Associate Director Security Consultancy in London

Are you a Security expert looking for an exciting new challenge? Buro Happold is looking for an Associate Director Security Consultant with experience in the Built Environment, looking for an opportunity to pursue industry leading designs within a vibrant multi-disciplinary practice. You’ll be delivering security design consultancy as part of single and multi‑disciplinary teams on a range of projects in the UK and internationally, encompassing airports, sports stadia, entertainment and performance venues, world‑class higher education facilities, transport hubs, museums, advanced hi‑tech facilities and more. You will be client‑facing and on a day‑to‑day basis cover security design consultancy, design development, project management, operational advice, business development, and even research and development.

Purpose of the Role

This role exists to deliver strong operational performance within the security management consulting team, working collaboratively with the Discipline Leader and Associate Directors to establish, grow, and strengthen the security management consulting capability and build an effective, supported team.

Key Responsibilities

• Commercial Management: Oversee the selection, development, planning, and costing of bids, ensuring effective coordination with the Discipline Leader. Facilitate clear communication and collaboration with Project Directors and Project Partners to support successful bid submissions. Manage contractual matters with clients and internal teams, including the contract governance team.
• Project Management: Act as Project Director for appropriate team projects, fostering positive and sustained client relationships. Provide direction across multiple projects, ensuring thoughtful solutions and strong commercial outcomes. Contribute to Professional Development Conversations and conduct Project Director reviews where appropriate. Lead project finance and delivery oversight as Project Director.
• Business Development: Work with Directors and Associate Directors to define marketing priorities and establish effective plans. Support work winning by identifying and converting opportunities aligned with the group’s strategy. Maintain focus on expanding the client base and securing high quality projects. Review financial and technical submissions and take part in interviews. Build and maintain key client relationships, enabling opportunities for repeat work.
• People Management: Provide supportive day‑to‑day people management for the London team. Lead the appraisal process for direct reports across the London and Manchester offices.
• Technical Leadership: Represent the Security group by building and nurturing relationships with industry partners, professional bodies, and academic networks. Provide technical leadership in at least one area of security consultancy. Develop forward‑thinking solutions and encourage team involvement in their development. Create an environment that supports learning and knowledge sharing through expert communities. Participate in and ensure delivery of high‑level technical and quality reviews of team outputs. Maintain a balanced skills profile within the group in line with strategic priorities. Ensure design rigour is applied across all projects, including effective design QA processes.

Experience & Qualifications

• A university degree in security, risk management, or a related discipline.
• Experience as a senior technical and commercial leader with a strong track record in security consultancy.
• Specialist expertise in an area of security management consultancy (e.g., personnel security, physical security, construction security).
• Experience supporting, guiding, and developing teams.
• Professional registration or working towards Chartered Security Professional accreditation.
• International project experience.
• Experience working in a global matrix organisation.
• Ability to travel when required.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds, with openness to learning and adapting.

Style & Behaviours

• Demonstrated ability to deliver complex projects successfully.
• Able to build and sustain positive relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Supportive, hands‑on leader who encourages and motivates teams.
• Able to empower others and foster an inclusive team environment.
• Effective communicator, able to manage diverse relationships and navigate challenging situations constructively.
• Brings discretion, independence, integrity, and enthusiasm.
• Focused on achieving results with a committed and collaborative approach.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities, with a focus on clear, practical solutions.
• Consistently maintains high standards in project delivery, aligned with client and company expectations.
• Adaptable within a fast‑moving and evolving environment.
• Detail oriented, organised, analytical, and thoughtful.

What Will Success Look Like?

• Sustain Buro Happold’s security design and strategy consulting services and secure billable work within the first 3 months.
• Maintain planned team utilisation as set out in the annual budget.
• Secure billable work exceeding £300k within the first 12 months.

What We Offer You

• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Attractive salary.
• Discretionary bonus.
• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements.
• Generous company pension scheme, life assurance and income protection.
• Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.
• Enhanced parenthood leave policies.
• 3pm finish on the last Friday of the month.
• A strong commitment to continuous development.
• Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions.
• Commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities.
• Opportunity to support your local community and those in society that are most in need, wherever they are located in the world through our Share Our Skills programme.
• A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.
• An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from exceptional.

Additional Information

We proudly support hybrid working; however, candidates will be expected to travel to our Bath office 3 days a week. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers and value an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are under‑represented in the industry. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions. Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you.