Buro Happold
Operational Excellence, Technology and Transformation Associate
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Join us to transform engineering delivery through technology, innovation and smarter ways of working.
This person can be based in Bath or London on a hybrid working model.
At Buro Happold, we're committed to creating a more sustainable, resilient and equitable world. As our business continues to evolve, we're seeking an exceptional Associate / Associate Director, Operational Excellence, Technology & Transformation to help redefine how engineering work is delivered across our global business.
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced engineering leader who combines operational expertise with a passion for technology, innovation and continuous improvement. Working at the intersection of engineering delivery, business strategy, AI and digital transformation, you'll help drive meaningful change that improves the way we work, collaborate and deliver for our clients.
About The Role
Joining our global Operational Excellence team, you'll work closely with senior business leaders to identify opportunities to improve engineering delivery through smarter processes, better ways of working, and the effective application of technology, data, automation and AI.
You'll lead high-profile transformation initiatives from discovery through to implementation, helping shape practical solutions to complex operational challenges while ensuring they remain commercially viable, scalable and aligned with our engineering excellence.
A key initial focus will be leading an important business-wide initiative exploring how engineering projects can move beyond traditional time and fee-based planning towards a more task and outcome-based approach, creating the foundations for greater consistency, collaboration and future AI-enabled optimisation.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading strategic operational improvement and transformation initiatives across the business.
- Working with senior stakeholders to identify business challenges and opportunities.
- Applying systems thinking and engineering expertise to improve workflows, processes and delivery performance.
- Exploring and implementing opportunities for AI, automation and digital enablement.
- Facilitating workshops, stakeholder engagement sessions and discovery exercises.
- Developing business cases, pilots and proof-of-concepts to test new approaches.
- Defining success measures and evaluating operational impact.
- Driving adoption and embedding sustainable change across teams and regions.
- Supporting greater consistency, efficiency and collaboration across our global business.
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What We Are Looking For
We're interested in hearing from individuals who bring:
- Significant engineering, operational or business transformation leadership experience.
- A strong understanding of how engineering projects are planned, governed, resourced and delivered.
- Experience in process improvement, operational excellence, business analysis or transformation programmes.
- The ability to simplify complex challenges and turn ideas into practical, scalable solutions.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the credibility to influence senior leaders.
- Experience delivering change from concept through pilot and adoption.
- An interest in emerging technologies and practical applications of AI, automation and digital tools.
- Excellent communication, facilitation and collaborative leadership skills.
- A naturally curious mindset with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
Why Join Buro Happold?
At Buro Happold, we believe in creating a better, more sustainable world. You’ll be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence. We offer a supportive environment where your contributions make a real difference.
What we Offer You
- Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies.
- Hybrid working arrangements.
- Attractive salary and benefits package including, private medical insurance, life assurance and income protection.
- 10% Car allowance.
- Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements.
- Generous company pension scheme.
- Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.
- Enhanced parenthood leave policies.
- 3pm finish on the last Friday of the month.
- A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you.
- Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions.
- A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities. A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.
- An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.
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A place for everyone
Buro Happold values individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of the way you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing difference allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
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