Practice Director- Environment Practice

In UK and abroad, infrastructure investment is coming under increasing pressure as spiralling costs make projects less affordable.  Nonetheless, aging infrastructure, means that governments are having to examine where they can maintain and extend the life of the infrastructure they have; extreme weather events are prompting stakeholders to examine the resilience of the investments they have, or want to make, and geo-politics are prompting reviews of defence spending, and energy infrastructure,  as well as other aspects of their security (from data to water and food). All these factors mean that help to navigate these issues, with data and expert insights, is as in-demand as ever.

The Environment Practice operates at the centre of many of our significant infrastructure projects in the UK, working collaboratively with clients to tackle current and future challenges across construction and asset management.  The practice consists of subject matter experts in the full suite of environmental and sustainability disciplines, including ecologists, scientists, planners, economists, and engineers, with a common goal to promote sustainable growth and development while protecting the planet and supporting communities to thrive.

AtkinsRealis sees exceptional opportunity for rapid growth of the Practice, in a long term and sustainable way. 

The Practice Director Environment is accountable for the leadership, growth, performance, and development of the Environment Practice (currently 650 people).  The role reports directly to the Managing Director, Infrastructure division and is an integral part of the senior leadership team, alongside other practice and market directors, setting the direction for a £370 million revenue business.

Accountability: Practice performance

• Performance of the practice: drive operational excellence, focusing people on winning and delivering work.  Exceed targets set, including recruitment, retention, utilisation, engagement etc.

• Development of a skilled and flexible workforce: maximise the use of Global Technology Centre in India and set the right balance of permanent and contingent staff and supply chain partners.
• Client Engagement: directly at the decision-making level, through monitoring project performance and through seeking formal and informal feedback.

• Line management: performance of sub-practice directors, design directors and sector directors.

Accountability: Practice development

• Growth: develop our products and services so that we are best-in-class and stay ahead of the competition; develop our capability to be act with agility and pace – hungry to win, inspired by excellence and with a keen understanding of our commercial competitiveness
• Transformation: driving innovation and change through our behaviours and our services; pushing forward our digital transformation and strengthening our capability to develop and deliver services from India.

Accountability: Practice atmosphere

• Team experience: enabling the team to thrive, fostering collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurial behaviours. 
• Motivation of people: through inspirational leadership, effective engagement, development of talent and focus on safety and wellbeing. 
• Clear team expectations: delivery excellence, win work, client focus (across all practice activity) establishing/maintaining a high performing team.

Accountability: Practice connectivity

• Networks: investment in cross-business relationships, focus on internal stakeholders.
• Business wide cohesion: take a lead role across the UK&I business in Environment and in the Global Capability Group.

Accountability: Divisional leadership

• As part of the Infrastructure leadership team: setting the culture and tone, maintaining the licence to operate, predicting, and navigating the future, setting, and adjusting the agenda, safeguarding the business.

Key measures:

• Utilisation
• Head count
• Retention
• Engagement

Key characteristics:

This role will likely suit someone who has:

• Strong personal reputation and recognised by our industry for creating value high quality mutli-disciplinary design that surpasses client expectations of the outcomes they can achieve with the buildings and places we create for them.
• Experience in one or more of our key markets (Buildings & Places, Transportation, Water) is desirable.
• Experience in a related leadership role.
• Ability to understand and empathise with clients and their challenges.
• An effective network spanning clients, business partners and other stakeholders.  
• Strong enterprise culture with experience in the continual development of services through innovation, technology and new business models. 

And is excited by:

• Building and motivating a team with passion and empathy, and leading people through change.  
• Competition, setting stretching performance expectations and exceeding targets.
• Entrepreneurial opportunities and driving strong commercial growth.
• Travelling across the UK and overseas as required. 

Why work for AtkinsRéalis?

We're ranked as one of LinkedIn's Top 25 Companies, where UK professionals want to work and stay once, they join. We've also made the Times Top 50 employers for women.

Our Infrastructure team uses innovation, new approaches and the power of data to help our clients deliver end-to-end projects and programmes for essential future infrastructure. And as the work becomes ever more complex, our employees continue to challenge the status quo.

We're committed to engineering better for people and our planet, from our global Engineering Net-Zero programme to creating social value through EDAROTH community housing. We're proud of our active employee networks creating awareness and allyship for our under-represented groups. Not to mention programmes supporting communities outside AtkinsRéalis, including schools, charities, ex-forces and professionals returning after career breaks.

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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