Principal Consultant / Associate Director - Smart Buildings (Building Intelligence)- London / B[...] in Manchester

Principal Consultant / Associate Director - Smart Buildings (Building Intelligence)- London / B[...] in Manchester

Manchester Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead smart building projects and guide clients through complex decisions.
  • Company: Join Turner & Townsend, a leader in Building Intelligence with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and excellence.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of smart buildings and make a real impact on communities.
  • Qualifications: Experience in smart buildings or complex estates, with strong advisory skills.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

Principal Consultant / Associate Director - Smart Buildings (Building Intelligence) – London / Birmingham / Bristol / Manchester / Leeds

Position type : Full-time

Location : London, Birmingham or Manchester, with flexibility for candidates based in other Turner & Townsend UK offices including Bristol and Leeds.

Working pattern : Hybrid. Expect two to three days a week in a Turner & Townsend office, plus client‑office or site attendance where required. UK travel may be required.

Appointment level : We will appoint at Principal Consultant or Associate Director level, based on your experience, senior client influence, commercial contribution and capability‑building impact.

Role overview : Lead the decisions that shape smarter buildings.

Turner & Townsend's Building Intelligence team helps clients turn smart‑building ambition into clear requirements, informed decisions and operational value.

We work as the client's representative, providing independent, solution‑agnostic advice and a client assurance role throughout the project life cycle.

We are looking for a senior adviser to lead complex Building Intelligence commissions or major workstreams.

You will use technical judgement in building systems, data and integration to guide senior stakeholders through important decisions, while staying connected to delivery so that the value intended at strategy stage is not lost in implementation or operation.

Our work spans commercial occupier, education and healthcare environments, covering early stages of the RIBA Plan of Work (stages 1–4) where early strategy, use cases and requirements determine the direction of a project.

What you will do

  • Lead client‑facing strategy, use‑case, requirements, standards, roadmap, investment and assurance work appropriate to the commission.
  • Advise senior client stakeholders on operational needs, data, integration, interoperability and smart‑building outcomes.
  • Turn strategic ambition into clear, deliverable client requirements, decision papers, standards and assurance recommendations.
  • Provide credible challenge to proposed solutions, identifying risks, dependencies and trade‑offs before they affect client outcomes.
  • Lead workshops, stakeholder engagement and high‑quality client outputs.
  • Build trusted relationships with clients, designers, contractors, suppliers and Turner & Townsend colleagues.
  • Grow capability through mentoring, workstream supervision, knowledge sharing and practical methods or guidance.
  • Contribute to client relationships, extensions, bids and proposition development as part of a collaborative team effort.

You will not be accountable for detailed system design, installation design or platform configuration.

Your technical authority will lie in helping clients make the right decisions, establish robust requirements and maintain focus on intended outcomes through delivery.

  • How the role grows
  • Lead complex commissions or major workstreams, own quality and senior client confidence, and materially contribute to winning work.
  • Lead selected bids and extensions, help manage commission performance, mentor colleagues and raise delivery standards.
  • Lead major client relationships, grow the Building Intelligence proposition and pipeline, and influence opportunities beyond individual commissions.
  • Build capability and leaders, strengthen cross‑business collaboration, have strong relationships across the industry and bring an entrepreneurial approach to business generation.
  • What we are looking for
  • Practical smart‑building or complex‑estate project experience, gained in one or more of: client‑side estates or capital‑project teams; main or MEP contractors; smart‑building systems integration; BMS or building‑controls specialists; digital engineering, BIM or information‑management teams; complex‑estate operations; healthcare infrastructure programmes; or specialist consultancies.
  • Proven ability to lead client‑facing advisory work and to guide senior stakeholders through complex decisions.
  • Strong technical judgement across smart‑building principles, building systems, BMS and operational data, integration and interoperability.
  • Demonstrable understanding of smart‑building architecture.
  • Ability to translate complex needs into clear strategies, requirements, standards, roadmaps and decision support.
  • Commercial awareness, strong delivery leadership and the confidence to build trusted relationships.
  • Genuine curiosity about emerging technology, coupled with judgement about where it creates real client value or risk.
  • Commitment to developing others and creating an inclusive, high‑performing team environment.
  • Experience leading strategy, requirements, business‑case, assurance or operational‑readiness work across complex estates or programmes.
  • Experience that connects requirements and strategy through procurement, construction, commissioning, handover and operation is particularly valuable.

