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Jacobs

Lean and Business Improvement - Associate Director

Leeds
Posted about 17 hours ago
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Your Impact

This is more than a leadership role. It's an opportunity to shape how some of the most complex programmes are planned, managed and delivered.

As an established Leader in Lean and Business process improvement, you will develop and deliver process improvement, management and business excellence initiatives across major nationally critical projects. Influencing strategic decisions, unlocking better outcomes through smarter delivery.

  • You'll manage high-performing teams, build trusted and collaborative relationships, identifying opportunities to broaden our portfolio of solutions, and play a key role in growing our capability footprint that will shape the future of programme delivery.
  • Your expertise won't just impact single projects. You'll influence the development of future leaders, and help define how we deliver value across multiple sectors.
  • You'll provide strategic oversight across multiple projects, ensuring successful delivery while supporting clients through complex challenges.
  • As a trusted advisor, you'll work closely with programme teams, project leaders and client stakeholders to shape delivery approaches, optimising processes, tools, resources and drive continuous improvement.
  • You'll also play a pivotal role in developing our capability and solutions, mentoring colleagues and peers, creating an environment where people can thrive and achieve.
  • Whether you're leading programme strategy, facilitating critical workshops, supporting major bids or developing future talent, you'll be at the centre of meaningful, business-critical decisions.

What's In It For You

We're committed to creating an environment where aspiring people can do their best work and build exceptional careers. You'll benefit from

  • The opportunity to manage and influence pioneering high profile Infrastructure and Utility projects and programmes.
  • A genuine leadership platform where your ideas will shape strategy, capability growth and deliver lean improvement and business excellence.
  • The chance to grow and expand your professional network.
  • Be part of a highly collaborative culture that values innovation, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
  • Career progression opportunities, where your impact can be felt at every level.
  • Have the flexibility and trust that empowers you to manage your work in a way that works for you.
  • Gain the opportunity to mentor, develop and inspire the next generation of improvement, lean and business management professionals.

Reasons to use Rodeo

I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.

Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

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Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.

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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

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It searches the market for you

Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.

Why you're a good match

You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

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Strong

Experience fit

Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

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Strong

Only hits

No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.

Here's What You'll Need

We would be delighted to hear from established business improvement leaders, who have a real blend of the following skills, experience and attributes

  • Significant experience spearheading business process improvement and lean initiatives to programme management and complex delivery functions.
  • A sound and demonstrable knowledge of 5s and Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
  • A track record of successfully managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering outcomes across large-scale programmes.
  • Established client and business-facing track record, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders.
  • Experience of leading both operational and strategic portfolio growth.
  • Experience managing risks, governance and delivery performance within complex environments.
  • A passion for developing people, mentoring teams and building high-performing cultures.
  • Proven capability in resource planning, workforce management and team management.

We Offer

  • Compensation That Reflects Your Skills And Experience.
  • Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
  • Enhanced pension contributions of up to 10%.
  • Private medical cover and Digital GP access.
  • Family planning and fertility support services.
  • Enhanced parental leave and family support programmes.
  • Employee Networks: We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds.
  • Life assurance at four times your salary.
  • Income protection for long-term financial security.
  • Access to wellbeing support, including Calm and Daily Burn.
  • Professional memberships funded and ongoing development opportunities.
  • Paid volunteering time, matched charity funding, and community engagement programmes.

Ready to Lead What's Next?

Apply today and bring your direction, enterprise and expertise to a role where your impact will be seen, valued and celebrated from day one.

Good luck with your application

Joining Jacobs

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

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With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.

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Location

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

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