Practice Lead - Water & Flooding in Manchester

As the Practice Lead for Water & Flooding in the Advisory business, you will lead the development, growth, and day‑to‑day operation of a practice of capability, instilling a culture of high performance. You will ensure the optimum level of capacity and capability is in place to deliver both existing projects and anticipated pipeline, and manage the professional development and people management of all practice resources. You will work collaboratively with peers and client delivery teams to deliver exceptional client solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Embed best practice people management, engagement, and development; develop robust succession plans and clear career development paths.
• Set robust objectives, provide regular feedback, and manage performance.
• Act as a coach, mentor, and role‑model to staff across the organisation, creating a sense of community within the practice.
• Build an environment where all staff can thrive, fostering trust and collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Resolve delivery challenges by supporting Delivery Directors and Heads of Discipline with scope creep, resourcing gaps or performance issues.
• Account for the economical utilisation of practice resources, ensuring optimum skill and capability are available on time for projects and bids.
• Drive change programmes to ensure optimum efficiency and utilisation.
• Liaise with Operations colleagues to clarify forward resource requirements, supply and demand.
• Embed robust capability management, ensuring optimal skill and capability within the resource pool.
• Work with Heads of Profession / Chief Engineers to create career pathways, capability matrices and certification targets; lead recruitment of resources into the practice team.
• Liaise with Business Director and Client Delivery Directors to understand resource requirements and shape project and resourcing plans.
• Identify and engage key stakeholders to ensure robust resource management and respond to resource requirements from projects and bids, attracting new talent into the organisation.
• Develop clear plans to address skill shortages or capability gaps, ensuring a pipeline of available talent and long‑term workforce planning.
• Work with Business Development colleagues to develop pipeline and associated resource requirements, and provide input to Strategy and Business Development on market trends.
• Actively contribute to bidding activity, including development of win strategy and delivery of bid content.

Qualifications

• Extensive people management experience, evidencing the development of engaged and motivated teams.
• Proven experience leading diverse teams.
• Strong technical knowledge in the relevant practice area.
• Strong sector knowledge, including relevant market opportunity.
• Consultancy background.
• Ability to develop clear client propositions.
• Ability to plan and prioritise work to meet commitments aligned with organisational goals.
• Adaptable approach and demeanor to match shifting demands of different situations.
• Exemplifies flexibility and resourcefulness, responding deftly to a variety of challenges.
• Ability to take smart, independent action in urgent and non‑routine situations, escalating when appropriate.
• Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Applies knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organisation's goals.
• Ability to anticipate and balance the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Degree qualified or equivalent experience, coupled with professional qualifications.

Benefits

• Generous pension scheme with company contributions.
• Minimum 24 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Potential bonus up to 10% of base salary.
• Flexible benefits scheme allows you to tailor benefits such as additional annual leave, cycle‑to‑work, charity giving and gym membership.
• Access to a portal offering discounts from leading retailers.
• Well‑being support including health cash plan, GP access, and wellbeing ambassadors.
• Community involvement days and opportunities to support fundraising initiatives.
• Access to employee networks and affinity groups.

About Amey Consulting

Amey are a leading provider of full life‑cycle engineering, operations and decarbonisation solutions for transport infrastructure and complex facilities. The Advisory Consulting team is dynamic and forward‑thinking, specialising in providing comprehensive solutions that combine cutting‑edge technology with innovative strategies to optimise energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprints.