Associate Director

AECOM; Croydon; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM in Croydon is seeking an Associate Director to lead the Building Services Design Consultant Engineering team on MEP and multidisciplinary projects. Based in Croydon, the role involves client and architect collaboration, and potential work across UK, Europe and beyond.

The candidate will drive team development, manage projects to budget and programme, and mentor junior staff while expanding market share in the South East and beyond. A strong UK market knowledge is essential.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of mechanical building services across sectors.
• Experience leading design teams.
• Experience in project management within a defined fee budget and programme.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the development of the team and grow AECOM’s market share in the local market as well as for projects further afield.
• Serve as a multi-disciplinary team leader for projects, from feasibility through to operational phase for Building Services Projects.
• Manage a team/office of engineers and specialists, coordinating and supporting the management team.
• Ensure financial targets and internal KPIs are met, motivating others to contribute.
• Prepare and present designs, reports, and specifications.
• Manage design and construction stage activities with both external and internal teams.
• Contribute to the update of AECOM standards.
• Deliver, review, and approve mechanical engineering calculations.
• Negotiate additional fees and change control.
• Act as the main point of contact with design teams.
• Serve as the project manager for the AECOM/Client contract, managing fee expenditure and programme.
• Mentor junior staff, train staff, and promote CPD activities.
• Manage and build client and architect relationships to secure new and repeat work.
• Maintain and enhance expertise within the team and as an individual.
• Support and lead the team’s 3D and BIM capabilities.

Skills

Leadership experience

Project management

Communication skills

Mechanical building services knowledge

Decision making

Education

Mechanical or Building Services degree

Chartered engineer (preferred)

Tools

BIM software

Job description

Job Summary

Our Building Services team is seeking an Associate Director to join the Building Services Design Consultant Engineering team, based in our Croydon office, to help lead the team & act as design team on a number of MEP and multi-disciplinary projects.

About the Role

We are growing our Building Services Team in Croydon and this role is key to the team’s development. We are seeking an enthusiastic, self‑motivated person who has excellent written and verbal communication skills and who wants to make a difference in the mechanical field of building services as well as being involved with all other disciplines. The Associate Director will have knowledge and experience in relevant areas, be familiar with working closely with clients & architects to deliver major UK, European & worldwide projects. A strong knowledge of the South East of England marketplace is essential.

About the Office & Team

The Croydon MEP team currently consists of approximately 16 engineers, with the intention of growing over the next few years. The team works very closely with our St Albans and London offices, and the candidate may be required to work in these offices from time to time. Resources are shared both ways to ensure teams are supported when needed. The Croydon office MEP team has an established track record of successfully delivering local and regional projects, including No 1 Knightsbridge, One Braham, Sackville House, Lots Road Powerhouse, London Ambulance Services South London 11 Control Centre, Tower Bridge, London Power Tunnel 2, and Snowdonia VIP Cable Tunnel, as well as a number of public and private sector decarbonisation schemes.

Job Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the development of the team and grow AECOM’s market share in the local market as well as for projects further afield.
• Serve as a multi-disciplinary team leader for projects, from feasibility through to operational phase for Building Services Projects.
• Manage a team/office of engineers and specialists, coordinating and supporting the management team.
• Ensure financial targets and internal KPIs are met, motivating others to contribute.
• Prepare and present designs, reports, and specifications.
• Manage design and construction stage activities with both external and internal teams.
• Contribute to the update of AECOM standards.
• Deliver, review, and approve mechanical engineering calculations.
• Negotiate additional fees and change control.
• Act as the main point of contact with design teams.
• Serve as the project manager for the AECOM/Client contract, managing fee expenditure and programme.
• Mentor junior staff, train staff, and promote CPD activities.
• Manage and build client and architect relationships to secure new and repeat work.
• Maintain and enhance expertise within the team and as an individual.
• Support and lead the team’s 3D and BIM capabilities.

Minimum Requirements

• Knowledge and experience of the local market.
• A highly motivated individual with excellent technical understanding of mechanical building services across different sectors, along with a good overview of the other disciplines in building services.
• Significant track record of leading design teams in their discipline.
• Experience in project management within a defined fee budget and programme.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• An experienced Mechanical Engineer or Building Services Engineer currently holding a senior position.
• Relevant experience in Mechanical Engineering design, including specification writing, calculations, and developing designs from first principles, covering air & pipe system distribution, control systems, and energy calculations, and familiarity with UK codes and practices.
• Experience of seeing conceptual designs through to completion and dealing directly with clients.
• Ability to make decisions, act on own initiative, and operate proactively.

Preferred Qualifications

Degree educated in mechanical or building services engineering or a related discipline, ideally Chartered or at least with qualifications leading to this.

Existing BPSS or SC preferred.

Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition and who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please let us know using the email address [e-mail].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.