Associate/Project Director - Defence Construction

TURNER & TOWNSEND; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure consultancy is seeking an Associate Director/Project Director in Bristol. This role involves managing complex projects for Defence clients, ensuring timely completion within budget. Candidates should have strong leadership skills, significant project management experience, and familiarity with NEC4 contracts. Applicants must be UK nationals capable of achieving security clearance. The position offers an opportunity to work in a challenging environment while balancing work and life priorities.

Benefits

Flexible working environment

Career development opportunities

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Experience managing large infrastructure programmes effectively.
• Ability to balance technical and managerial approaches.
• History of working in Defence, Nuclear, or construction environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction for all phases of infrastructure programmes.
• Establish Project Execution Plans and monitor deliverables.
• Collaborate with Business Development for additional work.

Skills

Leadership skills

Technical background

Cross-functional team management

Communication skills

Education

Construction related Degree

Senior accreditation (ICE, APM, RICS)

Tools

NEC4 contracts

FIDIC contracts

Job description

Company Description

At Turner & Townsend, we are passionate about making the difference. That means delivering better outcomes for our clients, helping our people to realize their potential, and doing our part to create a prosperous society. Every day we help our major global clients deliver ambitious and highly technical projects, in over 110 offices worldwide.

The National Security & Defence Infrastructure Cost Centre provides support to projects that range in complexity and size with our service offerings spanning across Programme and Project Management, Project Planning, Cost Engineering, Risk Management, and Commercial Disciplines.

We provide support to the full project lifecycle both pre-contract and post contract, delivering infrastructure projects on behalf of our clients, that range from several hundred thousand pounds in value to major projects and programmes worth over £200M.

Due to growing client requirements, we are actively looking to expand the team and have talented individuals join us who will support our NS & Defence client portfolio, whilst further developing their career, working on a range of complex and challenging commissions.

Important: Before applying, due to the sensitive nature of these projects, you must be a SOLE UK National who is able to achieve and maintain UK MoD Security Clearance (SC). See Security Clearance Section.

Job Description

Turner & Townsend is looking for a talented Associate Director/Project Director to join our busy and expanding Defence business in the South West of England. We provide professional services to deliver programme outcomes on behalf of our Defence clients. In this role you will be expected to provide direction and management for every phase of infrastructure programmes across a range of complex and challenging commissions, ensuring on‑schedule completion within or below budget and in accordance with contractual obligations. The individual must be capable of managing multiple work fronts/packages which make up a complex project/programme enterprise involving a diverse supply chain. The Associate Director/Project Director will be required to demonstrate experience of balancing technical, leadership and managerial approaches within highly regulated delivery environments, such as nuclear‑regulated sites and show evidence of engaging and managing stakeholders at a variety of levels. Experience working with the NEC4 suite of contracts is also strongly desired. Prior experience must include significant project management or construction management assignments at a leadership level. Experience should also include operations management of personnel and the effective management of client outcomes. Must be able to travel to client sites, as and when required.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Act as the Turner & Townsend representative with the client and selected subcontractors during the programme execution. Negotiate changes to the scope of work with the client and key subcontractors. Collaborate with Business Development to market and secure additional work with client. Responsible for following up on instructions and commitments associated with the programme. Participate in regulatory conversations and in public meetings in support of clients.
• Oversee establishment of the Project Execution Plan, Health and Safety Plan, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan, and other documents as required.
• Establish the delivery requirements for all areas of the project, and monitor the draft and final deliverables for adherence to these criteria. Responsible for ensuring that all within the project understand the project brief, requirements and outputs.
• Plan, direct, supervise, and control the execution of all business, technical, fiscal, and administrative functions of the assigned project as required. Assign responsibility for executing project plans to key subordinates after careful assessment of how to utilise their qualifications and strengths. Provide input to performance reviews and development plans for subordinates. Field responsibilities may include labour relations, local procurement and payroll operations, etc., if required.
• Mobilise resources, through liaison with capability leads, other offices, or subsidiaries, to create project teams capable of completing effective, quality work. Discuss the qualifications required of the key project positions in specific detail with the capability leads and Cost Centre Leads. Collaborate with the programme enterprise to address programme/project space requirements.
• Work with other managers, project engineers, and discipline leads to develop budgets, schedules, and plans for the various elements of a programme. Ensure that the programme meets or exceeds goals established in the project plans.
• Work with the key project individuals to devise and execute action plans to rectify potential cost overruns or delays, or to accommodate significant changes to the scope of work. Advise the client and company management of any such changes. Responsible for maintaining current and timely change orders.
• Promote technical and commercial excellence on the project (and beyond) through application of Quality Assurance processes. Monitor and report to management on the progress of all project activity, including significant milestones, and any conditions that would affect project cost or schedule.
• Perform other responsibilities associated with this position as may be appropriate.

What Required Skills You’ll Bring

• Highly commended leadership skills and proven ability to operate at Project Leadership Level, with values and behaviours at the core of your approach.
• A strong technical background, as well as previous project management experience on infrastructure projects.
• Able to manage and direct cross‑functional teams with credible pan domain and pan discipline expertise.
• Able to apply systems thinking to complex multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Proven ability to perform in a management capacity, excellent written and oral communications skills, and a thorough knowledge of industry practices and regulations are also required.
• A desirable demonstrable history of working in Infrastructure, Defence and/or nuclear environments.
• A demonstrable history of applying the NEC4 suite of contracts.
• A demonstrable history of working for or with Tier 1 contractors.

Qualifications

• Senior accreditation of competency to a professional body, such as ICE, APM, RICS etc (desired).
• Strong infrastructure background in Defence, Nuclear, Transportation or Utilities highly desirable.
• Construction related Degree or in related technical/business field and significant competence spanning all stages of programme life‑cycle.
• NEC / FIDIC commercial experience.

Security Clearance

Important: Before applying, due to the sensitive nature of these projects, you must be a SOLE UK National who is able to achieve and maintain UK MoD Security Clearance (SC). Many of the clients and projects we support are subject to MoD security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Working in Teams/Office & Site attendance

Turner & Townsend recognises the importance of helping its employees harmonise their work and home life by offering hybrid working, that enable them to balance their working life with other priorities. At the same time T&T recognises that employee office and site attendance must always remain in line with the demands of the business and clients. Currently, we anticipate you being on client sites or Turner & Townsend offices 60% of your time which may include travel, but this may flex depending on client and business requirements. The office is not the only place work gets done, but it is increasingly important for teams to be stronger together by learning, collaborating, and creating amazing work together.

Additional Information

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work‑life balance.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

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It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e‑mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.