Transportation Communication Systems - Practice Director

Atkins Transportation are looking to appoint a Practice Director for our UK Communication Systems practice.

Atkins is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. They build long-term trusted partnerships to create a world where lives are enriched through the implementation of new and exciting ideas. Atkins have a vision to shape the future of transportation, to lead where others follow and to deliver the future of mobility today. With 3,000 staff across the UK & Europe, they are brilliantly placed to lead the sector at a time when Government commitment and investment in infrastructure is at all-time high.

Getting close to the heart of their clients, Atkins has a number of lead roles on major programmes for Network Rail, Highways England, TfL, as well as being at the centre of major projects like High Speed 2, Crossrail and Heathrow airport expansion.

It’s not just about today; Atkins are investing in capability to lead on intelligent mobility, the digital railway and digital asset management – all aimed at creating the transport networks of the future.

They are looking for leaders to join the team to further shape this vision and to lead the industry forward.

As Practice Director, you will be responsible for enhancing our technical excellence, leading our people and delivering communication and technology projects across both highways and rail sectors.

In rail telecomms, we design operational trackside telecommunication systems for safety critical data, voice and CCTV and within stations for passenger information, data, security and system integration such as the award winning Birmingham New Street station.

In Intelligent transport systems (ITS) we lead on the design and implementation of Smart motorways across the UK which provide additional capacity and safety including driver information, speed monitoring/enforcement, vehicle detection and data networks.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Communications design and systems engineering professionals across both Highways and Rail disciplines including intelligent road signs, operational telecommunications, retail communication and information systems
• Responsible for winning work through maximizing additional/repeat/follow-on work from clients. Help drive innovation in service offerings
• Lead the development of the next generation of Transportation Communications Systems across the whole transportation sector
• Drive technical best practice, knowledge sharing, and process standardisation /optimisation across the practice group
• Ensure best practice is shared across the transportation sector and embracing new technologies from other sectors.
• Liaise with the Market Directors to establish resource demand based on pipeline of opportunities in collaboration with divisional resource managers
• Manage practice group performance with focus on meeting or exceeding productivity targets
• Ensure skills and capacity meet the needs of the target markets through targeted recruitment, focused staff development, external alliance partners and subcontractors.
• Motivate managers and team members ensuring they are challenged, stretched and developed with succession plans in place.
• Ensure that business activity conforms to the Business Management System (BMS) and does not present an unacceptable risk.
• Provide technical experts to support strategic bids and deliver BAU bids within Discipline Group

Requirements

• Proven experience in leadership role, preferably in a technology discipline in either the highways or rails sectors, or alternatively in comparable areas
• Track record in business development, sales and delivery of design services in our core markets of highways and rail
• Customer centric; an ability and desire to engage with clients and to develop and expand technical capabilities to fulfil market and client needs
• Ability to drive adoption of automation and digital skills and products
• Able to lead the practice position so that it has a reputation for technical innovation and service excellence
• Ability to build and motivate a team and demonstrate good leadership qualities
• Able to adapt to different cultures and working environments to build rapport with both clients and the practice teams
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Strong collaborative behaviours to interface with Practice Directors, Market Directors, and other stakeholders
• Be available to travel across the UK and overseas as required
• Degree level or equivalent professional qualification