Associate Director Forensic Planning in Bristol

Associate Director Forensic Planning job vacancy in the construction sector to join a large multidisciplinary construction consultancy based in their Bristol office. The client can offer the opportunity to work on domestic and international projects and disputes, as well as offering industry leading training & support which will enhance and develop your delay analysis skills.

This is an excellent opportunity for a proven Associate Director or premium Senior Consultant or Managing Consultant with Delay Analysis and Forensic Planning experience to further develop their career as a manager, work winner and progress towards becoming a delay expert themselves. The hiring company is one of the largest and most reputable consultancies in the UK. They have a large claims and disputes division within their business which comprises of circa 75 members of staff operating from 6 offices around the UK.

One of the key selling points to this role is the variety of projects and disputes that you will be exposed to. The client’s brand and reputation help to consistently secure work on some of the largest and high-profile projects and disputes in the UK and Internationally. The suitable candidate would be an experienced Delay Senior Consultant or already working as an Associate Director with delay and forensic planning specialism.

You will have responsibility for managing a team of Delay Analysts on a number of complex and concurrent projects and will be ready to progress your career by growing your team, work winning and delivering and progress towards delay expert status.

Working as Associate Director of Forensic Planning in the Bristol office, you will be acting in a “number 2” capacity reporting to a recognised delay expert and will have the responsibility to:

• Manage a team of delay analysts working on several cases.
• Contribute sections to expert report writing.
• Work towards writing your own expert reports.
• Provide specialist delay and forensic advice to external clients.
• Support provision of specialist expert advice on all alternative dispute resolution subject areas.
• Act as an appointed Expert on selected commissions when requested to do so.
• Be able to use previous experience of testifying and related preparatory work to grow your gravitas and reputation to secure further opportunities to testify.
• Deliver expert delay and forensic planning services in line with client briefs.
• Able to network and win work and to develop relationships with both construction industry solicitors and influential contacts within construction building and civil engineering contractors.
• Critically analyse project and major programme performance, identifying root cause of those elements in distress.
• Lead development of a contract and commercial strategy to successfully recover performance of distressed project or major programmes in line with Client outcomes.
• Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Client claims and/or disputes, providing strategic advice on (i) proceeding; and or (ii) amending the basis of claim.
• Keeping up with the developments within own technical area of expertise.
• Provide effective stakeholder management with the Client and at all levels of the supply-chain, chairing meetings with the Client and other advisors as necessary.
• Happy to coach and train your delay analysis team and encourage their professional progression.
• Acting as an ambassador championing the Contract Services delivered by the consultancy in the industry.

Around 15 years of experience within delay, planning and related construction and engineering industry experience. Will have had significant recent exposure to delay related work at both a hands on and managerial level, having recently worked or currently working in a Delay Analyst and Senior Delay Consultant role or equivalent. Significant exposure of managing programmes, using planning software and delay analysis techniques. Strong working knowledge of using common planning software such as Primavera and Asta PowerProject, TILOS, CEMAR, Excel.

Have managed a team of delay analysts working on a number of concurrent cases. Experience of contributing sections to expert report writing. Have worked towards or are ready to work towards writing your own expert reports. Had experience of providing specialist delay and forensic advice to external clients. Ideally have had experience of being appointed as an Expert. Have had extensive experience of delivering expert delay and forensic planning services to satisfied clients. Experience in developing and pursuing claims up or down the supply-chain. Have proven work winning ability and experience. Have built up a profile with both construction industry solicitors and influential contacts within construction building and civil engineering contractors. Experienced in coaching and training a delay analysis team and encouraging their professional progression.

Degree level education in a construction related field or similar equivalent qualification is desired. MCIArb or FCIArb are seen as advantageous. Relevant MSc in engineering and/or Construction Law and Disputes LLM is desirable.

The hiring company is one of the largest and most reputable consultancies with multiple offices throughout the UK. They provide a variety of advisory services to their clients in relation to claims and contractual issues, formal disputes such as adjudications and expert witness services. They are growing fast and are willing to invest and support candidates with training and professional progression. They can offer excellent career prospects for candidates wanting to dedicate their career to claims and disputes related work. You will receive regular performance and pay reviews and be supported to achieve relevant professional memberships and higher qualifications, such as an MSc in Construction Law.

Competitive salary up to £111k (DOE), 33 days holiday inclusive of 8 Bank holidays, Pension scheme with the employer matching contributions up to 5%.