Associate Director – Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation (Service Lead)

Why Arup?

This is an exciting time to join Arup as we invest in our rapidly growing national Stakeholder Engagement, Consultation and Communications team. With growing demand across energy and water sectors, we’re looking for someone with experience leading complex consultation and engagement programmes during the consenting stage for major infrastructure projects, including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, and would welcome an opportunity to help continue to development and growth of the team across the UK.

We work closely with clients to understand the communications and engagement challenges and provide creative, robust solutions to support the delivery of complex projects across the built environment. ​Most of our work revolves around the consenting or construction phase of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Our team provides engagement, consultation and communications for a range of high-profile projects and work side by side with specialists from a wide range of backgrounds, including infrastructure planning, environmental, transport planning and civil engineering. 

The Opportunity

As an Associate Director, you will be the Service Lead in engagement and consultation consultancy with a portfolio of national infrastructure and major project clients. Already and established leader in this space, you will be responsible for developing this national service offering for Arup, liaising with other key leaders across the firm in sectors such as energy, water and transport. You will be a trusted advisor and hold key client relationships, supporting a range of tender opportunities. 

Engagement and consultation

·       Providing strategic leadership to clients on engagement and consultation approaches across different planning regimes, including DCOs.

·       Advising and leading on development of Engagement Strategies and delivery plans for major infrastructure projects, including DCOs.

·       Advising and supporting on delivery of consultation, reporting and communications materials.

Business development

·       Growing the engagement and consultation service nationally.

·       Identifying new business opportunities.

·       Leading tender and commercial responses.

Project and team management

·       Managing key Frameworks, a range of projects, project teams and budgets.

·       Support junior colleagues to grow and develop including line management.

·       Management of suppliers/contractors/subcontractors.

Is this role right for you?

• You have extensive experience of leading engagement and consultation activities on DCO projects during the consenting process.
• You are an established and recognised leader in the industry and in the field of stakeholder engagement, consultation and communications with a strong track record in leadership roles.
• You have experience in growing a business area and building strong client relationships
• You have a strong interest in and good grasp of current affairs – the political environment and issues affecting the built environment, including major infrastructure.
• You have good knowledge and keen interest in digital communications and engagement tools.
• You have a willingness to work flexibly and travel across the UK to meet clients and work on projects.
• You hold a Degree or a Masters in a relevant subject such as; communications, public relations, media or similar. Or can demonstrate an equivalent number of years of successful and relevant experience.
• You may be Chartered in a relevant professional entity e.g. CIPR, MRTPI.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at https://www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup/

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Sarah Graham at sarah.Graham@arup.com,to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/

Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

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 the list.

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