Associate Director, Growth & Development

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.
Are you passionate about shaping sustainable growth on the South Coast?

Arup is a global multidisciplinary firm helping clients solve complex built-environment challenges and turn ideas into reality. As an independent, employee-owned organisation, we set our own direction and make thoughtful long-term decisions for our business and society.
Our new Southampton office is growing to represent Arup’s full Cities, Planning and Design (CPD) portfolio: town and transport planning, masterplanning, landscape architecture, architecture, economics and case making. Here specialists address major infrastructure, sustainable growth and energy, social value, policy, environmental conservation and inclusive stakeholder engagement.

This role will help public and private sector clients turn ambition into investable projects that improve lives and regional resilience.
We are seeking an Associate Director to expand Arup’s South Coast presence and champion our CPD portfolio. You will lead exciting, challenging projects using your leadership, consulting and technical expertise.
 

The Opportunity

The role is to develop client relationships, identify project opportunities, lead teams in bidding and delivering projects, support the development of team members, raise Arup’s profile through marketing, communications and thought leadership, and promote our work in the marketplace. 

You should have knowledge of multi-disciplinary consultancy across masterplanning, town planning, transport planning, landscape, architecture and economics. You will bring established relationships with one or more local key clients, including the emerging County Combined Authority, local authorities, site promoters and developers and Homes England. You will work closely with Arup colleagues across our Southampton and London offices to shape opportunities and assemble the right multi-disciplinary teams, working in partnership with the Southampton Office Leader to help grow Arup’s presence and profile across the South Coast.

You will play a key leadership role in the following areas: 

·       Growing our market share across our CPD portfolio by identifying and leading the successful pursuit of prospects and projects which are critical to Arup’s positioning in the South Coast market; 

·       Engaging with existing and potential clients, positioning Arup to ensure there is a strong pipeline of repeat work and identifying opportunities for new work; 

·       Leading the delivery of projects in terms of client interface, providing strategic direction to the team, undertaking QA and ensuring projects are profitable; 

·       Interfacing with multi-disciplinary project teams across Arup to ensure client/project opportunities are maximised and integrated delivery of projects; and 

·       Supporting thought leadership and wider marketing activities to raise the profile of our work. 

Is this role right for you?

You will be a motivated and enthusiastic individual with a strong track record of successfully developing client relationships, and winning and delivering projects. 

You will require the following knowledge, skills and attributes: 

·       Deep understanding of the South Coast development market;

·       A strong network across cities, housing and/or transport clients and stakeholders on the South Coast;

·       Strong proven consultancy skills, a track record in winning consultancy work and ability to promote Arup’s multidisciplinary CPD offer;

·       Experience of developing business strategies and/or client development plans to provide focus to business development. Experience of successfully implementing strategies/plans; 

·       Experience of working with clients to understand their requirements and map out solutions to ensure opportunities for Arup are maximised; 

·       Experience of leading teams in the bidding and delivery (establishing and leading teams) of projects, including technical specialists and multi-disciplinary teams and sourcing sub-consultants where necessary; 

·       Experience of working within a commercial environment (bids and projects), including client liaison, programme and time management, quality assurance and financial/budget control; 

·       A keen interest in cities along with an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities that they face including an understanding of the interaction of major policy areas (housing, funding and financing, transport, regeneration, quality of life, and others).

Qualifications: 

·       Education to degree level in a relevant discipline such as masterplanning, town planning, transport planning, landscape, architecture or economics.

Not ready to apply just yet or have some questions? Contact Drina Zupanovic at Drina.Zupanovicgerard@arup.com - Please note, to ensure we remain GDPR compliant do not send your CV directly to us via this email. 

 What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Drina.Zupanovicgerard@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/

Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

Recruitment Agencies – We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.

Closing Date: 28.10.2026

We may close the role earlier than the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications, so please ensure you apply early.

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