AtkinsRéalis
Senior Sector Director, Complex Projects
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Job Description Overview
Engineering a better future for our planet and its people
At AtkinsRéalis, we deliver some of the world's most complex and critical programmes. As we continue to grow across our Complex Projects business unit, we are seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Senior Sector Director – Complex Projects, responsible for our Nuclear, Defence, Water and Power sectors.
This is a high-profile leadership role with responsibility for our growth sectors, leading and winning profitable work that drives sustainable growth, strengthening client relationships, overseeing service delivery, and leading a team of Sector Directors across some of the UK's most strategically important infrastructure and national security markets.
Reporting to the Lead Sector Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping market strategy, securing new opportunities, and ensuring the successful delivery of major programmes that support the UK's net zero, resilience, security and infrastructure ambitions.
The role combines strategic leadership, commercial accountability and market-facing growth responsibilities across a portfolio exceeding £50m revenue scope. We offer flexibility to be based from any of our UK offices, with travel across the UK and occasionally internationally as required.
What you'll be doing
As Senior Sector Director, you will lead our engagement across Nuclear, Defence, Water and Power markets, driving sustainable growth while ensuring delivery excellence and strong commercial performance.
Your role
Strategic Growth & Market Leadership
- Develop and execute growth strategies across Nuclear, Defence, Water and Power markets for the UK&I Complex Projects business unit.
- Build and maintain senior relationships with government bodies, asset owners, operators, regulators, major contractors and delivery partners.
- Identify and secure new opportunities, expanding market share and creating sustainable growth pipelines.
- Lead cross-business collaboration to maximise opportunities and deliver integrated solutions for clients.
- Represent AtkinsRéalis at industry events, forums and conferences, enhancing our market profile and thought leadership.
Commercial & Business Performance
- Own revenue growth and contribute to market budgeting, forecasting and business planning activities.
- Oversee profitability and financial performance across the sector portfolio.
- Align commercial outcomes with strategic business objectives.
- Support investment prioritisation, resource planning and growth initiatives.
- Monitor performance across the sectors and implement improvement actions where required
Client & Market Development
- Provide strategic direction across key client accounts and growth targets.
- Champion long-term client partnerships and trusted advisor relationships.
- Work closely with our Market Directors, Client Directors and technical leadership teams to shape winning propositions and growth strategies.
- Ensure our services remain aligned with evolving client needs and market challenges.
- Drive business development, work-winning and account growth activities across the portfolio.
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Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing team of Sector Directors and senior leaders.
- Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, teamwork and continuous improvement.
- Develop leadership capability and succession plans across the business.
- Foster collaboration across practices, markets and geographies to maximise client value and business performance.
About you
We are interested in hearing from accomplished leaders with a strong track record of growing businesses, winning work and leading teams within complex infrastructure, engineering or programme delivery environments.
Essential experience
- Significant leadership experience within one or more of the Nuclear, Defence, Water or Power sectors.
- Proven track record of developing and delivering growth strategies that create measurable business outcomes.
- Experience of leading and winning major bids and frameworks within these sectors.
- Strong commercial acumen, with responsibility for business performance, profitability and revenue growth.
- Established network of senior industry contacts across relevant sectors.
- Demonstrable success in winning work and developing strategic client relationships.
- Experience engaging and influencing senior stakeholders across both public and private sector organisations.
- Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop multidisciplinary teams in complex environments.
- Exceptional communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
Desirable experience
- Experience operating across multiple regulated sectors.
- Previous accountability for business unit or portfolio P&L performance.
- Experience supporting major UK government programmes and critical national infrastructure projects.
- Knowledge of delivery models, alliance structures and collaborative contracting approaches.
Qualifications
- Degree-qualified or equivalent professional qualification.
- Chartered or professionally qualified within engineering, project management, commercial management or a related discipline.
- Commitment to professional excellence, mentoring and leadership development.
Rewards & benefits
Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.
Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis
About AtkinsRéalis
We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.
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Additional information
Security clearance
This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.
We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees.
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.
Worker Type: Employee
Job Type: Regular
At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.
Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital.
The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital.
News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.
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