We are looking for the judgement to challenge technology vendors and project teams on system interoperability, data ownership and access, OT/IT cyber boundaries, commissioning evidence, operational handover and whether intended use cases work after occupation.

  • Current security clearance, or eligibility to obtain it where required by a commission.
  • Evidence of growing client relationships, winning work, developing propositions or leading cross‑disciplinary teams.

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

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Principal Consultant / Associate Director - Smart Buildings (Building Intelligence)- London / B[...] in Manchester employer: Turner-

Turner is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation in the Defence sector. With a strong emphasis on employee growth and development, we provide opportunities for meaningful contributions to digital transformation projects while supporting hybrid working arrangements. Our commitment to a supportive culture ensures that every team member can thrive and make a real impact on defence organizations.

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Contact Details:

Turner- Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Consultant / Associate Director - Smart Buildings (Building Intelligence)- London / B[...] in Manchester

Networking in the Right Circles

Dive into communities focused on building systems and supply engineering. Join LinkedIn groups, attend industry-specific trade shows, and don’t shy away from local meetups. These are golden opportunities to connect with industry professionals who could help you land that full-time role at places like Turner-.

Showcase Your Projects

If you've worked on any projects—big or small—related to building systems, make sure to showcase them! Creating a portfolio or a detailed case study on your approach can do wonders. It’s all about showing prospective employers, like Turner-, that you’ve got hands-on experience and a solid understanding of the field.

Leverage University Resources

Are you still connected with your university? Tap into their career services! Many universities have relationships with firms in the building systems sector and can provide leads on exclusive job openings. This could be your ticket to landing the full-time job you want.

Get Involved in Professional Bodies

Consider joining professional organisations related to building systems and supply engineering. These often have job boards, career development events, and networking opportunities. Engaging with these can significantly increase your visibility to firms like Turner- and may help you secure that full-time position sooner!

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Consultant / Associate Director - Smart Buildings (Building Intelligence)- London / B[...] in Manchester

Smart Building Expertise
Client-Facing Advisory Skills
Technical Judgement
Building Systems Knowledge
Data Integration
Interoperability Understanding
Strategic Planning

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Engineering Skills:In the building systems supply engineering field, make sure to highlight your technical skills in your CV. Include any relevant software certifications or engineering tools you’re proficient with. Demonstrating your ability to use industry-specific technologies can really set you apart!

Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love to see how you've made an impact in your previous roles. When detailing your work experience, try to include quantifiable achievements—like how you improved a system’s efficiency by a percentage or managed a project that saved your last company X amount. This shows you're results-driven and could help us at Turner-.

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just reuse the same old cover letter! Personalise it for the Principal Consultant / Associate Director - Smart Buildings (Building Intelligence)- London / B[...] role at Turner-. Talk about your passion for building systems and why this position excites you. We want to see your personality shine through and how you envision contributing to our team.

Include Relevant Projects:If you’ve worked on specific projects related to building systems supply engineering, don’t forget to mention them! Include any reports or case studies that showcase your problem-solving abilities and project management skills. This portfolio of work can really illustrate your expertise to us.

How to prepare for a job interview at Turner-

Know Your Technical Stuff

For a role in building systems supply engineering, make sure you're clued up about the latest technologies and tools in the field. Brush up on your knowledge of HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical layouts, and any relevant software used in modelling or design.

Showcase Real Projects

Since this is a full-time position, the interviewers will be keen to see your relevant experience. Bring along a portfolio that highlights the projects you've worked on, focusing on your role and the impact you had. Be ready to discuss the challenges faced and how you overcame them.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect some scenario-based questions during your interview. They may ask how you would approach a specific design challenge or troubleshoot an existing system. Think about examples from your past work where you successfully tackled problems, and be ready to articulate your thought process.

Understand the Industry Landscape

It's crucial to have a good grasp of the current trends affecting building systems, like sustainable engineering practices or smart technology integration. Familiarise yourself with recent advancements and be prepared to discuss how they might influence your work at Turner-.