Associate Director Bioresources Mechanical Engineering

Job Description

Overview

Shape the Future of our cities and environments.

Are you a Mechanical Engineer who is passionate about making the world a better place? Are you ready to take up a vital role in some of the UK's most exciting and innovative projects?

The Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking an Associate Director for Mechanical Engineering to join our Bioresources Design team in the UK. We are looking for an energetic and experienced Bioresources Mechanical Engineer that can both lead as technical expert in bioresources treatment design and drive forward business results through technical excellence.

AtkinsRéalis specialise in all aspects of mechanical engineering within the Water Sector, including water, waste water and bioresources in the UK and internationally. Mechanical Engineering project opportunities also stretch to other sectors such as nuclear and defence. We’re committed to providing industry-leading engineering solutions right through the project lifecycle from feasibility to process commissioning, with value added through client-side support, as well as construction phases.

We are looking for an energetic and experienced Associate Director to join our Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice at AtkinsRéalis. As a key member of our technical team, you’ll play a vital role in shaping and delivering transformational programmes of critical infrastructure for our Bioresource market clients across all feedstocks, including sewage sludge, food and food wastes, dairy, drinks and beverages, industrial, etc.  You’ll be part of a talented, multi-disciplinary team delivering cutting edge, iconic projects across water sector engineering at home (UK) and abroad. Projects like Strongford STW Net Zero, Scottish Water Resource Recovery Facility, NEOM, Hong Kong I-PARK1 waste to energy, Quebec City food waste to energy and ammonium sulphate recovery, and many more.

In this role, you will set direction for complex, high-impact projects and initiatives, anticipate business and regulatory challenges or changes, and develop innovative solutions and offerings that move the business forward. By providing technical leadership in mechanical engineering within the Bioresources team and opportunities to reach across the organization, you’ll drive results by contributing to functional strategy, influencing senior stakeholders, and leading within the mechanical engineers group and multidisciplinary project teams, to deliver measurable outcomes.

Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients’ toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries.

We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week being office/site based. As Associate Director, you will be a technical leader, meaning your role will involve travel within the UK to client and other AtkinsRéalis offices. Occasional international travel to clients and conferences may also be required. This position can be based at any of our main UK locations: Epsom, London, Bristol, Peterborough, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester or Glasgow. It can also be based in our other offices but may require additional travel to main locations as needed: Exeter, Cambridge, Cardiff, Swansea, Newcastle, Derby, Edinburgh.

Your role

The role will offer a challenging and rewarding opportunity to apply knowledge, experience, and problem‑solving skills whilst providing good opportunities for career development.

As Associate Director Bioresources Mechanical Engineering in the D&AT practice, the successful candidate would have the following responsibilities:

• Provide Technical Leadership in Bioresources Mechanical Engineering Design across the D&AT Practice and wider AtkinsRéalis business.
• Provide visible representation of your and AtkinsRéalis’ Bioresources Mechanical Engineering Design technical expertise to our current and prospective clients.
• Collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, including internal and external clients, operational staff, project teams, or external stakeholders.
• Lead or form part of a team of Mechanical Engineers for delivery of technical design work on complex multi-disciplinary projects following relevant national and project specific design codes and standards, and to high-quality levels in bioresources and associated waste water treatment projects design – conventional and advance treatment technologies.
• Lead on the development of project design deliverables for Bioresource and associated Waste Water Treatment Mechanical Engineering aspects of complex multi-disciplinary projects, and work with the project management team to successfully manage time and budgets to key project milestones and programmes.
• Responsible for managing production, reviewing, and approving technical deliverables such as design reports, drawings, calculations, and scopes of work.
• Influence D&AT Practice wide initiatives and recommend best practices to improve internal process and services.
• Work closely with teams within AtkinsRéalis with overlapping and complimentary services, who provide strategic services, policy and regulation advice, operations and maintenance expertise, to ensure lessons learnt in their/your projects are incorporated as lessons learnt into bioresources projects’ design development.
• Grow, develop and manage the Bioresources Mechanical Engineering Design capability within the regional and/or national practice. Mentorship and collaboration with less experienced colleagues are expected, as well as providing occasional technical masterclasses and other training within the Mechanical Engineering practice.
• Work independently with guidance in the most challenging situations.  Exercise personal judgement to solve difficult problems where appropriate and provide guidance to junior team members.
• Oversee technical input into bid proposals, defining the delivery strategy and working with cross‑functional teams to prepare high‑quality, compliant, competitive submissions.
• Adhere to quality assurance standards in design including check and review of own work as well as others.

About you

• Chartered Mechanical Engineer.
• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Proven experience in leading large‑scale Bioresources projects’ Mechanical engineering design delivery including within a multi‑disciplinary environment.
• The role requires comprehensive knowledge and proven practical experience in the design of a wide range of mechanical equipment required in Bioresources treatment processes and/or principles, e.g. pumps, thickeners, dewaterers, driers, mixers, heat systems, gas systems, advanced anaerobic digestion, advanced thermal conversion (ATC), etc. Examples of ATC processes include pyrolysis, gasification, incineration, HTC, HTL. Expert understanding of the integrated nature of treatment processes and principles and their impact on emissions-, heat-, pressure-, energy management, required as a minimum.
• Proven experience in leading elements in mechanical engineering design, and integrating elements as part of an existing or new treatment process.
• Thorough understanding of current UK design codes and standards, relevant legislation, and established industry best practices, including CDM and DSEAR.
• Demonstrates strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas with clarity, anticipating challenges and persuading senior stakeholders to adopt new perspectives, and navigate diverse, international and cross-cultural delivery.
• Extensive experience of design and delivery of projects with adherence to UK safety and environmental regulations, process safety techniques (e.g. HAZOP), knowledge of capital and operational costs - and risk assessments, as well as whole life carbon assessments.
• Commercially astute, with experience shaping winning proposals and driving practice and business growth.
• Proven experience in leading, coordinating or managing people in a Mechanical engineering design delivery team for a project, as part of a design consultancy including within a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Demonstrable comprehensive knowledge in leading mechanical engineering design and integrating elements as part of an existing or new treatment process with experience across all design phases, including construction.
• A proactive, highly motivated mindset with a collaborative approach to drive teamwork and shared success across projects and the wider AtkinsRéalis D&AT practice.
• Experienced in identifying and promoting innovative solutions. Design experience in bringing a first-of-a-kind technology to construction and commissioning would be advantageous.
• Experience in UK Water market is preferred.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

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Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.