Associate Director - Programme & Project Management

Joining Arup

Arup is a trust-owned professional services business employing more than 18,000 designers, engineers, architects, planners, consultants and technical specialists globally. Design, creativity, sustainability and innovation are at the heart of what we do.  We are a diverse business that thrives by using knowledge, skill and passion to advise clients on every aspect of the built environment. Our people are drawn together by a distinctive, common culture and a unique set of values.  
Arup is an award-winning organisation. We help to shape a sustainable future, particularly through the built environment, as 90% of Arup’s total annual revenues relate to this sector, by investing in research, innovation and creating better solutions for its clients around the world.  The firm has worked on many of the world’s most innovative buildings and infrastructure projects. 

Arup has a permanent presence in 34 countries with 85 offices across the world offering a fully integrated global service to clients across more than 90 disciplines.  We bring together professionals from diverse disciplines with complementary skills on a uniquely global scale.  Talented people join Arup for the opportunity to work on some of the world’s most exciting projects, to develop a specialism of their own, or simply to find their niche.  Excellence has driven the growth of the company and the strong relationships it has with clients and is at the heart of how Arup supports its staff development.

Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!

The Opportunity

Our PPM Capability; Arup’s PPM business is part of Advisory Services. There are circa 300 members of staff within PPM nationally with around 200 people in the South Geography and the balance spread across the North and Mid-West Geographies. 
PPM works with clients across numerous industries, providing talented teams of Programme and Project Managers who support projects throughout the whole project or programme lifecycle.  We are experiencing significant demand for client-side programme management and delivery partner roles across the UK and internationally, particularly in the water and energy infrastructure markets.

PPM in Advisory North; The North of the UK offers Arup some very significant programme and project management opportunities, particularly on infrastructure projects across transport, water and energy.   Our North Geography offices include Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast.  The PPM business in the North has grown to nearly 40 members of staff within the last few years and we have ambitions to develop this to 60+ this year and beyond thereafter. We are now seeking to strengthen our leadership team and work winning capability in the North East of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The role will involve developing and building Arup’s PPM capability in these parts of the North Geography significantly strengthening Arup’s strategic programme management capability and having oversight of the delivery of some very substantial programmes. The new PPM Associate Director may also support other major projects nationally.  

Once in role, the new PPM Associate Director will be focused more on client programme strategic leadership opportunities, as opposed to construction programme delivery. The PPM Associate Director will:
•   help clients with programme formation at the initial stages of the process, rather than providing many Arup members of staff to deliver these programmes.  
•    be working with key stakeholders to develop opportunities, lead bids and support other Arup projects and major programmes.
•    Assist to grow the programme and project management services in the North Geography and develop our supply chain so that elements of programme management can be provided by third parties. 

The North PPM Associate Director will be part of our North Advisory Group leadership team, as well as jointly providing day to day leadership of our PPM team.  

To take accountability for winning and delivering project and programme management commissions and advisory services work in the North market. The role will involve:
•    Developing and managing new client relationships, identifying opportunities and accountability for bidding for and winning new work supporting the ongoing growth of the business.
•    Being the day-to-day project director for large projects/programmes of capital projects or responsibility for high value-adding advisory services commissions.
•    Leading and managing project teams to deliver commissions, in full compliance with Arup Management System requirements and commercial responsibility for project outcomes.
•    Delivering work to a high standard of client satisfaction and profitably for Arup
•    Developing your skills to ensure on-going flexibility and value to clients.
•    Supporting the development of new service offerings
•    Taking responsibility for a team, supporting their personal development, providing coaching, addressing performance issues, and undertaking annual appraisals.
•    Supporting growth of the team, including targeted recruitment of appropriate individuals to build PPM capacity and capability.

Is this right for you?

The successful individual will have a proven track record in building long lasting client relationships, developing targeted propositions and winning work. A Proven track record, ability and confidence to advise Arup’s clients on programme delivery strategy, leadership and engagement, vision and outcomes, governance, structuring a programme organisation, developing the delivery model, Health and Safety, sustainability and resilience, stakeholder management, and engagement.

We are seeking the following;

•    Proven capability in successful programme and project management services of complex built environment programmes across key sectors (energy, water, transport), during their development and delivery phases.
•    Proven capability to easily “tune in” to the client organisations we are working with – their values and their character.  Being comfortable with working as part of their team, but able to bring in the new expertise and thinking that is required.
•    Experience of knowledge transfer and capacity building with client teams, supporting their learning and capability building as a key outcome.
•    Experience working on politically complex programmes, having the right combination of skills that show respect, humility and understanding of client organisations, and the political and organisational sensitivities involved.
•    Experience engaging with client programme boards and steering groups, including in politically complex situations.
•    Skills in implementing and utilising digital tools and systems in the delivery of complex programmes, across a broad range of project management disciplines.

Please note this role allows flexible working hours and working from home, with the ability to be based in our offices in the North East or Scotland at least three days per week.  Travel to and from client sites /or temporary assignments to client’s offices is likely to be required.

Not ready to apply just yet, or have a few questions? Contact  Rachel.Connolly@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 Rachel.connolly@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/arup-careers-uk-application-process

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Closing Date: 7-05-25