Associate Director - Fire Engineering

Job Description

Start here. Grow here. 

AECOM is currently seeking an Associate Director (Fire Engineer) to be based in one of our UK offices. This is a consultancy-based position so demonstrable experience in a range of sectors and technical fire engineering applications within a client focused environment is required, but a focus in Defence work is expected for this position,

You will be responsible for overseeing and developing a team of fire engineers. Performance at this level requires developmental experience in a professional position.

This position will be well suited to an established consultant looking to take the next step or someone with a desire to work in multi-disciplinary design consultancy and wants to join a well-respected and established fire safety consultancy.

What you’ll do!

People

• Lead and manage the team in terms of Defence workload management, project delivery and performance.
• Oversee the successful delivery of large, complex Defence projects, ensuring they meet regulatory requirement and client expectations.
• Collaborate with multi discipline team and national leadership to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget and to the highest standard of quality.
• Lead Performance & Review process for the team by setting and monitoring SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound) goals for team members.
• Carry out staff appraisals of direct reports and ensure they do the same for their direct reports in line with AECOM Performance & Review process.
• Participate in the development of professional development plans for staff and encourage expansion of expertise on different sectors.
• Assist in training and mentoring of staff to ensure technical development of the team in line with the PDPs.
• Provide specialised technical input to studies and designs projects across the portfolio.
• Support and mentor less experienced staff on the road to Chartership.

Projects

• Provide estimates for the fire engineering budget and schedule to meet requirements on large, complex projects.
• Lead the project delivery on mid to large size Defence projects nationally and internationally.
• Become an AECOM Approved Lead Verifier - leads strategic direction of projects.
• Become an AECOM Approved Project Manager and act as project approver.
• Lead technical client relationships and play a major role in attracting new work/ clients.
• Ensure the quality of the work is maintained and delivered to the client within agreed period and budget.

Business

• Ensure implementation of all AECOM Health & Safety policies at workplace and during out of office visits (i.e. meetings, training, site visits, etc.).  
• Ensure that good client working relationships are maintained.
• Promote AECOM and its Fire Engineering business and bring more business (internal and external clients) to support the effective growth.
• Support the national team in achieving its KPIs.  
• Develop and assist in implementing a marketing strategy with a focus on interactive and collaborative communications with clients.
• Participate in the development of the Fire Team Business Plan and implement throughout the fire team.

Come grow with us

And let's not forget about the perks at AECOM. You'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customized to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days. 

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? 

Requirements:

• Extensive experience working in a large, multi-disciplinary environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of UK standards and guidance documents, including but not limited to ADB, BS 9991, BS 9999, BS 9992, HTM 05-02 and BB100.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Defence standards including JSP 80 and DIFS.  
• Proficiency in using common fire engineering tools such as FDS, SFE, and evacuation modelling software.
• Membership in relevant professional institutions, such as MIFireE and/or certifications from NFPA, such as CFPE.
• BEng/MEng or MSc in fire science, fire engineering or similar.  

Preferred requirements:

• UK national.
• Good level of security clearance, or history of clearance and ability to hold a suitable level of security clearance.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the Institution of Fire Engineering.
• Extensive knowledge of common fire engineering tools, including FDS, evacuation modelling, and structural fire safety engineering.
• PhD in a fire-related discipline.
• International experience with standards such as IBC, SFPE and NFPA.

Additional Information

#BESPECIALISMS  #BEFIRE

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [email protected]  if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.