Associate Director Project Manager – Complex Buildings
Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.
We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director to join our established and growing Programme & Project Management (PPM) team, based in London. You will bring a desire to deliver high‑quality and innovative solutions that achieve successful outcomes for our clients, particularly in the delivery of major complex building projects.
The role of an Associate Director will be to win, resource and deliver complex strategic and operational projects using best‑practice PPM knowledge and advisory skills. You will manage major complex building projects for private and public‑sector clients in science and industry, higher education, healthcare, or commercial property projects. You’ll be part of a diverse collaborative team responsible for the successful delivery of our project and programme management commissions across all markets and clients.
Is this role right for you?
Key activities include managing key client relationships, finding new work opportunities with current and new clients, and acting as the day‑to‑day Project Director on projects and programmes in the following sectors: science and industry, higher education, healthcare, or commercial property. You will deliver high‑quality outcomes and client satisfaction.
With a background in leading multidisciplinary design teams and contractor performance throughout the project lifecycle—project inception, design, procurement, and construction stages—you will bring demonstratable professional project‑management experience. If you have had a significant role in a very large £500m+ capital project or acted as Project Director on projects of £200m+, we’d love to hear from you!
Requirements
- BSc in a relevant discipline and professional qualifications in a relevant profession (e.g. APM, RICS, CIOB, RIBA, or Engineering chartership), and continuing professional development.
- Highly developed knowledge of project and/or programme management, with a track record of leadership of complex high‑risk projects and programmes.
- Ability and confidence to advise clients on delivery strategy, leadership and engagement, vision and outcomes, business case development, establishing governance, structuring a programme organisation, developing delivery models, sustainability and resilience, stakeholder management and engagement.
- Background in agreeing and setting delivery plans and targets for teams, including developing resourcing plans for work and establishing and leading networks and teams outside your line of command.
- Experience working on politically complex programmes, demonstrating respect, humility and understanding of client organisations, and navigating political and organisational sensitivities.
- Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following:
- Defining a programme to deliver digitally enabled change.
- Setting the strategy to establish new advisory services for clients.
- Developing and delivering strategies for projects with sustainable development outcomes.
What We Offer
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide a competitive total reward package that recognises each member’s contribution. In addition to fair and equitable pay, we offer a career where all members can belong, grow and thrive, supported by benefits that promote health and wellbeing, learning opportunities and the chance to make an impact through the work they do.
We also provide private medical insurance, life assurance, accident insurance and income protection cover. Flexible benefits help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom 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 www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.
Access and Adjustments
We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process.
#J-18808-Ljbffr”, “datePosted”: “2026-05-20”, “hiringOrganization”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “Arup”, “sameAs”: “https://uk.whatjobs.com/pub_api__cpl__437008567__4861?utm_campaign=publisher&utm_medium=api&utm_source=4861&geoID=33” }, “jobLocation”: { “@type”: “Place”, “address”: { “@type”: “PostalAddress”, “addressLocality”: “London” } } }Associate Director Project Manager – Complex Buildings
Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.
We currently have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director to join our established and growing Programme & Project Management (PPM) team, based in London. You will bring a desire to deliver high‑quality and innovative solutions that achieve successful outcomes for our clients, particularly in the delivery of major complex building projects.
The role of an Associate Director will be to win, resource and deliver complex strategic and operational projects using best‑practice PPM knowledge and advisory skills. You will manage major complex building projects for private and public‑sector clients in science and industry, higher education, healthcare, or commercial property projects. You’ll be part of a diverse collaborative team responsible for the successful delivery of our project and programme management commissions across all markets and clients.
Is this role right for you?
Key activities include managing key client relationships, finding new work opportunities with current and new clients, and acting as the day‑to‑day Project Director on projects and programmes in the following sectors: science and industry, higher education, healthcare, or commercial property. You will deliver high‑quality outcomes and client satisfaction.
With a background in leading multidisciplinary design teams and contractor performance throughout the project lifecycle—project inception, design, procurement, and construction stages—you will bring demonstratable professional project‑management experience. If you have had a significant role in a very large £500m+ capital project or acted as Project Director on projects of £200m+, we’d love to hear from you!
Requirements
- BSc in a relevant discipline and professional qualifications in a relevant profession (e.g. APM, RICS, CIOB, RIBA, or Engineering chartership), and continuing professional development.
- Highly developed knowledge of project and/or programme management, with a track record of leadership of complex high‑risk projects and programmes.
- Ability and confidence to advise clients on delivery strategy, leadership and engagement, vision and outcomes, business case development, establishing governance, structuring a programme organisation, developing delivery models, sustainability and resilience, stakeholder management and engagement.
- Background in agreeing and setting delivery plans and targets for teams, including developing resourcing plans for work and establishing and leading networks and teams outside your line of command.
- Experience working on politically complex programmes, demonstrating respect, humility and understanding of client organisations, and navigating political and organisational sensitivities.
- Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following:
- Defining a programme to deliver digitally enabled change.
- Setting the strategy to establish new advisory services for clients.
- Developing and delivering strategies for projects with sustainable development outcomes.
What We Offer
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide a competitive total reward package that recognises each member’s contribution. In addition to fair and equitable pay, we offer a career where all members can belong, grow and thrive, supported by benefits that promote health and wellbeing, learning opportunities and the chance to make an impact through the work they do.
We also provide private medical insurance, life assurance, accident insurance and income protection cover. Flexible benefits help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom 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 www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.
Access and Adjustments
We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process.
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