Technical Director - Industrialised Design and Construction

Job Description

Location/s: UK-wide; ability to travel to London-based clients essential
Recruiter contact: David McFall

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit
Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery (APD) unit delivers both project, programme & commercial management (PPCM) services and advisory solutions across the built environment, defence, energy, water, environmental, transportation, health and care sectors.

We deliver tailored solutions that directly address our clients’ key challenges, combining our world-leading project expertise with unrivalled programme delivery capabilities and advisory services.

APD delivers services to projects ranging in scale and complexity up to £20bn, through the technical disciplines of programme management, project management, project controls, scheduling, cost management, estimating, infrastructure finance, management consulting, digital consulting and education, health and care management.

Overview of the role

We’re seeking a Technical Director to support the growth of our Advisory Services within the Industrialised Design and Construction (IDC) team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about shaping strategic direction, influencing client outcomes, and driving innovation in the built environment.

We’re seeking a Technical Director to join our dynamic and expanding Industrialised Design and Construction (IDC) team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with hands-on experience in Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), who is passionate about driving innovation and digital transformation in the built environment. Whether you’re recently chartered or actively working towards professional accreditation with a recognised body (e.g., CMI, ICE, IStructE, IMechE, IET, CIAT, CIBSE, CIOB, RICS, RIBA), this role offers the chance to shape the future of construction delivery across major infrastructure programmes.

We are leaders in the adoption and implementation of IDC, helping our clients achieve their ambitions of improved productivity and greater cost efficiency and certainty across the Built Environment. Our team is actively working across multiple sectors including Buildings (Healthcare, Education and Cities), Water & Environment and Nuclear.

You will support the delivery of strategic and technical advisory services across a range of sectors including buildings, water, transport, and energy on our existing and future commissions, as Industrialisation and MMC advisors to some of the biggest infrastructure owners and programmes in the UK and overseas. You’ll work with clients, design teams, manufacturers, and contractors to embed DfMA, MMC, and platform-based approaches into projects and programmes.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Drive the development of IDC advisory services, delivering strategic impact and measurable results for clients
• Tackle complex challenges with analytical rigor and clear communication
• Provide expert guidance on industrialised approaches, supporting clients in strategic planning, procurement, and risk management
• Develop and deliver workshops, thought leadership, and stakeholder engagement activities to build client capability and reinforce Mott MacDonald’s reputation for excellence in advisory services
• Support the creation of case studies, lessons learned, and a library of proven IDC approaches, ensuring knowledge is captured, shared, and applied effectively
• Mentor and coach internal teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth in advisory practice
• Contribute to the development of digital tools and data models that support industrialised delivery, enhancing transparency, traceability, and automation
• Participate in delivery assurance activities, ensuring advisory recommendations are embedded from concept to completion

Candidate specification

The below is a set of general candidate requirements. However, this is a multi-position requisition so we’re not expecting you to bring all of these skills, but we’d like you to have a blend that suits your particular specialisms to this role.

Essential:

• Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field
• Demonstrable experience in developing and providing strategic advisory services – ideally within the context of IDC for large portfolios of work (which may include DfMA or MMC)
• Strong communication, facilitation, and client engagement skills
• Ambitious, determined, and confident in challenging the status quo
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change across complex organisations, ideally across public and private sectors
• Experience in developing and implementing advisory strategies, frameworks, or delivery models
• Ability to mentor and coach multidisciplinary teams, supporting professional development in advisory practice
• A proactive, curious mindset with a willingness to learn and challenge the status quo
• Understanding of current approaches to project and programme delivery, such as the Construction Playbook, the RIBA Plan of Work (or equivalents) and their implications for strategy
• Experience working on programmes or projects across different sectors including Buildings, Water, Defence, Nuclear, and Transport infrastructure
• Enthusiasm to become involved in and support wider initiatives within Mott MacDonald
• The sale and projection of our advisory services

Desirable:

• Experience with systems engineering, requirements management, and digital delivery tools
• Knowledge of Lean principles, supply chain ecosystems, and procurement processes
• Experience in developing thought leadership, case studies, or best practice guidance for clients
• Relevant certifications or memberships in professional organisations (e.g., Chartered Management Consultancy, Lean Construction Institute) are a plus

Behaviours & Values:

• Understanding and commitment to Mott MacDonald’s PRIDE values (Progress; Respect; Integrity; Drive; Excellence)
• A self-starter mentality with a desire to apply initiative and new ideas, comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-changing start-up environment. · An open minded, confident, collaborative attitude; a strong sense of team spirit; vision driven
• Ability to think strategically and laterally, bringing creativity to problem solving
• Demonstrates a consultative approach, building trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders
• Champions advisory excellence, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing
• Contributes positively to organisational culture, fostering collaboration, fairness, and openness
• Contributes positively to our organisational culture, fostering collaboration, fairness, and openness
• Demonstrates a coachable mindset, open to feedback and continuous improvement
• Interest and passion for the construction industry, with a particular interest in improving buildability, modernising methods, and data-driven decision-making

Security clearance beneficial but not essential.

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.