Global Practice Leader - Design Management

Location: Happy to consider any Mott MacDonald Office in the United Kingdom
Hiring manager contact: Cory Dippold

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 support services are the driving force behind our organisation enabling us to run efficiently and effectively. The team works collaboratively to offer specialist advice, best practice and technology to all areas of our business specifically designed for our global reach.

Technical Excellence is at the heart of our purpose.   

 
The Global Practice Leader (GPL) role represents several disciplines globally and is the custodian of our technical capability for their disciplines. Global Practice Leaders must engage, encourage, and maximise contributions to a body of leading-edge knowledge which will enable the successful pursuit and execution of projects, while innovating and continuously improving our productivity, using standardisation and digital tools.  

 
The Design Management Practice is being created to recognize, support and grow our global competence within the technical delivery of engineering projects. The practice aims to foster the growth and development of its global community across the range of disciplines that are represented within the practice. Our goal is to achieve technical compliance, quality and appropriateness of the solutions delivered across multidisciplinary teams on projects of varying scale and complexity. This practice is sector agnostic, focusing on our core markets, with some variance between the regions.   

Our Practices are the custodians of our capability. Led by the Global Practice Leader (GPL) supported by Regional Practice Leaders, a Practice is a community of colleagues joined by a common area of professional and technical interest that spans organisational and geographical boundaries. They. 

• Enable connected thinking across the business to pursue, win and execute projects by applying specialist knowledge and experience 
• Safeguard quality and reputation and drive sustainability  
• Unlock innovation and enhance external visibility  
• Curate corporate knowledge and maintain and share good practice for global application 
• Advance staff competency  

The successful candidate will be expected to build on what has already been achieved in the recent year across working groups.  The GPLs is funded for 60 - 80% part-time appointment which will be for an initial term of three years, and may be extended by mutual agreement.  They will be supported by an ECP, funded 40% of their time. The candidate can be based anywhere Mott MacDonald operates.    

This GPL will be accountable for their performance in this role to the Chief Technical Officer and the Technical Excellence Executive or an appropriately appointed sponsor, who will provide support in delivering the objectives.  The role will entail both local and, on occasion, international travel where required, although the GPL will be encouraged to minimise this as part of managing our carbon footprint.  
 
Job Profile 
 
Below are the specific objectives and key responsibilities of the GPL role:  

• Provide leadership to the global practice community to achieve the practice objectives, and strive to make the practice feel and operate like an inclusive, welcoming global community by driving integration and collaboration across geographical and organisation boundaries  
• Establish self as an identifiable figurehead for the practice and create a global network that provides joined up leadership for the practice  
• Develop and deliver the annual practice plan which sets out specific objectives, actions, resources and key deadlines for the coming year  
• Establish, monitor and meet the annual budget and, where appropriate request funding for any further specific internal projects  
• Report quarterly to Practice Sponsor or CTO, on the progress of the practice through agreed practice metrics  
• Establish and develop a strong practice community through personal engagement, regular discussions and appropriate face-to-face meetings  
• Appoint individuals from the Early Career Professional communities to support the GPL in meeting the practice objectives  
• Lead the practice’s response to Group initiatives. For example, Excellence Festival, internal award submissions, knowledge sharing campaigns etc  
• Develop targeted client relationships in conjunction with the relevant Account Leaders   
• Own and promote the practice tools such as the practice site, relevant digital tools, and Viva Engage community  

Candidate Specification

Our GPLs play a critical role in delivering the Group’s strategy and are responsible for leading Practice communities and representing the business in the external market. The GPL must have a solid understanding of several key aspects of the range of disciplines across their practices, can enable professional development in response to emerging market issues/trends in at least one of the core markets.  

The successful candidate will be an effective communicator with a collaborative approach and will harness specialist technical expertise from within the Practice community to deliver value.  

The following attributes are expected for a Global Practice Leader:  

Experience and qualifications  

• Demonstrable practical experience of one or more aspects of the Practice  
• Evidence of contribution to recent initiatives in Design Management and Project Delivery  
• Accredited/qualified in one or more of the Practice skills  
• Experienced in at least one leadership role on a world class commission  

Skills, Gravitas & Leadership  

• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach  
• Demonstrates passion about the subject  
• Has a proactive attitude towards leading initiatives and driving improvement.  
• Is able to inspire, encourage and mentor the Practice community.  
• Is recognised as a professional in the field and respected for thought leadership.  
• Recognises how our potential markets can benefit from the practice.  

Please note this is a Global role and can be carried out from any of our offices. If you feel you meet the criteria above and would like to apply, please outline your experience in relation to the questions above and we will review your application.  

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. 

#LI-NG

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:

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.

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.

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.