Operations Director - Strategic Highways

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. 

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The Strategic Highways (SH) Market sits at the heart of our ambition to shape the future of transportation. The Operations Director is a critical role that links our projects, people and markets together, ensuring that the revenue and margin performance exceeds targets. The SH market is significant with an annual revenue of approaching £100M that has grown over recent years as our portfolio has diversified.
The market spans a diverse range of projects across the UK, whether working direct for the UK’s national transport bodies or for Contractors delivering schemes for them.  Our portfolio ranges from providing design and advice for national major projects to highways asset services and renewals, whilst our data and technology services are growing rapidly, and management and technical consultancy remains a significant and growing part of the business.

The Operations Director needs to maintain financial performance and ensure governance is maintained through our service delivery process while enhancing our reputation with clients, ensuring both project quality and effective communication at project level. This needs to be undertaken through the Project Directors and Project Managers who are responsible for the successful project delivery.
The individual will need to effectively balance the demands of the short- and long-term performance of the Market.  You will support the Market Director through oversight of the Market’s projects and frameworks, reporting market performance to the Transportation MD and FD, and attending the monthly and quarterly business reviews.  You will be a core member of the Market’s leadership team.  The Operations Director will also oversee P&L budgeting and forecasting for the market and ensure delivery against these promises.

As a member of the Transportation Senior Leadership Team, be an ambassador for the business; attending and speaking at relevant industry events, developing alliances and partnerships and generally leveraging opportunities to build greater awareness of AtkinsRéalis and improve our standing and reputation.

Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Market Director :

• Work with Project Directors and Project Managers to coordinate and take responsibility for all projects related to the market with an objective to deliver all projects on time and within budget while exceeding client quality expectations.
• Oversee the performance of Project Managers and Project Directors delivering Strategic Highways Projects.
• Oversee budgeting and undertake monthly operational reviews within market.
• Identify and manage portfolio risks and opportunities, and properly escalate key decisions and actions, working closely with the Market’s Commercial Lead.
• Assure full compliance with policies and procedures, attending and undertaking stagegate reviews as appropriate.
• Ensure project teams undertaking red and amber reviews are suitably prepared.
• Oversee the QSSE and business improvement aspects of the Market Business Plan.
• Work with the Practices to define resource requirements for the Strategic Highways Market sector.
• Work with other stakeholders on the implementation of strategic initiatives that develop our people.
• Ensure an appropriate regime of project reviews within the market based on risk, including chairing project boards for high priority projects.
• Prepare and deliver Market budgets and forecasts, working closely with Market Financial Controller.
• Actively contribute to the Transportation Operations Forum, working with other Operations Directors on issues of common interest.
•  Prepare and deliver Market budgets and forecasts, working closely with Market Financial Controller.
• Ensure bids and projects within the market have adequate commercial and operational support, and where required lean in to troubleshoot and resolve issues.
• Manage the Market’s Performance Manager and Early Careers’ secondees.
• Be a proactive member of the Market Leadership Team, collaborating with others in the team.
• Lead on the Market’s relationship with and use of the Global Technology Centre (GTC).
• Be an advocate and role model for our corporate values, ethics and governance guidelines.

Requirements:

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent; relevant professional qualification.
• Successful track record of delivering portfolios of projects and frameworks.
• Able to collaborate with, and influence, key stakeholders.
• Experience in financial and commercial management.
• Contractual, commercial and project delivery knowledge, including large and complex design projects and ideally experience of working with contractors.
• A well-rounded leadership and management background with demonstrable experience of project portfolio management.
• Ability to successfully operate on Management Boards and as required Joint Venture Boards.
• Experience and knowledge of the market is advantageous but not essential.

The Individual:

• Significant financial and commercial acumen.
• Focus on results and performance improvement.
• Ability to collaborate with, influence and negotiate with key stakeholders.
• Able to manage,motivate and support a diverse group of delivery teams from the Practices.
• Be a visible Safety Leader.
• Demonstrate high levels of openness, honesty and integrity.

Key Measures:

• Market revenue, margin and other financial metrics, including GTC usage.
• Reliable portfolio delivery performance with no surprises.
• Governance compliance metrics.
• Safety Performance.
• Achievement of strategic improvement initiatives within the market.

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. 

Meeting your needs: 

To help you get the most out of life in and outside of work, we offer employees "Total Reward." It's a package that can be tailored to your changing lifestyle, career and personal needs. You'll enjoy benefits such as partner discounts, leadership training, professional, accreditations, and career planning for any stage of your career. Making sure you're supported is important to us. So, if you identify as having a disability, tell us ahead of your interview. And let's talk through any adjustments you might need. 

New name, new era. We are AtkinsRéalis. It will take some time for all our information to update – you can still refer to our fantastic benefits via the link below: 

YourReward at AtkinsRéalis (atkinsrealis.com) 

More about us: 

AtkinsRéalis, is a leading global consultancy with over 100 years of design and engineering expertise. With us, you'll be surrounded by the skills, knowledge, and support to help you succeed. Together, we can deliver projects which have a positive, sustainable impact on the world. 

Check out some of our recent, most exciting projects: AtkinsRéalis Projects (atkinsrealis.com) 

Training: 

AtkinsRéalis is committed to developing its people both personally and professionally. Our colleagues have the advantage of access to a high ranging training portfolio and development activities designed to help make the best of individual’s abilities and talents. We also actively support staff in achieving corporate membership of relevant institutions. 

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. 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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