Practice Director II – Data, AI

Leading the edge of transformation. Join our organisation, where we have a huge variety of projects on-the-go at any one time. So when you start this role with us, it could take your career wherever your interests lie. You will find everyone here is willing to pitch in and help because we all want you to succeed, and we are ready to help you grow.

When it comes to living your life, we want you to get the most out of it. So talk to us about all our flexible and remote working policies that can support your personal priorities. Also, ask us about some of our recent pledges for Women’s Equality, as well as being a ‘Disability Confident’ and ‘Inclusive Employer.’

Role Purpose

Our clients are awash with data and technology products. Their challenge is how to integrate and utilise technology products to unlock the value from that data. This is where you come in.

Our Data, AI & Technology Solutions Practice helps clients to design, build, bring into service and operate user-centric solutions that ingest, maintain and translate high quality data. It works alongside an adjacent Consulting Practice that helps clients transform their enterprise architecture and business processes to embed data-driven insight into their operations.

The Practice Director is responsible for people and capability growth, operational and delivery excellence, client engagement and team leadership. This role is pivotal in shaping and growing the Practice, by driving a strong approach to business development that stretches our services and capabilities for the benefit of our clients and our shareholders. It is an outward facing role.

The successful candidate should have experience in relevant market domains: aerospace, defence, security, energy, highways, rail, airports and/or water. They will also bring their proven leadership experience appropriate to the scale of our Solutions Practice which is currently ~200 staff. And they will be confident winning and delivering work in a commercial consultancy context.

Your role

• Operational Leadership
  • Lead a technically excellent and agile practice, responsive to evolving business needs.
  • Provide strategic leadership to a team currently ~200 staff across multiple office locations.
  • Collaborate with the Market Directors to foster cross-market and cross-divisional alignment and resource planning.
  • Ensure business activities align with the Business Management System (BMS) and maintain acceptable risk levels.
  • Lead the capability planning aligned to the practice, driving value through resource strategies including use of our Global Technology Centre in India and contingent workforce.
  • Work collaboratively across the wider business to establish effective shared horizontal functions for capability investment, technical assurance, training and early careers, etc.
• Practice and Capability Development
  • Drive technical best practices, knowledge sharing and process standardisation.
  • Ensure the practice's skills and capacity align with target market needs through targeted recruitment and staff development, and engaging external alliance partners or contingent workers.
  • Maximise delivery of work through the Global Technology Centre in India.
• People and Culture
  • Line manager capability team leaders and others; and support their personal development.
  • Motivate and develop managers and team members, ensuring they are challenged, stretched, and supported with clear succession plans.
  • Promote a collaborative and inclusive culture across the practice and with the wider business.
• Operational and Financial Management
  • Manage practice group performance to meet or exceed productivity (utilisation) targets and maintain low break-even rates.
  • Liaise with Market Directors to forecast resource demand and align with business resource managers.
  • Ensure efficient delivery of business-as-usual (BAU) bids and provide technical experts for strategic pursuits.
• Innovation and Excellence
  • Create and deliver innovative service offerings for clients through our market teams, support the pursuit of additional, repeat, and follow-on work from clients.
  • Lead or contribute to cross-practice initiatives in collaboration with the wider business.

About You

• Dynamic and inspirational leader with a proven ability to align, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
• Calm under pressure, self-driven, and adaptable, with strong interpersonal, organisational, and communication skills.
• Supportive mentor committed to talent growth and continuous improvement.
• Customer-centric with a collaborative, culturally aware approach and ability to build strong relationships.
• Passionate about shaping a practice with curiosity, kindness, and purpose.
• Excellent interpersonal, organisational, and communication skills, both verbal and written.

Experience and Background

• Degree-level or equivalent professional qualification in a discipline relevant to digital, data, technology and AI.
• Experience working in a commercial consultancy context to win and deliver high quality impactful work that delights clients while meeting the needs of shareholders too.
• Experience in relevant client domain(s): aerospace, defence, security, energy, highways, rail, airports and/or water.
• Proven experience in a related leadership role with a reputation for technical excellence and high-quality delivery in relevant disciplines.
• Commercially and business astute with a track record of identifying value creation opportunities.
• Supportive mentor with a passion for staff development and team engagement.
• Proven track record in driving health and safety culture and performance.
• Effective network across clients, business partners, and stakeholders.
• High mobility and willingness to travel as required.

Performance Metrics

• Financial - Practice annual revenue - Practice group breakeven reduction - Practice utilisation at or better than budget - GTC Revenue against budget.
• Growth - Number of successful new markets or services created from the practice - Headcount growth in line with budget & LRP.
• Client - Revenue and margin targets for Practice area technical sales - Client satisfaction for projects supported by practice (Net Promoter score ≥ 40).
• People - Employee engagement score ≥ 80% - Leadership succession plans in place - Diversity and inclusion targets met - Retention rate - Staff development plans & performance targets in place.
• Operational - Project delivery on time and budget (≥ 90%) - Health & Safety incident rate and near miss reporting at or above company targets - Digital transformation milestones achieved - Increase the commercial acumen of project managers within the practice as measures through systems such as COMEA.
• Innovation & Excellence - Value creation through technical excellence strategy.

Reward & 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.

About 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.

Additional information

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. 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.