Associate Director Project Manager Complex Buildings

ARUP; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in Greater London is looking for an Associate Director to oversee complex projects in the construction sector. This role involves managing client relationships, leading multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring successful project outcomes. Candidates should have a BSc, relevant professional qualifications, and experience in project management. This position offers a competitive salary and aligns with a company devoted to sustainability and inclusivity.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex building projects.
• Professional qualifications such as APM, RICS, CIOB, RIBA.
• Ability to advise clients on delivery strategy.

Responsibilities

• Manage key client relationships as Project Director.
• Deliver successful outcomes for projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary design teams throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Client relationship management

Project management

Stakeholder management

Education

BSc in relevant discipline

Job description

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world. Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!

The Opportunity

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director to join our established and growing Programme & Project Management (PPM) team, based in London. You will bring a desire to deliver high quality and innovative solutions that deliver successful outcomes for our clients, particularly in delivery of major complex building projects. The role of an Associate Director will be to win, resource and deliver complex strategic and operational projects using best practice PPM knowledge and advisory skills. You will be managing major complex building projects for both private and public sector clients in science and industry, higher education, healthcare, or commercial property projects. You’ll be part of a diverse collaborative team responsible for the successful delivery of our project and programme management commissions across all our markets and clients.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

As an Associate Director your key activities will include managing key client relationships, finding new work opportunities with current and new clients. You will act as the day‑to‑day Project Director on projects and programmes in sectors including science and industry, higher education, healthcare, or commercial property projects, delivering high‑quality outcomes and client satisfaction.

You will have a background in leading multidisciplinary design teams and contractor performance throughout the project lifecycle. This includes project inception, design, procurement, and construction stages of a project or programme. If you have demonstratable professional project management experience, either having had a significant role in a very large £500m+ capital project OR have acted as Project Director on projects of £200m+ we’d love to hear from you!

Requirements

• BSc in relevant discipline and professional qualifications in relevant profession, (e.g. with APM, RICS, CIOB, RIBA or Engineering chartership), and continuing professional development.
• The ability and confidence to advise our clients on delivery strategy, leadership and engagement, vision and outcomes, business case development, establishing governance, structuring a programme organisation, developing delivery models, sustainability and resilience, stakeholder management, and engagement.
• A background in agreeing and setting delivery plans and targets for teams. Including developing resourcing plans for work. Establishing and leading networks and teams outside your line of command.
• Experience in 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.

You will also be able to demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Defining a programme to deliver digitally enabled change.
• Setting the strategy to establish new advisory services for clients.
• Responsible for developing and delivering strategies for delivering projects with sustainable development outcomes.

Not ready to apply just yet or have some questions? Contact Rachel Connolly at [e-mail] – 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 at [e-mail] 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: 14th of February 2026