Business Planning Director

Shape a faster, smarter, safer future.

Are you ready to take up a vital role in shaping some of our exciting projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, and together we face our clients' problems head-on. It's a diverse and inclusive work environment where world-class talent knows no distinctions.

AtkinsRéalis, Balfour Beatty and Egis Road Operations UK are part of a consortium, creating Connect Plus Services, a unique partnership with a collective strength in highways asset care from finance, through to design, build, maintenance as well as day to day operation.

As part of our 30-year remit to manage and improve the capital’s orbital motorway network, we deliver major improvement projects, such as widening 38 miles of the M25, refurbishing tunnels and bridges, and installing hundreds of variable messaging signs and gantries, helping to maximise the use of the network and deliver more reliable journeys. We also manage the Dartford River crossing and operate and maintain 440 kilometres of motorway providing our customer and road user with a world-class highway service.

We value diversity and celebrate individual differences, believing that our inclusive culture helps the business continue to grow as a strong, dynamic, and innovative organisation.

Role Purpose:

• This role is for a results-driven strategic leader who will lead with vision, plan with purpose, and drive growth that inspires - our Business Planning Director turns bold ideas into reality.
• This position will support and work closely with the CPS Managing Director to achieve strategic operational alignment across all of the teams to deliver our goals and drive high performance and continuous improvement.
• The Business Planning and Performance (BP&P) directorate is responsible for leading the definition and management of the CPS strategy and priorities, ensuring effective risk management and setting the budget, commercial plans and considering the relationship with stakeholders while understanding the complexities of our long term hand-back responsibilities.
• To set the overarching direction for CPS and drive digital capability improvements to ensure successful delivery of CPS contract handback obligations.
• Guide the Performance Quality & Improvement team to effectively achieve designated business objectives.
• Oversee establishment of new CPS business Enterprise Risk Management to ensure business continuity is assured and opportunity is embraced.
• Maintain the relevance of the Customer and Business Strategies to address the evolving demands of the network, our clients (National Highways and Connect Plus), JV Parent Companies and our road users.
• Prioritise client management and relationships, aiming to extract maximum value and alignment with the Parent Companies within the JV Partnership.
• Establish and Manage the new BP&P team in 2025 to drive high performance and continuous improvement across the business.
• Responsible for financial performance associated with BP&P team and approve budget setting for CPS.
• Responsible for the teams under the BP&P and holding all teams to account on business objectives.

Your purpose:

• Foster, empower and sustain a high-performing team dedicated to exceeding contract performance expectations.
• Define and regularly review CPS business plans considering current challenges, future opportunities, and evolving stakeholder requirements.
• Build change capability across CPS and support the delivery of major change programmes.
• Lead the enhancement, delivery and adoption of data and digital capability for CPS​.
• Develop business performance management and risk reporting, tracking business performance trend analysis against plans and address issues promptly and efficiently.
• Manage all Stakeholder and Customer relationships, including NH, CP and road users.
• Prepare and review strategy and annual plan to manage Handback and contractual obligations.
• Ensure Enterprise Risk is appropriately managed and communicated to the executive level within CPS (Senior Leadership Team and CPS Board) while educating and influencing on the risk-based decision culture in CPS.
• Holding business leaders accountable and closely monitoring performance and risk against our customer satisfaction, strategic business and contractual obligations.
• Building strong working relationships with fellow senior managers to enhance collaboration across teams.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of safety and wellbeing standards and able to communicate with enthusiasm and credibility to inspire and energise the team towards achieving our goals.

What you can bring:

• A relevant professional qualification and ideally Chartered / Incorporated status with a recognised and relevant UK institution.
• Demonstratable effective leadership skills to inspire teams, foster collaboration and drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Proven competencies in setting successful and aligned business strategies in a dynamic environment.
• Proven capability to deliver digital change leadership.
• Detailed knowledge of Digital Information techniques in an infrastructure asset management environment.
• Proven experience of delivering effective risk-based decision strategies.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills to translate the CPS vision, strategies and goals to all levels of the organisation.

Why work for AtkinsRéalis?

Our Transportation teams are reinventing transport for a challenging yet exciting future. We're creating new ideas and smart solutions for cities, people and the environment. You'll be working alongside some of the top people in our industry, solving challenges that bring together traditional engineering and new technologies. As part of our organisation, you'll be in a privileged position, delivering what's right for governments and communities. You'll be helping us to improve our leading environmental performance while enabling others to do the same.

Security clearance:

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. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. 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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