Associate Director

We are looking for an Associate Director in our Manchester office to lead and inspire their team to ensure that innovative and thought-provoking UK and international projects achieve high-quality design standards and are delivered on time and on budget. The successful candidate will operate autonomously, requiring only minimal supervision from the Senior Executive Directors and are responsible for supporting junior colleagues to achieve their full potential. They will support the delivery of corporate-level business development strategies, and will actively support the development of leads and generation of new business across existing and future sectors and markets.

Skills:

• Experience of successfully leading and managing a team across large-scale international and UK projects through all RIBA work stages

• 15 years demonstratable experience within Landscape Architecture

• A proactive approach to client management, with a proven track record of engaging potential clients and partners

• Commercially astute, demonstrated through effective decision-making, project resourcing and management

• Strong organisational and people management skills, encouraging collaboration and innovation within the teams to maximise performance

• Possesses proficiency with computer applications commonly used within the individual's discipline

• Working knowledge of Revit

• Degree in related design field or equivalent certification or skill level

• CMLI qualified

Project management:

• Manage the team across multiple projects to deliver design and technical excellence that meet high quality standards

• Plan, coordinate and manage the project process, maintaining involvement throughout

• Liaise with Senior Directors to ensure that innovative and thought-provoking projects are delivered consistently

• Lead project meetings and client presentations, increasingly acting as the primary contact for client interaction and maintaining good relationships with clients to maximise opportunities for repeat business

Leadership:

• Promote ExA's values and foster a collaborative environment in which innovation is encouraged and best practice shared

• Lead, guide and provide training to junior talent, providing timely feedback that contributes to their continuing creative, technical and professional development

• Initiate or participate in studio or group activities, leads brainstorming sessions and manages conflicts effectively

Client relationships:

• Engage with colleagues to support the development of new business, enhancing internal and external communication via functions, events, forums and publications

• Attend marketing, networking and conference events

• Preparation of fee bids and undertaking of fee proposals and fee negotiations for projects

Budget control:

• Demonstrate a sound understanding of cost control, fee charging and project finance

• Ensure project fees are maximised and that project targets are achieved through sensible management of time and allocated resource

• Proactively manage late payments of invoices, weekly and monthly

Management Responsibilities:

• Manage a team of approximately 10 Landscape Architects

• Manage all fee proposals within your team

• Ensure all projects are resourced correctly and in line with corresponding fee proposals recorded in NoveosPM, reviewing and instructing Associate and Senior Landscape Consultant team

• Chair quality group and report to board for example Green Group/ Technical Group/ Design Group/ Planting Group/QMS group

• Ensure best practice is achieved across the team

• Undertake and manage practice management initiatives - for example IT/HR/QMS/H&S/Premises/PI/Finances/Policies

• P2C mentorship of 3-4 staff members

• Deliver CPD's and training across the practice as required

• Meet new business targets and engender repeat business reviewed annually

**Please note we are not accepting CVs from external agencies for this role.