Lean and Business Improvement - Associate Director

Jacobs; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Enhanced pension

Private medical cover

Family support programs

Life assurance

Wellbeing programs

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking an Associate Director to lead Lean and Business Improvement across major programmes. You will shape delivery strategy, oversee cross‑project governance and drive continuous improvement while developing future talent.

You will mentor teams, influence senior stakeholders, and expand capability across sectors, with a focus on value delivery and client outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience spearheading business process improvement and lean initiatives to programme management and complex delivery functions.
• Proven knowledge of 5S and Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
• Track record of managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering outcomes across large-scale programmes.
• Established client-facing track record with senior stakeholder influence.
• Experience leading operational and strategic portfolio growth.
• Experience managing risks, governance and delivery performance in complex environments.
• A passion for developing people, mentoring teams and building high-performing cultures.
• Proven capability in resource planning, workforce management and team management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight across multiple projects and ensure successful delivery.
• Shape delivery approaches, optimise processes, tools and resources.
• Mentor colleagues, develop talent and foster a collaborative culture.
• Lead critical workshops, manage major bids and drive business growth.

Skills

Lean & process improv

5S & Six Sigma

Leadership & mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Lean and Business Improvement - Associate Director

Lean and Business Improvement - Associate Director This is more than a leadership role. It's an opportunity to shape how some of the most complex programmes are planned, managed and delivered.

As an established Leader in Lean and Business process improvement, you will develop and deliver process improvement, management and business excellence initiatives across major nationally critical projects. Influencing strategic decisions, unlocking better outcomes through smarter delivery.

You'll manage high-performing teams, build trusted and collaborative relationships, identifing opportunities to broaden our portfolio of solutions, and play a key role in growing our capability footprint that will shape the future of programme delivery.

Your expertise won't just impact single projects. You'll influence the development of future leaders, and help define how we deliver value across multiple sectors.

You'll provide strategic oversight across multiple projects, ensuring successful delivery while supporting clients through complex challenges.

As a trusted advisor, you'll work closely with programme teams, project leaders and client stakeholders to shape delivery approaches, optimising processes, tools, resources and drive continuous improvement.

You'll also play a pivotal role in developing our capability and solutions, mentoring colleagues and peers, creating an environment where people can thrive and achieve.

Whether you're leading programme strategy, facilitating critical workshops, supporting major bids or developing future talent, you'll be at the centre of meaningful, business-critical decisions.

What's In It For You

• The opportunity to manage and influence pioneering high profile Infrastructure and Utility projects and programmes.
• A genuine leadership platform where your ideas will shape strategy, capability growth and deliver lean improvement and business excellence.
• The chance to grow and expand your professional network.
• Be part of a highly collaborative culture that values innovation, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Career progression opportunities, where your impact can be felt at every level.
• Have the flexibility and trust that empowers you to manage your work in a way that works for you.
• Gain the opportunity to mentor, develop and inspire the next generation of improvement, lean and business management professionals.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine strategic leadership, client influence, people development and business growth, this is it. We would be delighted to hear from established business improvement leaders, who have a real blend of the following skills, experience and attributes:

• Significant experience spearheading business process improvement and lean initiatives to programme management and complex delivery functions.
• A sound and demonstrable knowledge of 5s and Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
• A track record of successfully managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering outcomes across large-scale programmes.
• Established client and business-facing track record, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience of leading both operational and strategic portfolio growth.
• Experience managing risks, governance and delivery performance within complex environments.
• A passion for developing people, mentoring teams and building high-performing cultures.
• Proven capability in resource planning, workforce management and team management.

If you're excited by the opportunity to influence major programmes, grow a thriving capability, develop future talent and help shape the future of production management, we'd love to hear from you.

We Offer

• Compensation that reflects your skills and experience.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Enhanced pension contributions of up to 10%.
• Private medical cover and Digital GP access.
• Family planning and fertility support services.
• Enhanced parental leave and family support programmes.
• Employee Networks: We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds.
• Life assurance at four times your salary.
• Income protection for long-term financial security.
• Access to wellbeing support, including Calm and Daily Burn.
• Professional memberships funded and ongoing development opportunities.
• Paid volunteering time, matched charity funding, and community engagement programmes.

Manchester Greater Manchester United Kingdom Birmingham West Midlands United Kingdom Bristol Bristol City United Kingdom Leeds West Yorkshire United Kingdom London Greater London United Kingdom Project Management Cities & Places

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we've gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You'll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you'll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals - all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs .

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we're more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here .

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As a disability confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.