and aligned with client needs. Through strategic engagement and technical insight, you'll build on our legacy, unlock new opportunities, and drive forward our ambition to deliver transformative projects that shape the way people move and connect.

Your Toolkit for Success at Tetra Tech RPS

At Tetra Tech RPS, we recruit using core capabilities--the toolkit of essential skills, experience, competencies, and responsibilities required to perform the role effectively. As we strive to find the best fit for this position, we are seeking individuals that meet a benchmark level of expertise.

But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as the 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Strategy & Sector Leadership

Drive strategic growth across aviation and rail by crafting and executing a sector-specific business plan that positions RPS as the go-to consultancy partner. Set measurable performance targets--pipeline, win rates, key accounts--and lead with insight, commercial acumen, and a sharp strategic mindset. This is a role for a forward-thinker who blends creativity with data-driven decision-making to shape the future of infrastructure.

Team Leadership & Delivery Excellence

Shape high-performing teams with a leadership style rooted in integrity, collaboration, and strategic alignment. Demonstrate proven capability in mentoring technical talent, driving delivery against sector goals, and fostering a culture of accountability and innovation. This is a role for a hands-on leader who builds trust, inspires performance, and delivers results.

Technical Authority & Sector Expertise

Bring deep domain expertise in aviation and rail, underpinned by a solid foundation in the procurement and delivery of major complex multidiscipline design projects. Represent Tetra Tech RPS as a thought leader, engaging at industry events, contributing to sector dialogue, and elevating our technical brand. Combine sharp communication skills with technical credibility to deliver compelling insights and presentations that influence clients and peers alike.

Business Development & Market Intelligence

Lead strategic growth by leveraging deep market insight across regional, national, and international opportunities and markets. Stay ahead of emerging trends and innovations, translating intelligence into actionable opportunities. Play a key role in securing major bids, collaborating with sector specialists. Operational Directors and the bid teams to shape winning propositions that position Tetra Tech RPS at the forefront of aviation and rail consultancy.

Strategic Partnerships & Sector Connectivity

Leverage deep industry relationships to forge high-impact partnerships across the aviation and rail sectors. Engage confidently with operators, contractors, and influencers to unlock new business opportunities and drive innovation. A natural networker with strong commercial instincts, you'll build trusted connections with key decision-makers and collaborate across disciplines to strengthen our market position.

Training, Qualifications, and Experience

Ideally, you'll hold Chartered status with a relevant professional body and have extensive experience of working in the transport sector, winning or delivering complex design projects.

Submit your application today and discover what's possible at

Tetra Tech RPS

.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. This could include adaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day-to-day role.


Flexible working options are available in this role, with working patterns agreed collaboratively between employees and line managers to support individual wellbeing and optimal performance

Why join

Tetra Tech RPS

?

At Tetra Tech RPS, our people are our success. We thrive on solving the problems that matter--whether in urbanisation, natural resources, or sustainability. With a collaborative culture, agile working, and access to some of the brightest minds in the industry, we empower our teams to deliver exceptional outcomes while building fulfilling careers.


In 2023, RPS became part of Tetra Tech, a global leader in consulting and engineering with 30,000 employees across 550 offices in 120+ countries. Together, we combine deep local expertise with global reach, delivering science-led solutions to complex challenges in water, environment, infrastructure, and clean energy. Join us and be part of a connected, forward-thinking community that's shaping a better future. #LI-RA1

Recruitment Agencies

We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on this list and any submitted will be taken as a gift. Please refer to the careers page on our website if you require any further information.