SNC Lavalin's Atkins business is one of the largest multidisciplinary, multi sector engineering design consultancies in the world and is part of the SNC Lavalin Group.
As one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies with a leading track record in the defence sector, Atkins are ideally placed to respond to this market. We have a broad establishment and proud, 50-year history throughout the Middle East region.
We provide a full range of design, engineering and project management services for buildings, transportation and other infrastructure programmes.
Atkins in the Middle East now employs around 2,000 staff serving Gulf clients across all market sectors from offices in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh, and Sharjah.
The Transportation Planning Practice in the Atkins ME&A Business brings together the capabilities of our Rail and Infrastructure Division into a single business of talented engineers and professionals facing the Rail, Property, Infrastructure, Water and Aviation markets.
We have an immediate requirement for a Transport Planning Practice Lead to be appointed at this pivotal point in our journey. This role plays a key part in the wider business in terms of overall technical competency and shaping how we face the future transportation and infrastructure sector.
The Transport Planning Practice Lead will lead a team of traffic engineers, modellers, transportation planners and rail consultants.
The role will report to the Practice Director and work with other Practice Leads to deliver projects. They will also work closely with Market Directors to develop and pursue strategic or tactical opportunities for their own business, as well as for the wider business.
They will also work closely with the Transport Planning team in our Global Design Centre (GDC), drawing upon this talent pool to deliver projects and work packages as appropriate.
Key tasks include staff development, develop skills and capabilities in the changing transportation markets, and ensure the Transport Planning Practice is actively engaged in supporting the Atkins Intelligent Mobility agenda. The Practice Lead is responsible for ensuring staff productivity and project performance targets are met within the transport planning practice.
Key Responsibilities
- Technical leadership on a broad range of transport planning projects of varying complexity
- Build and motivate a team and demonstrate good leadership qualities
- Manage and report on business performance and assist in the preparation of budgets and forecasts
- Staff recruitment, retention and development making sure staff reach their performance potential
- Develop a highly motivated and performing team creating opportunities for the development of individuals
- Provide technical expertise on a variety of large transport planning projects
- Oversee projects and budgets and drive projects from tender to delivery in a multi-disciplinary environment
- Lead single or multi-discipline bids
- Provide significant input into multi-disciplinary bids
- Build relationships with existing clients, ideally securing repeat business
- Identifying & pursuing additional business opportunities
- Increase your networking profile with both internal and external clients
- Thought leadership on a range of topics including Intelligent Mobility.
- Ensure compliance with Security, Safety, Health & Environment regulations and ensure that an appropriate culture is engendered within the office.
The Individual (Key Behaviours)
- Confident and articulate communicator with experience of building strong working relationships.
- A high expectation of performance and continuous improvement for themselves and team.
- Ability to position Atkins as a leading partner and supplier.
- Customer focused with excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills.
- Mentoring less experienced members of the team.
- Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills both verbally and in writing
- Ability to build and motivate a team and demonstrate good leadership qualities.
- Be available to travel across the Middle East & Africa Region and work away from home, including periods overseas on assignments
- Excellent team player, able to influence technical and delivery staff, and collaborate effectively with other divisional colleagues and with the Senior Leadership Team
- Familiarity with industry standard tools and modelling software such as VISUM, VISSIM, aaSIDRA, SYNCHRO, HCM
- Ability to fully engage staff through their alignment with business objectives, promoting involvement, and fostering loyalty
Key Measures
- Technical leadership of the Practice
- Staff Productivity (for practice)
- Margin and cash performance (for projects)
- Sales Revenues (for bids)
- Use and development of Global Design Centre
- Staff development and performance
- Employee satisfaction, retention rate
- Value creation through technical excellence strategy
- Collaborative behaviours supporting and championing One Atkins and ME&A business objectives
Principle Requirements
- Degree qualified in a relevant disciple
- Minimum 15 years of experience in similar domain
- Experience in management or leadership role, preferably in the same sectors or alternatively in comparable areas of technical and professional delivery.
- Lead a practice recognised for technical excellence and demonstrate ability to flexibly respond to business needs
- Track record of successful delivery of strategic transport planning and transport modelling work.
- Experience and knowledge of the Middle East T&I market.
- Strong collaborative behaviours to interface with clients, other members of the Transportation and Infrastructure team, GDC and other suppliers.
- Whilst experience and knowledge of the Middle East transportation and infrastructure market and in particular the transport planning sector is a distinct advantage, it is not an absolute requirement for the role.
Rewards & Benefits
We offer an excellent package which includes:
- A competitive salary
- Transportation allowance
- Medical and life insurance cover
- 22 calendar days annual leave
- Medical and life insurance cover
- Company gratuity scheme
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Annual flight allowance to point of origin
- Employee Assistance Programme – 24 hour free advice on financial, legal and family care specialists and also access to personal health, fitness and nutrition consultants
