Associate Director - Quantity Surveyor

AtkinsRéalis; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis in Belfast is seeking an Associate Director to lead our Quantity Surveying team on high-value programmes across the region. You will shape commercial strategy, drive client relationships, and oversee governance, risk, and financial performance.

This senior role requires strategic leadership, mentoring and the ability to win work and expand the Belfast Cost Management practice across the UK & Ireland.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying or related discipline.
• Chartered MRICS/FRICS or equivalent professional body.
• Significant experience in senior Cost Management or commercial leadership.
• Proven track record leading large-scale, complex projects.
• Strong commercial, contractual, procurement and strategic consulting expertise.
• Experience developing senior client relationships and driving growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead major programmes and strategic client accounts across a diverse portfolio.
• Provide strategic commercial oversight and assurance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee governance, risk management and commercial compliance.
• Deliver senior commercial and cost management advice on high-value projects.
• Drive business development and growth initiatives across Belfast and wider region.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and identify new opportunities.
• Lead team development, mentoring and succession planning.
• Manage fee proposals, forecasting, resource planning and financial performance.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationship management

Commercial acumen

Strategic oversight

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Team development

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying or related discipline

MRICS/FRICS or equivalent

Job description

Overview

AtkinsRéalis is seeking to recruit an Associate Director to join our Quantity Surveying team in Belfast. This is a key leadership role supporting the delivery of high-profile, high-value projects across a range of sectors throughout the region, offering the opportunity to shape commercial strategy and drive exceptional project outcomes. As an Associate Director, you will lead major programmes and client accounts while driving business growth and operational performance. You will play a central role in developing senior client relationships, enhancing team capability, and contributing to the continued success and expansion of the Belfast business and wider regional Cost Management practice. This role presents an excellent opportunity for an experienced and commercially minded professional to step into a senior leadership position with real influence over projects, people, and performance.

Your role

• Lead major programmes, frameworks, and strategic client accounts across a diverse portfolio of projects.
• Provide strategic commercial oversight and assurance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee governance, risk management, and commercial compliance in line with AtkinsRéalis.
• Deliver senior commercial and cost management advice on high-value and complex projects.
• Drive business development initiatives and support growth plans across Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the wider UK & Ireland region.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients, identifying opportunities for new work and service expansion.
• Lead team development, including talent management, mentoring, and succession planning.
• Support recruitment activities, people development, and performance management across the Belfast Cost Management team.
• Manage fee proposals, business forecasting, resource planning, and financial performance.
• Represent AtkinsRéalis at senior client meetings, industry events, professional networks, and stakeholder forums.
• Promote collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Support the implementation of business strategy and operational excellence initiatives within the regional practice.

About You

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
• Chartered Member of the RICS (MRICS/FRICS) or equivalent professional body.
• Significant experience in a senior Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, or Commercial leadership role.
• Proven track record of successfully leading large-scale, complex projects and programmes.
• Strong commercial, contractual, procurement, and strategic consulting expertise.
• Experience developing and managing senior client relationships and contributing to business growth.
• Demonstrable leadership capability with experience managing, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of project governance, risk management, and commercial assurance processes.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate effectively within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing project profitability, forecasting, and business performance.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

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.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong – a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.