Principal Consultant / Associate Director) – Regulation & Assurance (Flexible around location)

We are looking for a knowledgeable, experienced and ambitious individual to take a leading role in and grow our regulation and assurance project portfolio, as well as contributing to a wide range of technical projects across our Water business. Regulated water companies are incentivised to improve and deliver for their customers and the wider environment; we add value to this through our advisory and technical assurance activities. The role will be part of a highly respected technical team and you will be responsible for leading some of our projects, growing our reputation for technical excellence, and working collaboratively to win and deliver work both in the UK and internationally.

SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies, with over 50,000 employees worldwide. At Atkins, we offer more than just a job. We offer an opportunity to make a difference and shape the world to benefit future generations and the natural environment. As part of this commitment, we understand the need for a diverse and flexible workforce, where a work-life balance is important. So, by default Atkins offers flexible working, where there is no fixed 9 ‘til 5, no need for a 5-day week, no requirement for a full-time contract, and no requirement to spend all your working time in the office. 

As part of our Environment practice, the Water Management Consultancy business, operates at the interface between people and the water environment, tackling problems around water, its habitats and future change. We offer a unique blend of skills across a large breadth and depth of experience, a diverse team of passionate, intelligent, digitally minded, capable and innovative staff. We enjoy working collaboratively delivering projects that bring about real change and make a difference to people and the places they work.

We are a global leader in technical assurance, audit, price reviews, due diligence and utility contract formulation across the UK and internationally. As part of our Water Management Consultancy, you will have the opportunity to contribute to an enviable variety of projects. Over the last 12 months, we have been providing assurance services to seven English water companies, we have developed contract KPIs for incentivising water utilities’ performance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we have developed best practice for reducing physical and commercial non-revenue water losses in Egypt, we have undertaken price reviews in Queensland and New South Wales in Australia and we looked at Covid-19 impacts on the water industry for Ofwat.

Responsibilities

You’ll be expected to play a leading role in the delivery of projects covering all aspects of audit, technical assurance and price reviews for your technical area. You’ll work collaboratively with other Atkins businesses and a range of professionals (engineers, environmental scientists, cost consultants, customer service specialists, economists) to provide a consistent and integrated service to our clients. You’ll also be expected to lead enquiries and provide key input to proposals for the future success of the business.

You will be required to produce, and to supervise the production of, high quality client- and public-facing deliverables, demonstrated through excellence in communication and ability to tailor and deliver to different audiences, e.g. Audit Committees and Boards, Customer groups, Investors and Regulators.

The Individual

You will have significant and varied experience of either working in or with water companies in a regulatory environment, most likely in annual reporting of performance and developing or assuring investment and business plans.  Your technical background will be in one or more of Water, Wastewater, Water Resources, Water Quality and/or Bioresources (wholesale activities), although an understanding of Customer Services and Billing (retail activities) is also useful. An appreciation of how the financial side of a utility business (capital and operational expenditure, investment planning) links to your technical area is desirable. Experience of technical auditing is not a pre-requisite as we provide comprehensive training and support, but having an inquisitive mind and tenacity are important attributes we look for.

You should have good project management skills, commercial awareness, and the confidence to lead technical work as well as mentor junior team members in developing their skills. You must be client focused and able to build strong relationships with our clients with a high degree of collaborative working skills to ensure we get the best from our working relationships with client teams.

You must have a degree in a relevant discipline, ideally be chartered and you may have relevant post-graduate qualifications or training.

Projects will be based mainly in the UK but an ability and willingness to support delivery worldwide is desired.

What we offer

• Part-time and/or flexible hours contracts.
• Paid overtime and/or TOIL system.
• Competitive salaries and a huge range of other benefits.
• 25 days annual leave, plus paid bank holidays, plus the ability to buy up to 15 extra days!
• Paid professional memberships and individual training budgets.
• Tailored training and mentoring schemes to advance your career.
• And so much more…

Here at Atkins, well-being is at the forefront of everything we do. We recognise that there is more to life than work and that making time for the other things is crucial for health and happiness. Therefore, if working from home, working part-time, or having flexible start and finish times will help with this, we are more than happy to discuss individual requirements (and to keep these requirements flexible going forward). Similarly, Atkins’ corporate social responsibility provides the opportunity to give something back to the community, and we run professional networks supporting groups such as local schools, charities, parents, those coming out of the armed-forces and women in engineering.

Training

Atkins develops individuals through a portfolio of training and development activities designed to help you make the best of your abilities and talents. Development plans are reviewed with individuals throughout the year putting you in the driving seat. You will also be part of our global Technical Networks, which provide a flow of technically orientated information and ideas through the company. Atkins will support you in your professional development, whether with CIEEM, IEMA, CIWEM or others, we support staff in achieving and maintaining membership of relevant institutions, this includes paying your annual membership and providing access to training.

Rewards and Benefits

To support and safeguard your physical and mental wellbeing we provide an employee assistance programme offering advice and support in times of need.  Our offices run their own sports and social club providing activities such wine tasting, as surf trips, and a kids’ Christmas party.  You will also have access to our Flexible Benefits, where you can opt in to a wide range of benefits to complement your work/life balance: such as medical insurance, gym membership, the cycle-to-work scheme, child care vouchers, charitable giving, additional pension contributions etc.

Please refer to our website for details of our full benefits package. https://yourrewarduk.snclavalin.com/

“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.

Atkins recognise 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. 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.”