Technical Director

Location/s: UK-wide
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 are seeking an experienced Technical Director to help grow, lead and evolve our Transformation capability across major infrastructure clients with a focus on Strategic Programme Management.

This role combines client leadership, business development, programme delivery, capability development and people leadership. You will work with senior client stakeholders to solve complex organisational, strategic and delivery challenges, helping them translate ambition into successfully mobilised programmes that deliver measurable outcomes and lasting value.

You will play a leading role in growing client relationships, shaping new opportunities and providing senior advisory and assurance support on major programmes and transformations. Success will come from combining commercial acumen, strategic thinking and practical delivery experience to help clients move confidently from strategy to execution.

The role is particularly suited to someone who thrives across the full transformation lifecycle—from strategy and business case development, through mobilisation and delivery, to benefits realisation and continuous improvement. You will help strengthen Mott MacDonald's position as a trusted partner that can bridge the gap between strategic intent and successful delivery, while shaping the future of our Strategic Programme Management offering.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Client leadership and business development
  • Develop trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders across infrastructure sectors
  • Help clients identify and address the underlying issues affecting programme performance, organisational effectiveness and transformation outcomes
  • Shape, pursue and win new opportunities through a combination of account growth, proposition development and business development activity
  • Lead strategic conversations with clients, positioning Mott MacDonald as a long-term trusted adviser as well as a delivery supplier
  • Take senior roles on key client accounts and engagements, maintaining sufficient proximity to delivery to build trust, spot emerging needs and identify opportunities for further value creation
  • Contribute to bids, proposals, thought leadership and market-facing activities that strengthen our reputation and market position
  • Apply a range of commercial approaches to price, structure and win work, tailoring models to client needs while protecting value and quality
  • Support account planning for key clients, setting out relationship, growth and delivery priorities to guide a coordinated approach across the business
  • Work closely with Client Directors, Account Leaders and Sector Leaders across the wider Mott MacDonald business to increase awareness of Advisory services and identify opportunities where Strategic Programme Management and Transformation capability can support client objectives
  • Act as a connector across the business, bringing opportunities into the wider Advisory pipeline and creating value through collaboration across disciplines, sectors and geographies
• Strategic programme management and transformation
  • Lead advisory and delivery support across the full transformation lifecycle, from strategy development and business case creation through to implementation and benefits realisation
  • Support clients in translating strategic objectives into clear, deliverable programmes, roadmaps and investment plans
  • Mobilise complex programmes and transformations, establishing effective governance, delivery structures, decision-making processes and performance frameworks
  • Deliver in multi-organisation environments, building consensus and the strategic alignment needed to move complex programmes forward
  • Provide programme assurance and executive-level advice to sponsors, programme directors and leadership teams
  • Help clients maintain focus on outcomes and benefits rather than delivery activity alone
  • Oversee the delivery of organisational, operational and behavioural change required to enable successful programme delivery
  • Draw on Business Change expertise as a core part of the solution, ensuring the people and organisational change needed to realise outcomes is planned and delivered alongside technical and infrastructure changes
  • Bring a strong strategic programme management perspective to complex transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment between vision, governance, capability, resources and execution
  • Provide leadership and challenge on programme design, delivery models, prioritisation, risk management and benefits management to improve confidence in programme success
• Capability and service development
  • Help grow and evolve Mott MacDonald's Strategic Programme Management & Transformation capability, contributing to its strategic direction and market positioning
  • Drive innovation in how programme management and transformation services are designed and delivered, responding to emerging client priorities such as productivity, efficiency, customer outcomes, social value, sustainability and organisational performance
  • Help evolve how the Strategic Programme Management & Transformation services are delivered, making best use of emerging technology, such as AI, to maximise the value delivered to clients while maintaining integrity, quality and data protection
  • Identify opportunities to combine expertise from across Advisory, Programme Management, Digital, Asset Management, Engineering and other disciplines to create integrated solutions for complex client challenges
  • Contribute to the development of methodologies, propositions, tools and thought leadership that strengthen our capability and differentiate our offer in the market
  • Champion effective knowledge management, ensuring lessons learned, best practice, client insights and delivery experience are captured, shared and incorporated into future service development
  • Build intellectual capital and reusable approaches that improve consistency, quality and efficiency across delivery teams
  • Support the ongoing development of market-leading Strategic Programme Management services that connect strategy, mobilisation, delivery and benefits realisation
• Sector contribution
  • Support growth across infrastructure sectors, with particular opportunities within transport, rail and aviation
  • Apply experience and insight across sectors to help clients solve complex strategic and delivery challenges
  • Work collaboratively with sector leaders and account teams to identify and develop new opportunities
  • Bring cross-sector learning and innovative thinking to client challenges, helping organisations adopt proven approaches from other industries
  • Contribute to programmes and transformations that deliver meaningful social, economic and operational benefits for communities, customers and infrastructure users
• People, technical and community leadership
  • Lead, coach and develop consultants, programme professionals and future leaders across the business
  • Create an environment that balances clear direction with empowerment, accountability and professional growth
  • Support career development, capability building and succession planning within the Strategic Programme Management & Transformation community
  • Play a leading role in raising the technical capability of the chapter through mentoring, coaching, technical leadership, quality assurance and capability development initiatives
  • Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing
  • Act as a role model for client leadership, delivery excellence, commercial awareness and professional integrity
  • Build inclusive, high-performing teams that encourage diverse perspectives and continuous improvement

Candidate specification

Essential:

• Significant experience leading or advising on major transformation programmes, strategic initiatives or complex change portfolios
• Strong track record in strategic programme management, including programme mobilisation, governance, assurance and benefits realisation
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, executive teams and programme sponsors
• Experience winning, growing and delivering work within a consultancy, advisory or professional services environment
• Demonstrable business development capability, including opportunity identification, proposition development, account growth and bid leadership
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical delivery approaches and successful programme execution
• Experienced in delivering demonstrable change in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience shaping and mobilising major programmes that connect business strategy with operational delivery
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing, mentoring and managing multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Experience working within infrastructure, transport, rail, aviation or similarly complex operating environments
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and bring together diverse capabilities to solve client challenges and create new opportunities

Desirable:

• Experience operating in Programme Director, Programme Lead, Transformation Director, Portfolio Director or Executive Advisory roles
• Track record of supporting major infrastructure investments, capital programmes or enterprise-wide transformation initiatives
• Experience developing and implementing programme management methodologies, frameworks or capability improvement programmes
• Experience across multiple sectors and the ability to transfer learning between industries
• Experienced in developing executive strategies, designing operating models, implementing digital transformation initiatives and delivering cross-organisation change programmes
• Established professional network and market profile within the infrastructure, programme management or transformation advisory market
• Experience developing service propositions, thought leadership and market-facing capability offers
• Professional qualifications such as MSP, MoP, PMP, PRINCE2, ChMC or equivalent
• Chartered status or equivalent professional recognition

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.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

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.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• 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.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

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.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

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