Associate Director- Infrastructure Town Planning

at  Arup

Arup is a multi–disciplinary global firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants, and technical specialists, working across every aspect of the built environment. Together, we help our clients solve their most complex challenges – turning exciting ideas into tangible reality as we strive to find a better way and shape a better world. As a wholly independent organisation, we are owned in trust for the benefit of our employees. This allows us to determine our own direction and to make clear-sighted, thoughtful, long-term decisions about our priorities as a business and as a member of a sustainable society.
Arup is helping clients across transport, energy and water sectors to plan, design, consent and deliver their portfolio of projects. We are seeking to recruit Associate Directors who are passionate about consenting and delivering infrastructure across the transport, water and energy sectors. This is a great opportunity to lead the development of our consenting business, building on our strong position across the different markets. You will have the opportunity to work on some of the most exciting and challenging infrastructure projects using your leadership, consulting and technical skills.

You will require the following knowledge, skills and attributes:

• Recognised industry expertise in one or more of transport, energy and water planning and consenting;
• Strong proven consultancy skills and ability to focus on and where possible exceed client expectations;
• Experience of working across different consenting regimes, in drafting consenting strategies, engagement strategies, planning reports and managing the preparation of consent applications;
• Experience of developing business strategies and/or client development plans to provide focus to business development. Experience of successfully implementing strategies/plans;
• Experience of working with clients to understand their requirements and map out solutions to ensure opportunities for Arup are maximised;
• Experience of leading teams in the bidding and delivery (establishing and leading teams) of projects, including technical specialists and multi-disciplinary teams and sourcing sub-consultants where necessary;
• Experience of working within a commercial environment (bids and projects), including client liaison, programme and time management, quality assurance and financial/budget control;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to work on multiple projects/business initiatives at any one time;
• Critical thinker and strong analytical skills with a solutions focused mindset to resolve issues;
• Ability to work under own initiative making good use of more wider resources in the business to work efficiently; and
• Experience of developing technical skills in staff within the national town planning business to ensure career progression, depth in resources and succession planning

THE ROLE:

The roles are to work across one or more of our transport, energy and water businesses developing client relationships and identifying project opportunities, leading teams in bidding and delivering projects, developing team members, raising Arup’s profile in this area through marketing and publicity efforts, and promoting our work in the marketplace.
The candidate should have a knowledge of infrastructure consenting legislation including Development Consent Orders as well as any sector specific legislation (such as TWA, the Electricity Act and statutory powers).

You will play a key leadership role in the following areas:

• Growing our market share across our infrastructure business by identifying and leading the successful pursuit of prospects and projects which are critical to Arup’s positioning in the market;
• Engaging with existing and potential clients, positioning Arup to ensure there is a strong pipeline of repeat work and identifying opportunities for new work;
• Leading the delivery of projects in terms of client interface, providing strategic direction to the team, undertaking QA and ensuring projects are profitable;
• Interfacing with multi-disciplinary project teams across Arup to ensure client/project opportunities are maximised and integrated delivery of projects;
• Developing the skills across our national town planning team to ensure depth in resources and strong succession; and
• Supporting the preparation of marketing material and activities to raise the profile of our work.

IS THIS ROLE RIGHT FOR YOU?

You will be a motivated, enthusiastic and competent individual with a strong track record of developing client relationships, and winning and successfully delivering infrastructure projects.

You will require the following knowledge, skills and attributes:

• Recognised industry expertise in one or more of transport, energy and water planning and consenting;
• Strong proven consultancy skills and ability to focus on and where possible exceed client expectations;
• Experience of working across different consenting regimes, in drafting consenting strategies, engagement strategies, planning reports and managing the preparation of consent applications;
• Experience of developing business strategies and/or client development plans to provide focus to business development. Experience of successfully implementing strategies/plans;
• Experience of working with clients to understand their requirements and map out solutions to ensure opportunities for Arup are maximised;
• Experience of leading teams in the bidding and delivery (establishing and leading teams) of projects, including technical specialists and multi-disciplinary teams and sourcing sub-consultants where necessary;
• Experience of working within a commercial environment (bids and projects), including client liaison, programme and time management, quality assurance and financial/budget control;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to work on multiple projects/business initiatives at any one time;
• Critical thinker and strong analytical skills with a solutions focused mindset to resolve issues;
• Ability to work under own initiative making good use of more wider resources in the business to work efficiently; and
• Experience of developing technical skills in staff within the national town planning business to ensure career progression, depth in resources and succession planning.

Qualifications:
Education to degree level; and Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI).