Resource Manager

Location/s: Bristol, London, Southampton, Reading or Edinburgh
Relocation supported: Not supported, but internal applications are welcome
Recruiter contact: Sacha Kelly
Hiring manager contact: James Penn

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.

About the Role

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the wider APD Unit and in particular, our specialist and strategic advisory portfolios.

As a Resource Manager, you will be instrumental in driving collaboration, optimising resource planning, and championing people-focused initiatives across the unit. You will work closely with the Unit Resource Manager, other Resource Managers/Partners, Heads of Functions, Chapter Leads, Principal Account Leads (PALs), project leaders, and divisional stakeholders to ensure we have the right talent, in the right place, at the right time—while fostering a high-performing, inclusive, and engaged culture.

Key Responsibilities

Resource Planning & Delivery

• Lead tactical and strategic resource planning/ forecasting using Connect Business and CRM systems (or similar if external)
• Coordinate Global Delivery Services (GDS) - Responsible for collating the plan and liaising with GDS for proposed usage of GDS resource and planned FTE commitments
• Collaborate with sector leaders to review and implement resource plans
• Ensure global resource alignment and support infrastructure for utilisation
• Maintain utilisation in accordance with budget/target and act to correct underperformance in liaison with LM and HR
• Establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Resource Managers and Divisional Resource Managers across the technical units to ensure alignment on resource planning, deployment, and strategic workforce need

Talent Development & Capability Building

• Develop a pool of capable, cost-effective resources for project delivery (either working directly or through agreements via sectors or directly with other parts of the Group to gain access to such resources)
• Support career development through PDRs and development plans (through line manager and liaising with HR
• Identify future capability needs and address them via development, recruitment, or internal mobility
• Monitor, manage, and escalate spend across budgets related to Professional Excellence and Wider Training Initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and financial controls
  Facilitate succession planning and encourage/ support the movement of staff across teams/ portfolios/ units

Recruitment & Retention

• Support recruitment and rationalisation decisions
• Ensure adherence to the STEP recruitment process
• Promote long-term staff retention and high engagement
• Canvass portfolio leads/ project director/ head of functions for promotion recommendations
• Monitor timesheets, expenses, and overtime for reasonableness

Collaboration & Culture

• Liaise with enabling services (HR, Safety, Talent Acquisition, Technical Excellence
• Ensure team leaders manage in line with our EVP and Mott MacDonald values
• Champion an inclusive, high-performing culture
• Maintain strong practice leadership networks to support global delivery

We’re looking for a collaborative and strategic thinker who thrives in a dynamic, people-focused environment. The ideal candidate will bring:

Proven Experience

• Proven background/ experience in resource or workforce management, preferably within a consultancy or PPCM/ project controls environment. Experience across wider project controls disciplines, such as risk management, planning & scheduling, estimating, quality assurance, and health & safety would be highly advantageous

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Proficiency in forecasting and planning tools (e.g. Connect Business or similar).
• Digitally fluent and confident using data to inform decisions.
• Proven familiarity and adherence to EUNA and Group processes and systems and effectiveness at achieving compliance and value added from the team (if internal)

Leadership & Influence

• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills with the ability to manage change effectively.
• Experience working across diverse teams and stakeholder groups.
• An influential leader with a strategic and positive approach when delivering change and dealing with challenges

People & Culture Focus

• Committed to diversity, inclusion, and the development of people.
• Values-led, adaptable, and passionate about enabling success.
• Embeds our Code, PRIDE values and collaborative behaviours

How to apply?

A cover letter. An up-to-date CV

A brief expression of interest which sets out the following in no more than 100 words per question:

1. Describe a time you led resource planning across multiple teams or disciplines. What approach did you take, and what was the outcome?
2. How have you promoted collaboration across regions or business units in a previous role? How did this contribute to business growth/good client outcomes?
3. How have you used scenario planning for forecasting resource needs and what were the outputs and decisions from that?
4. Can you provide an example of how you've used resource planning tools or systems (e.g. Connect Business, if applicable) to inform a decision or action that delivered a measurable benefit to your team, project, or wider business unit?

We welcome applications from individuals at all experience levels who believe they possess the necessary skills. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

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 have the opportunity to 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.

Agile working  

We are happy to talk openly about flexible working and how we can support your responsibilities beyond the workplace.