Associate Director - Physical Data

Ocean to Earth Recruitment is working with a leading environmental consultancy to appoint an Associate Director – Physical Data (Water Quality).

This is a senior leadership role within the water sector, focused on the delivery and growth of physical data services across freshwater, transitional, and coastal environments. You’ll play a pivotal part in advancing hydrometry, oceanographic, and water quality monitoring programmes, helping clients unlock insights into the physical conditions that drive water management decisions.

This position offers the opportunity to influence strategy, lead technical excellence, and guide a high-performing team to deliver industry-leading solutions in physical data collection and interpretation.

Key Accountabilities

As Associate Director, you will:

• Lead operational performance across the Physical Data team, ensuring delivery of high-quality water quality and physical data services.

• Direct multiple projects spanning hydrometry, logger deployment, oceanographic monitoring, and large-scale water quality survey programmes.

• Manage and grow client portfolios, building trusted partnerships with organisations across the UK water sector and beyond.

• Drive commercial performance, ensuring financial health and efficient resource allocation across projects.

• Shape strategic direction by identifying opportunities for new and enhanced physical data services, including cross-team and cross-sector collaboration.

What Success Looks Like

• A strong, resilient team delivering excellence in water quality and physical data projects.

• Enhanced client relationships and expanded service capability across freshwater, transitional, and coastal environments.

• Measurable growth in service delivery, underpinned by technical quality, operational efficiency, and commercial sustainability.

• Recognition as a key voice in shaping the consultancy’s future approach to water quality and physical data services.

Responsibilities

Operational Excellence

• Oversee day-to-day management of physical data services, ensuring technical quality, compliance, and safety.

• Maintain and promote best practices in data collection, reporting, and management.

• Ensure effective project delivery, including budget control, risk management, and client satisfaction.

Growth

• Support delivery of sector growth plans by developing new opportunities and strengthening existing relationships.

• Provide technical expertise in tendering and bid preparation.

• Build alliances and partnerships to enhance service delivery.

Leadership & Culture

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team, promoting collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.

• Coach and develop individuals, fostering career progression and professional growth.

• Encourage a positive, inclusive, and engaged working environment.

Governance & Compliance

• Champion health, safety, and environmental standards.

• Ensure regulatory compliance and embed quality assurance in all processes.

• Contribute to financial planning, forecasting, and operational efficiency.

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Proven experience in physical data collection and management within the water sector.

• Strong understanding of hydrometry, oceanographic data collection, and water quality monitoring.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, deliver projects to budget, and maintain high scientific and operational standards.

• Excellent communication skills, with experience engaging clients, stakeholders, and partners.

• Commercial awareness and experience in tendering, financial planning, and business growth.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline.

• Chartership or membership of a relevant professional body.

• Experience of data analysis and applied consultancy reporting.

• Knowledge of broader water sector services, enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Values & Culture

This consultancy values:

• Integrity – doing the right thing.

• Quality – excellence in every project.

• People – caring for and developing their teams.

• Forward thinking – focusing on innovation and the future.

• Positivity – believing in solutions.

• Fairness – ensuring equality and inclusion.

They also embrace flexible working and a culture of belonging, ensuring every team member feels valued, supported, and able to bring their whole self to work.

Why Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape a specialist team at the forefront of water quality and physical data services. You’ll have the platform to influence strategy, grow a service area of increasing importance, and make a tangible impact on water management across the UK and internationally.