At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities and societies across the globe. To learn more about our purpose, culture, and priorities, visit our strategy site. 

Within our consult business, we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project delivery consultancy to unlock the potential in every project. 

Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey, they are:

• Safety first - Going home safe and well
• Client focus - Deliver on our promise
• Integrity - Always do the right thing
• Create opportunity - For our people to excel

Associate director, you will play a pivotal role in driving the strategic vision and growth of the development advisory service line in mace’s local government and communities’ business unit. This position involves leading high-impact projects, delivering exceptional advisory services, and ensuring the achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs), especially in the central and northern region of the UK. You will provide leadership and support to project teams, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation while promoting value enhancement and risk elimination.

You’ll be responsible for:

Winning work and client relationships

• Assess, identify and drive new business opportunities, especially in the northern region of the UK, through deep market insights and strategic analysis.
• Lead and support bid processes to secure new projects and expand the development advisory service line.
• Cultivate and maintain long-standing client relationships, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty.
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance Mace's market presence and competitive edge.
• Undertakes sound commercial management of projects to improve revenue, margins and efficiency.

Technical delivery

• Develops and articulates comprehensive project strategies and visions, addressing client challenges, creating value, and identifying critical success factors. Leads the execution of these strategies to achieve business objectives
• Prepares outline business cases, with green book experience (excluding economic case)
• Prepares high-level development appraisals
• Develops delivery strategies, with high-level funding strategy experience
• Assists with client-facing development budgets and cost plans.
• Directs and oversees development and project management processes, ensuring alignment with our clients’ goals and client expectations.
• Provides strategic guidance and support to project teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Leads internal and external multi-disciplinary teams through design, planning, procurement and cost management.
• Provides general property-led strategic advice.
• Leads and manages multiple teams to deliver on team and project objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs). 
• Provides strategic leadership, performance management, technical development, and coaching to ensure high-performing teams.

People management

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to project teams, ensuring alignment with the development advisory business plan.
• Foster a high-performance culture through effective performance management, technical development, and coaching.
• Attract, retain, and develop top talent, ensuring the continuous growth and success of the team.
• Promotes the highest standards of safety, health and welfare across the team.

Climate responsibility

• Works collaboratively towards the common goal of net zero carbon transition and share responsibility for the proactive identification and management of the associated carbon emissions and reductions during the delivery of work.

You’ll need to have:

• Knowledge of development lifecycle, from site acquisition to construction, handover and disposal.
• General consultancy experience across wide range of strategic advisory services.
• Ability to demonstrate development experience including practical knowledge of appraisals and valuations.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to discern and develop value.
• Ability to work with other team members and external lawyers on transaction documentation.                      
• Demonstrable previous experience of innovation, knowledge capture and establishing best practice in service delivery
• Demonstrable ability to standardise solutions to drive efficiency, whilst still innovating.
• People management experience, including talent attraction and retention.
• Experience in client-side roles with developers, advisory businesses or landowners.
• Experience across more than one sector.
• Develops and maintains excellent professional working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills.
• Experience working in a consultancy environment.
• Growth mindset that promotes curiosity, high quality contribution and team collaboration.

You’ll also have:

• Technical understanding of strategy and vision development, business cases, project management practices, delivery strategies, funding strategies, programme production, sequencing and logic.
• Familiarity with operational management and service delivery.
• Advocate for health standards, safety and wellbeing.
• Familiar with commercial improvement strategies and delivery.
• Focus on UK markets in residential and mixed-use sectors.
• Regeneration and local authority partnership experience.
• Strong presentation skills.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all of the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation. 

We are also open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role. 

#LI-Onsite