Associate Director – Project Management (Northwest)
SNC-Lavalin
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Full-Time
Competitive
HybridDirector
A senior technical advisory role shaping a £300m+ education portfolio
AtkinsRéalis is a key partner on the Department for Education’s Technical Advisory Services 2025 framework, supporting delivery of a national programme exceeding 100 school projects.
In the North West, our portfolio of 12 live school replacement projects (growing to 15–18) requires a senior leader to provide technical direction, commercial oversight, and client assurance.
We are seeking an Associate Director to act as a technical advisor across the regional portfolio, ensuring alignment with national delivery standards and driving consistently high performance. This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in delivering a nationally important education programme while operating at an Associate Director level with influence across a regional landscape. It involves working within a rapidly expanding £300m+ portfolio and collaborating with a high-performing national framework team. The position also provides a clear progression pathway toward Director-level leadership, making it both impactful and career-advancing.
Reporting to the Head of Project Management – North West, and working closely with the DfE Client Director, you will operate as a critical link between regional delivery and the national framework team.
This is a highly client-facing role, with regular engagement with the DfE Head of Operations and Project Directors, and influence across a £250–£300m portfolio.
Framework Integration
Commercial & Financial Management
Client Leadership
We are seeking a credible senior leader with strong technical and commercial acumen.
Essential:
Desirable:
Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.
We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.
Security clearance
This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.
We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.
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At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.