UK & Ireland Interior Design Lead

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About the business

AECOM’s interior design business in the UK and Ireland is part of its broader Architecture and Design Studio – including disciplines such as: master-planning, architecture, landscape architecture and ‘people and place advisory’ services.

Our award-winning Interiors team combines creativity with best practice to deliver innovative and appropriate solutions for each client.

AECOM has over 30 offices across the UK and Ireland, employing a diverse team of experts in various disciplines across the three End Markets of: Buildings and Places, Transportation, and Environment, Water and Energy.

About the role:

As part of a wider growth initiative linked to our strategic plan, we are currently seeking to appoint an Interior Design Practice Lead to take forward the growing business within the Architecture and Design Studio in the UK&I, working closely with design colleagues across our Europe and India region.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our leadership team focusing on our people and clients; promoting technical excellence & quality, and ensuring operational efficiencies & sustainable growth.

Reporting directly to and working closely with the Architecture + Interiors Director, you will play a crucial role in leading and growing our Interior Design offer.

Our Interior Design practice works across a wide spectrum of projects, from national frameworks to one-off, high-end commissions.

We see our Interior Design service as being a significant area of growth for the business, and the role provides a great opportunity for the right person to develop and implement plans to achieve our growth aspirations.

With full accountability for the overall performance of the Interior Design team, you will be instrumental in establishing and driving the vision and strategy for the discipline, focusing on work-winning and growth, and ensuring projects are delivered to a high design quality and with commercial efficiency to meet financial plans.

About You:

You are a highly motivated, organized, and proactive leader with a proven track record in leading and growing teams, business development, bidding and delivering major projects and strategy implementation. Your in-depth understanding of the UK&I market, coupled with your grasp of the social, political, and economic drivers that influence it, will be integral to our success. With extensive experience in leading diverse teams in a fast-paced environment, you have excelled in planning, designing, and delivering projects while implementing data-led performance improvements.

You will need to have a broad experience across a range of sectors, both public and private.

Ideally you will have a good knowledge of the emerging trends and technology impacting the Interior Design sector. You will be responsible for overall leadership of the team and for its strategic direction, financial performance and the development and wellbeing of the team. You will also provide strategic support and senior client liaison on a variety of projects.

The Team Requirements:

• Collaborate with Operations and Executive management team and take responsibility for strategy implementation.
• Full accountability for the commercial performance of the Interior Design team, including: workload, resources (including recruitment and retention), utilisation, profitability and cashflow.
• Responsible for resource allocation, efficient delivery and project management of projects.
• Responsible for technical excellence of the team demonstrating a quality first approach.
• Strategic leadership of new business and marketing initiatives and management of bids including driving forward governance guidelines and facilitate the Go/No-Go process.
• People first approach with responsibility for line management, development, wellbeing, training career planning including succession planning and recruitment.
• Champion the development and implementation of innovative and digital solutions to enhance business performance and service delivery.
• Collaborate across AECOM to deliver multi-disciplinary projects and programs to enable the energy transition.
• Lead by example by visibly driving a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture, ensuring effective implementation of respective AECOM policies and procedures, and achieving the core value metrics for yourself and the team.
• Drive a culture where AECOM is recognised as a great place to work, by upholding AECOM’s values, championing equity, diversity, & inclusion, and promoting employee engagement and continuous development.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Third level education and/ or professional qualifications in a related design discipline.
• A successful track record in securing new work and maintaining existing contracts.
• Several years’ of experience in leadership roles within a similar design business, with proven success – including managing and meeting financial plans.
• Demonstrated success in building, developing and leading teams and multi-disciplinary projects.
• Proven ability to provide positive and growth-oriented leadership, fostering talent development and coaching for direct reports.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong track record in client relationship management.
• Strong attention to detail and experience delivering successful health & safety initiatives.
• An ability to work flexibly across a broad range of projects.
• The vision and skills to apply emerging technologies to meet new project requirements.
• Previous experience within a design consultancy environment.
• Successful business development/sales/growth experience in the public or private sectors.

Additional Information

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 ReasonableAccommodations@aecom.com if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.