Technical Director in Bristol

Charcoalblue is seeking an experienced Technical Director across Digital, Systems Engineering and Operations to help shape how our business works for now and the future. Reporting to the COO, you’ll own the technical operating model across all digital platforms, systems and processes including ERP, knowledge management, BIM, IT, automation and AI, and partner closely with the Executive team to design platforms that enable outstanding work worldwide. This is an opportunity for an exceptional technical leader to truly work their magic alongside an agile, innovative team. You will be developing the shape of the engine, not just running it – building systems and scaling them across a fast‑growing, globally respected consultancy. If you’re a strategic, commercially minded technical leader who thrives on clarity, impact and long‑term thinking, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Do

• Strategic Technical Direction: Drive core best practices by establishing and maintaining global standards for technical delivery, systems interoperability, and operational best practices across the UK, US, and Australia. Support a small, highly capable internal team responsible for company-wide standards, tooling, automation, and continuous improvement—enabling business units to deliver high quality work faster and with more visibility.
• Continuous Improvement (CI): Implement a company-wide CI framework (Lean/Agile) to identify manual bottlenecks and increase automation and standardisation. Develop clear metrics for productivity and systems adoption, ensuring improvements translate into measurable commercial and delivery outcomes.
• AI & Digital Transformation: Identify and deploy AI-enabled tools and workflows that reduce manual effort in project delivery, automate repeatable documentation tasks, improve forecasting accuracy, and protect margins. Ensure AI deployment is ethical, secure, transparent and aligned with client confidentiality and data governance expectations.
• Strategic Partnership: Partner with the COO and senior colleagues to share evidence-based insights on technical risks, operational opportunities, and future technology needs.

Systems & Platform Management

• System Design and Integration: Define the architecture of a system and connect various sub-systems to ensure they function as a unified whole. Define, test, and maintain technical requirements from initial concept to final deployment.
• ERP Architecture: Accountable for the Global ERP (‘Single Source of Truth’), ensuring data integrity and real-time executive reporting. Ensure the ERP and systems stack provides real-time, reliable insights supporting executive understanding and Project Leader confidence.
• BIM: Hold a functional line for Global BIM standards, ensuring technical capability and optimised efficiency and effectiveness.
• Infrastructure & Security: Oversee the IT team to ensure a zero-trust, cloud-first infrastructure that is invisible, secure, and resilient.
• Data Governance: Ensure high standards of data hygiene, handling, and security across all platforms, enabling accurate analytics and insights. Define authoritative data sources, ownership and governance across the company.

Operational Resilience & Growth

• Business and Project Standards: Oversee the maintenance of industry standards including ISO9001 and Cybersecurity Essentials, ensuring global compliance.
• The Integration Playbook: Oversee the design and execution of the "Hard Ops" technical playbook to meet current and future needs and support seamless growth.
• Business Continuity: Oversee business continuity requirements and operational resilience, safeguarding institutional memory during periods of change.
• Innovation Steering: Contribute to the group-wide Innovation Steering Committee and R&D initiatives.

What You Bring

• Senior leadership experience owning digital platforms, systems, or technical operations within a professional services environment (architecture, engineering, design consultancy, or similar).
• Experience operating as a senior advisor, translating technical complexity into strategic and commercial insights for board-level decision making.
• Working knowledge of ERP implementation and optimisation (e.g., Deltek Vantagepoint) and its role in professional services automation is desirable.
• Experience within the Microsoft365 ecosystem and buildings agentic AI workflows.

Skills

• Systems Engineering: Ability to apply interdisciplinary engineering principles to design, integrate, and manage complex, large-scale systems over their entire lifecycle.
• Data Literate: Ability to translate complex data into insights that drive commercial value, through effective use of BI tools and API integrations.
• Influencer: Ability to build trust, encourage adoption, and guide teams through evolving company and project demands.
• Visionary: A deep understanding of how AI and automation are redefining the professional services landscape.
• Tenacity & Detail: Ability to plan and proactively adapt to future needs while delivering and maintaining complex global systems.

What’s in it for you?

• This is a permanent, full‑time role with flexibility built in. You’ll be UK-based, working a 40‑hour week with flexible hours between 8am–8pm, Monday to Friday, and enjoy a hybrid setup with up to 2 days per week working from home, balanced with studio collaboration, site visits, and project meetings.
• Unlimited “Take What You Need” leave.
• Studio closure over Christmas.
• Annual company bonus scheme.
• Pension auto‑enrolment.
• Monthly live event tickets allowance to stay inspired by the industry we design for.
• Home working contribution towards internet and utilities.
• Private Health Insurance after two years.
• Laptop and peripherals provided.

As you grow with Charcoalblue, so do your benefits – we’re in it for the long term.

Start Date: July 2026

Salary: The salary range for this role is £90,000–£110,000 per annum, based on a 40‑hour week. Final offers are made on a case‑by‑case basis, taking into account experience, skills, and role‑related expertise.

Base salary is just one part of the picture. At Charcoalblue, you’ll also benefit from a competitive total rewards package, designed to support you professionally, financially, and personally as you grow with us.

Note that the role is available to candidates with the right to work in the UK and do not require visa sponsorship.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Overview: Charcoalblue is committed to creating an inclusive, accessible and respectful workplace where everyone can thrive. Our recruitment is open to all, and we encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds to reflect the communities and clients we serve globally. We believe that everyone – employees, partners, clients and collaborators – is entitled to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect, and we are committed to providing services and workplaces that are accessible and inclusive across all regions. We prioritise accessibility throughout the recruitment process. If you require this application in an alternative format or need reasonable adjustments, please contact Jake Katz at jake.katz@charcoalblue.com or +44 207 928 0000.