Atkins are looking to appoint a Technical Director / Associate Director to lead on Sustainability within our Building Design practice. This is an exciting role to head up our key focus area of sustainability and further develop a UK multi-discipline team, working with our Architects and Engineers, across a range of Buildings and Infrastructure sectors. This role will report directly into our Senior Leadership Team and will have influence over the 800 Engineers and Architects in the UK Building Design practice.
This is one of a number of strategic roles we have created, which also include Social Value lead, Net Zero Carbon lead, Energy Masterplanning lead and De-centralised Energy Network lead, which collectively form the basis of a leadership group, enhancing our sustainable service offerings to suit our Client’s increasing requirements.
Atkins (part of the SNC-Lavalin Group), is a leader in sustainability and low carbon services. We provide a range of support and insight to large private and public-sector clients. This includes energy efficiency and carbon management services, asset management and whole life costing, as well as broader sustainability strategy services such as post-occupancy evaluation and rating tools. Our five-year plan includes growing our services in early consultancy to support our clients’ strategic needs such as developing their sustainability and energy strategies.
The Role
We are seeking a knowledgeable and skilled sustainability expert with solid experience in delivering consultancy services in the sustainability arena. The focus of the role is very much on the design of buildings and their immediate surroundings. It encompasses all aspects of how sustainability should be an integral part of the design process from the moment of project inception. The role does not dilute the inherent responsibility of the design team to deliver sustainable solutions but enhances it by adding holistic consideration and a guiding influence behind all key design decisions.
Areas of attention are expected to include building form and orientation, construction materials, air quality and water usage, recycling and waste management, ecology, daylight, noise, inclusivity and accessibility, wellbeing, maintainability, resilience, embodied carbon and design efficiency. Sustainability certification and energy consumption whilst important are not the only measures.
You will work at a strategic level, collaborating with the whole range of skillsets that are offered by Atkins, to develop a world class sustainability service offering, with the ability to influence blue chip clients and projects.
You will also work closely with both delivery and bid teams to capture internal and external business opportunities in the area of sustainability. For specific projects, you’ll have the capability to construct a brief for the inclusion of sustainability measures, provide a comprehensive strategic bid response and contribute to the management of a team to deliver project sustainability concepts. You’ll define strategic sustainability issues and develop processes for the bidding and delivery teams to follow to ensure Atkins remains at the forefront of sustainable business delivery.
Responsibilities
- Own technical responsibility and operational accountability for defining process on Sustainability output on projects.
- Providing technical sustainability support to clients in a wide range of areas.
- Knowledgeable of UK Government policy and other industry initiatives that relate to sustainable developments.
- Represent the company as a Subject Matter Expert on Sustainability matters
- Generate good working relationships with internal and external clients and develop a client relationship management strategy
- Take responsibility for key client management for specific clients
- Provide management, motivation, inspiration and Sustainability leadership for the Building Design team engaged on projects
- Shape the overall Sustainability team with good team leader skills in order to grow the business
- Produce and implement Sustainability tactical marketing plans and ensure monthly business activities are undertaken regularly.
- Ability to build and maintain strong business relationships with internal and external clients
- Where appropriate, takes commercial responsibility for the delivery of the Sustainability team engaged on a project and/or bidding activity
Requirements
- Degree, or equivalent qualification, in a related discipline and Chartered with a relevant institution or equivalent.
- Ability to influence senior management and peers within the industry and positively challenge decisions and processes
- Significant experience in the concepts/theories/practicalities of Sustainable design and compliance requirements
- Extensive project experience, necessitating high levels of technical competence with a strong focus and track record of the delivery of Sustainable designs and processes
- Experience working on a variety of major multi-discipline design projects
- Demonstrable leadership and people management skills with the ability to run a team and expand a Sustainability business strategy
- Good commercial awareness, business management skills and results orientation
- Customer focused with a high level of relationship management skills
- Confident ability with good communication skills and a professional approach to clients and other Atkins employees – able to facilitate discussion session on Sustainability matters
- Ability to collate information and have a clear and structured approach to report writing
- A good knowledge of the application of Sustainability rating processes and standards such as BREEAM, CEEQUAL, LEED, SKA, NABERS, Passivhaus etc.
Rewards and Benefits
Atkins recognises the importance of helping its employees manage their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements that enable them to balance their working life with parental and other caring responsibilities. For full details of our flexible working scheme and benefits package, please refer to our website.
Flexible Working
Atkins recognises that there are many well qualified people who are looking to further their career, but who cannot commit to full time employment.
We support flexible working arrangements and are interested to discuss how we can accommodate individual requirements
Diversity & Inclusion
ATKINS, part of the SNC Lavalin Group, is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.
Additional Information:
This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.
We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.
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