Are you a Security expert looking for an exciting new challenge? Buro Happold is looking for an Associate Director Security Consultant with experience in the Built Environment, looking for an opportunity to pursue industry leading designs within a vibrant multi‑disciplinary practice.
You’ll be delivering security design consultancy as part of single and multi‑disciplinary teams on a range of projects in the UK and internationally, encompassing airports, sports stadia, entertainment and performance venues, world‑class higher education facilities, transport hubs, museums, advanced hi‑tech facilities and more. You will be client‑facing and on a day‑to‑day basis cover security design consultancy, design development, project management, operational advice, business development, and even research and development.
What’s the purpose of the role?
This purpose of this role is to deliver operational performance in the security management consulting team. This role exists to deliver strong operational performance within the security management consulting team, working collaboratively with the Discipline Leader and Associate Directors to establish, grow, and strengthen the security management consulting capability and build an effective, supported team. This will be achieved through:
- A proactive and committed approach to work winning and commercial delivery, exploring new opportunities and approaches.
- Maintaining and advancing high standards of technical quality, continuously developing the team through innovation and inclusive thinking.
To achieve this, you will:
- Be recognised as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in physical and personnel security, and a trusted authority on security management.
- Support the Head of Security Consulting in establishing and expanding the security management consulting team and services for Buro Happold.
- Work with the Head of Security Consulting to recruit, develop and mentor consultants to deliver Buro Happold’s security management consulting offering.
- Collaborate with the Technical Director and Associate Director to integrate Security Design and Security Management services into a coordinated, confidence‑building offer for clients.
- Maintain an up‑to‑date understanding of current and emerging market trends to guide the team’s focus.
- Support and promote the value of collaborative, multidisciplinary working across Buro Happold.
Responsibilities
Commercial Management
- Oversee the selection, development, planning, and costing of bids, ensuring effective coordination with the Discipline Leader.
- Facilitate clear communication and collaboration with Project Directors (PDs) and Project Partners (PPs) to support successful bid submissions.
- Manage contractual matters with clients and internal teams, including the contract governance team.
Project Management
- Act as Project Director for appropriate team projects, fostering positive and sustained client relationships.
- Provide direction across multiple projects, ensuring thoughtful solutions and strong commercial outcomes.
- Contribute to Professional Development Conversations (PDCs) and conduct Project Director reviews where appropriate.
- Lead project finance and delivery oversight as Project Director.
Business Development
- Work with Directors and Associate Directors to define marketing priorities and establish effective plans.
- Support work winning by identifying and converting opportunities aligned with the group’s strategy.
- Maintain focus on expanding the client base and securing high‑quality projects.
- Review financial and technical submissions and take part in interviews.
- Build and maintain key client relationships, enabling opportunities for repeat work.
People Management
- Provide supportive day‑to‑day people management for the London team.
- Lead the appraisal process for direct reports across the London and Manchester offices.
Technical Leadership
- Represent the Security group by building and nurturing relationships with industry partners, professional bodies, and academic networks.
- Provide technical leadership in at least one area of security consultancy.
- Develop forward‑thinking solutions and encourage team involvement in their development.
- Create an environment that supports learning and knowledge sharing through expert communities.
- Participate in and ensure delivery of high‑level technical and quality reviews of team outputs.
- Maintain a balanced skills profile within the group in line with strategic priorities.
- Ensure design rigour is applied across all projects, including effective design QA processes.
Experience & Qualifications
- A university degree in security, risk management, or a related discipline.
- Experience as a senior technical and commercial leader with a strong track record in security consultancy.
- Specialist expertise in an area of security management consultancy (e.g., personnel security, physical security, construction security).
- Experience supporting, guiding, and developing teams.
- Professional registration or working towards Chartered Security Professional accreditation.
- International project experience.
- Experience working in a global matrix organisation.
- Ability to travel when required.
- Ability to work effectively with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds, with openness to learning and adapting.
Style & Behaviours
- Demonstrated ability to deliver complex projects successfully.
- Able to build and sustain positive relationships with senior stakeholders.
- A supportive, hands‑on leader who encourages and motivates teams.
- Able to empower others and foster an inclusive team environment.
- An effective communicator, able to manage diverse relationships and navigate challenging situations constructively.
- Brings discretion, independence, integrity, and enthusiasm.
- Focused on achieving results with a committed and collaborative approach.
- Strong problem‑solving abilities, with a focus on clear, practical solutions.
- Consistently maintains high standards in project delivery, aligned with client and company expectations.
- Adaptable within a fast‑moving and evolving environment.
- Detail oriented, organised, analytical, and thoughtful.
What Will Success Look Like?
- Sustain Buro Happold’s security design and strategy consulting services and secure billable work within the first 3 months.
- Maintain planned team utilisation as set out in the annual budget.
- Secure billable work exceeding £300k within the first 12 months.
What We Offer You
Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies.
- Hybrid working arrangements.
- Attractive salary.
- Discretionary bonus.
- Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements.
- Generous company pension scheme, life assurance and income protection.
- Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.
- Enhanced parenthood leave policies.
- 3pm finish on the last Friday of the month.
- A strong commitment to continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you.
- Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions.
- A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities.
- An opportunity to support your local community and those in society that are most in need, wherever they are located in the world through our Share Our Skills (SOS) programme.
- A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.
- An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from exceptional.
- We proudly support hybrid working however candidates will be expected to travel to our Bath office 3 days a week.
A place for everyone
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
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