Atkins has been providing infrastructure planning, engineering, construction, environmental consulting, urban planning, architecture, and program management services to public and private clients across the United States for more than 50 years. Atkins is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. We build long-term trusted partnerships to create a world where lives are enriched through the implementation of our ideas. We have the depth and breadth of expertise to respond to the most technically challenging and time-critical infrastructure projects and the urgent transition to a low-carbon economy.
Atkins is currently seeking an Operations Director to join our Public & Private Management team in one of the following locations: Denver, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas or Miami.
Major Function/Role:
Under general guidance from the Business Unit (BU) Director, manages, directs and controls the operations of a business unit generally in excess of $100 million. Provides leadership, direction and guidance to sector and division managers. This includes responsibility for ensuring project performance and quality control, as well as for achieving profit and revenue objectives. Focus is on implementing business strategy so as to achieve financial, operational, service delivery, commercial, quality, safety, client satisfaction, optimal project resourcing, and employee engagement and performance.
The role includes extensive coordination and collaboration outside the BU with the technical practice organization (TPO) practice directors, other BU operations directors, the project management excellence (PME) director, the quality and technical assurance director, the procurement and contracts director, and the regional safety, health, & environment (SHE) managers.
Job Duties:
Commercial: Develop and promote a strong commercial and business acumen culture. Ensures compliance with various commercial requirements including stage gate process, contracts and subcontracts, claim management, corporate governance, and authority matrix. Ensures proper reviews and approvals for pursuit pricing strategy and project cost estimates. Works closely with both the ANA legal counsel and the contracts and procurement director to ensure commercial risk is evaluated, eliminated where possible, or mitigated. To identify potential claims and provide periodic updates to ANA legal and operational leadership. Ensures compliance with the authorization matrix for various commercial approvals and reviews.
Financial: Ensures adherence to budget and oversees forecasting activities. Reviews and approves operating budgets. Reviews and approves capital expenditures as specified in the authorization matrix. Reviews and approves final write-offs and past-due accounts receivables and legal settlements as specified in the authorization matrix.
Marketing and Client Maintenance: Supports the implementation of strategies for the effective and economical penetration of potential/existent geographical markets and business lines for the firm. Maintains contacts with primary current and prospective clients, including initial contacts presentations, negotiating agreements, keeping client appraised of work progress, and ensuring client's satisfaction; identifies and works toward the resolution of client relation problems.
Project Delivery: Working through the BU sector and division managers ensures that projects are delivered on time, within contracted budget, and to professional and technical standards. Ensures projects follow the prescribed delivery processes including but not limited to project execution plans, schedules, risk management, and change management.
Working with sector managers identifies and approves project managers for red zone projects. Monitors performance of all projects being produced and/or managed. Monitors and requires project reviews be conducted in accordance with ANA guidance and projects’ risk levels. Directs immediate remedial actions to avoid financial losses and client dissatisfaction. Leads and assists project managers in the selection of methods and in the solution of technical problems to maintain or improve profitability; assists in resolving problems concerning work with other BUs.
Project Resourcing: Working through the BU sector and division managers, the TPO leadership and regional resource regional managers ensures projects are properly staffed. Works with the recruiting team to identify and prioritize requisitions for the BU and in collaboration with the TPO. Engages with resource restrained areas to provide additional direction and leadership. Coordinates with the various TPO practices to ensure annual budget aligns with TPO staffing mix and alerts the TPO of significant changes in staffing requirements.
Quality: Ensures ANA’s quality and technical assurance program is followed on all projects. Works closely with the quality and technical assurance director. Monitors and enforces compliance with established quality control standards, ensuring that appropriate quality assurance activities are being performed throughout the BU.
Safety Health & Environmental (SHE): Monitors and promotes a strong safety awareness across the BU. Oversees and works with the regional SHE managers to ensure that safety performance is a foremost objective in all aspects of the business, and that task hazard assessments (THAs) or other safety planning tools are properly utilized on all projects. Participates in the BU safety teams.
Staff Administration: Selects and/or participates in the selection of candidates for senior level jobs within the BU. Reviews and approves personnel actions recommended by senior operating managers inside the BU and the TPO. Conducts semi-annual performance reviews and annual career planning sessions for direct reports. Promotes effective performance management and career development practices throughout the BU to ensure employees reach highest possible performance level, job satisfaction, and commitment. Ensures compliance with policies and procedures and business management system (BMS) throughout the BU and all projects.
Collaboration: Works closely with the other respective BU operations directors to ensure consistency and optimal business performance. Serve as part of a four member BU operations director team. Works closely with BU financial manager. Serves as BU point of contact for business and operational support groups including the PME director, the quality and technical assurance director, the procurement and contracts director, and the SHE manager.
Other: May perform other duties as the Business Unit Director may from time to time deem necessary.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in field of practice. Post graduate degree preferred. Management coursework and/or MBA a plus. This level may be achieved by technical professionals or technical managers with minimum 15 years of experience since B.S., with at least five of these years in a senior operating management position.
Special Skills:
Excellent technical and interpersonal skills. Proven ability to manage large scope operations and provide leadership to multiple levels of management. Highly skilled at promoting the firm and negotiating advantageous contracts. Must have business vision, excellent communication skills, and be able to represent the firm effectively to clients, key public officials, and the community in general.
Professional Registrations:
Professional registration in field of practice is preferred, i.e., P.E., P.G., PLS, R.A., or RLA.
Atkins offers its employees a robust rewards package which includes: a competitive salary; a broad benefits package including medical/RX, dental, vision, life, disability, legal, hospitalization and other valuable voluntary options; generous time-off programs; flexible work schedules; 401(k) with employer match; professional and career development opportunities through our corporate university, as well as a highly-regarded tuition reimbursement program; and an unmatched culture focused on client-service, quality, and tireless pursuit of excellence in all we do. Atkins is a drug free workplace.
Please view Atkins Equal Opportunity Statement.
