Associate / Associate Director (Building Services)

RPS is currently seeking an Associate / Associate Director. This role will cover the Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London office locations. The team is UK based and is spread across these locations.

About The Design Business: RPS Design Division delivers projects across multiple, niche sectors from residential housing developments, logistics, retail, aviation, healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, data centres, energy and more as we strive to achieve the right balance between form and function when faced with competing priorities around sustainability, materiality, cost and constructability. Digitalisation is at the core of our delivery model allowing our clients and their stakeholders to really experience our designs right from project concept stage and through drawing on expertise spanning decades, industries and disciplines, we assist clients to harmonise design drivers through inspired engineering, architecture and development services.

What you’ll be doing: This is an exciting role for an individual looking to progress their career as an Associate / Associate Director within our industry leading team where we have an excellent reputation, offering a wealth of expertise in all sectors. You will work alongside the team leaders and Business Support, to optimise the team resourcing and the commercial management of the projects.

• Manage the engineering resource and the commercial management of the projects across the Building Services Group this includes employees across the mechanical, electrical, utilities, BIM, energy and BREEAM teams.
• Support growth and maximise the profitability of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) cost centre, in accordance with the strategic plans and budgets by managing the operational delivery and bidding of all MEP projects and resources.
• Manage, plan, review and deliver multi disciplined projects ensuring client requirements and deadlines are met.
• Lead the financial performance of the different offices within the Building Services cost centre and any other strategic initiatives.
• Overall responsibility and accountability for active, accurate financial management of projects to deliver budgeted performance and KPIs.
• Ensure all work carried out is subject to RPS Terms and Conditions and that all tenders submitted are approved.
• Manage appropriate resources to ensure the group and its projects deliver required profit margins.
• Provide technical leadership and support technological improvements to ensure the MEP group is ‘future proof’.
• Oversee and manage commercial terms and scope of service with Clients.
• Ensure all fee proposals issued are of a sufficient quality and on commercial terms which align with budgetary requirements.
• Actively oversee and manage delivery of projects including additional fees for variations and increases in scope.
• Manage invoices and debt recovery.
• Support the development of relationships with existing clients and key stakeholders.
• Lead proposals and/or bid processes which may involve collaborating with other parts of the business using RPS Bid Processes.
• Identify and support wider BD initiatives including attending relevant sector group meetings, providing market intelligence and input to strategy and business plans and preparing tenders.
• Support the Operations Director in the preparation of strategic business plans and supporting the wider business development initiatives.
• Manage the MEP group compliance of the MEP group with the businesses Integrated Management Systems.
• Manage changes needed to support the ongoing evolution of the IMS system and how it is implemented within the MEP group.
• Ensure all monthly financial information is analysed and updated accordingly.
• Ensuring staff are issued with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment relevant to their role.
• Assist the Operations Director with ad-hoc duties as and when required.

Who we’re looking for: To be successful in this role you will most likely have the following:

• Ideally from a consultancy background, however someone from a Contracting (building services installation contractor), may be suitable.
• Have a background in Building Services design (mechanical and electrical design).
• Ideally an Incorporated or a Chartered Engineer or an Engineering based degree.
• Ideally 10 years experience within the industry and experience of leading or supporting the operations of a team of staff with a range of different concurrent projects.
• Have a strong level of experience in the industry and wants to progress but wants an inward focused role, as opposed to external/ Client focussed business generating role.
• The role is ideal for an individual who has had experience in a demanding internal and external role but would like to focus on internal work and not have to do marketing and business development.

What’s in it for you? We’re an accredited training provider – from entry level to master’s degree level professional qualifications in leadership & management and executive coaching & mentoring, we support learning and development for everyone. A personal development plan and a transparent career pathway puts you in the driving seat of your career and you’ll be supported as far as you want to go. We encourage and value different ideas, perspectives, and styles of thinking. We need a mix of experiences and skills to develop the most innovative ideas. We respect one another and recognise the potential and contribution of everyone. You’ll be joining a diverse community and a company that puts its people first and prioritises their wellbeing. We understand the need to work flexibly, with agile offices and hybrid working offered as standard, we’re happy to talk about flexible working. This is a workplace that works for you. A career here is far from ordinary. Here you’re not a number, you’re part of the solution.

What happens next? If this opportunity suits your career journey, we’d love to hear from you. All applications will be considered, and we will try our best to respond to you within three working days. If you’d like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Parv Sandhu at RPS.

RPS, A Tetra Tech company: Representing an exciting new chapter in our business, on 24 January 2023 RPS became a Tetra Tech company. With over 28,000 employees in more than 550 offices in more than 120 countries on seven continents, Tetra Tech is a leading, global provider of consulting and engineering services. As a Tetra Tech company, RPS is proud to offer our people market-leading development and project opportunities, helping to solve some of the world’s most complex problems.

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Mindful that a truly inclusive organization must make appropriate use of talent on a global basis and without unnecessary barriers, we are committed to embedding diversity and inclusion principles in all People processes in order to be as diverse as the communities and clients we work with, thereby securing, developing, and retaining the best available talent for the company’s future.

Our approach to Diversity and inclusion: Our people live our purpose, deliver our promise, and demonstrate our behaviours every day. Our behaviours define who we are. Developed by our people, they underpin everything that we do. They create the memorable experiences we are known for and make RPS a great place to do great work. ‘Stronger Together’ is one of our five core behaviours and it is inherent in creating an inclusive workplace: ‘We are respectful, acknowledge diversity, and recognise the potential and contribution of everyone. We bring out the best in one another, always assuming best intent. People who learn and grow thrive in our business, sharing in our success.’

Recruitment Agencies: We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on this list. Please refer to the careers page on our website if you require any further information.