Eloise Samuelson

Research & Delivery Consultant
[email protected]

Practice Director, Transport Advisory and Consulting (UK)

Sector: Transport | Location: Flexible, UK

AtkinsRéalis is a leading global consultancy with over 100 years of design and engineering expertise. At AtkinsRéalis, you’ll be surrounded by the skills, knowledge, and support to help you succeed. Delivering projects that have a positive, sustainable impact on the world.

You might know AtkinsRéalis for the great work they do across their wide variety of projects. AtkinsRéalis are proud to say it's thanks to their people's diversity of thought, expertise and knowledge. And when you join them, you'll be a part of this genuinely collaborative environment, where everyone's voice is valued and treated equally.

The business is passionate about what they do, but they don't take themselves too seriously. Simply put, this a great place to be. So, when it comes to your life outside of work, ask about their flexible and remote working policies designed to help you get the most out of life.

Are you ready to make a difference? At AtkinsRéalis, they're on a mission to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. If you’re an exceptional business and people leader, passionate about the Rail and Transit Market, we want to hear from you!

Recent Achievements: ROSPA President’s Award for commitment to health and safety, Times Top 50 Companies for Gender Equality and Clear Assured Platinum Award for creating an inclusive culture

The Role: Practice Director, Transport Advisory and Consulting (UK)

  • As the Practice Director, you’ll be a senior leader accountable for the newly formed Transport Advisory and Consultancy Practice.
  • The company are bringing together the Consultancy and Rail Consultancy practices of c.750 people to help focus on even better outcomes for clients.
  • The role of Practice Director is accountable for the leadership, growth, performance, and development of the Practice alongside client engagement and marketplace promotion.
  • You will help the team and business grow, working across all transport modes and a diverse range of clients, harnessing these combined capabilities to drive opportunities, performance, revenue and margin.
  • The role reports directly to the Managing Director, Transportation division and is an integral part of the senior leadership team, alongside the other practices, and markets, setting the direction for a c,£500 million revenue business. So what does the role entail?

Accountability:

Practice performance:

  • Performance of the practice: deliver and exceed targets, including recruitment, retention, utilisation, engagement etc.
  • Development of a skilled and flexible workforce: maximise the use of the 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 and service line directors.
  • Resource Optimisation: Ensure they are able to apply the right capabilities from the practice to our practice led and market led pursuits and in the delivery of the client’s projects in Transportation and as a centre of excellence globally.

Practice development:

  • Growth of the practice: delivery of existing services into new clients and markets and the development of new services aligned with the needs of the clients, underpinned by excellent quality in delivery.
  • Create differentiation within the market that leads to competitive advantage.
  • Transformation and stability: collaborate to create the next level of strategic plan for the practice and take the people with you on the journey.

Practice atmosphere:

  • Team experience: enabling the team to thrive, fostering 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.

Practice connectivity:

  • Networks: investment in cross-business relationships, focus on internal stakeholders.
  • Business wide cohesion: take a lead role across the UK & Ireland business in transportation advisory and in the Global networks across the company for transportation markets and related disciplines.

Divisional leadership:

  • As part of the Transportation 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 Responsibilities:

  • Meeting business performance targets with overall accountability for practice revenue and operational profit including annual budget setting and business planning
  • Leading on the development of long-term growth strategies and plans, aligning current and future capabilities to the needs of the market and ensuring AtkinsRéalis retains and grows a reputation for technical excellence, quality and innovation
  • Cultivating and nurturing the professional development of the team, including managing their safety and well-being, championing an inclusive workplace and empowering people to be the best they can be
  • Creating an entrepreneurial and innovative culture to continually develop existing and new business areas which align with the business strategy and create competitive advantage
  • Providing oversight to resource deployment, commercial strategy and client relationship management with the vision to securing and delivering high-quality outputs for clients
  • Develop, sustain and maintain relationships with key clients in support of Practice business development activities and ensuring management level escalation points
  • Developing and sustaining collaborative collegial relationships with other Practice Directors, Market Directors and other members of the leadership team and visibly demonstrating the leadership behaviours that foster an integrated culture of continuous improvement
  • Ensuring compliance with AtkinsRéalis management systems and policies.

What You Bring:

  • Strong personal reputation and recognised by the industry for creating value through environmental, economic and/or social outcomes.
  • Experience in one or more of AtkinsRéalis’ key markets (Rail and Transit, Strategic and Regional Highways, Local Transport).
  • Experience in a related leadership role.
  • Ability to understand and empathies with clients and their challenges.
  • An effective network spanning client, business partners and other stakeholders.
  • Strong enterprise culture with experience in the continual development of services through innovation, technology and new business models.
  • Commercial savvy, delivery focus, and excellent relationship-building skills.
  • Drive, curiosity, kindness, and a supportive approach to nurturing talent.
  • You will be genuinely excited at the opportunity to shape a new practice; to harness the great capabilities the business has and help them be the best they can be.
  • Proven track record in driving health and safety culture and performance.
  • High mobility and willingness to travel across the UK.
  • Degree level or equivalent professional qualifications.

Why work for AtkinsRéalis? 

The Transportation teams are reinventing transport for a challenging yet exciting future. They’re creating new ideas and smart solutions for cities, people and the environment. You'll be working alongside some of the top people in the industry, solving challenges that bring together traditional engineering and new technologies. As part of AtkinsRéalis, you'll be in a privileged position, delivering what's right for governments and communities. You'll be helping to improve their 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.

AtkinsRéalis 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, AtkinsRéalis 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, they value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.