Associate Director - Employer’s Agent and Cost Management

Job Description

Overview

Shape the places that matter. Lead clients, contracts, and teams that define the future.

At AtkinsRéalis, we are redefining how projects are delivered across the built environment by bringing together technical excellence, digital innovation and a collaborative mindset. Our London & South-East Cost Management team within Buildings & Places delivers some of the UK's most high-profile and impactful developments.

We are looking for an experienced Associate Director with strong Employer's Agent and cost management capability. You will lead complex development commissions, administer building contracts with confidence, provide strategic commercial advice, and build trusted relationships with clients, consultants and contractors. You will also contribute to team leadership, technical quality, and sustainable business growth. We work hybrid and flexibly across our offices in London (Nova North), Tunbridge Wells, Epsom, Oxford and Cambridge, prioritising where our clients and teams need us to be.

The Opportunity

You will take a leading role within a high-performing team delivering a diverse portfolio across residential, mixed-use, commercial real estate, healthcare, education, public sector, heritage and life sciences. You will predominantly be a Quantity Surveyor but with the flexibility to deliver a strong Employer's Agent role under design and build arrangements where needed, applying your wider cost management expertise to support projects from feasibility and procurement through construction, handover and close-out.

This role is suited to an established consultancy professional who can direct major or complex commissions, protect client interests through effective contract administration, lead and develop teams, and convert strong client relationships into repeat and new work. You will operate with significant autonomy while working closely with Directors, sector leads, and multidisciplinary colleagues.

Your role

Act as Associate Director level Quantity Surveyor and/or Employer's Agent on major, complex or strategically important development commissions, administering the building contract impartially, diligently and in accordance with its terms.

Lead commissions from feasibility and pre-contract planning through procurement, construction, handover, defects management and final close-out, taking accountability for service quality, programme, commercial performance and client outcomes.

Advise clients on development strategy, procurement, risk allocation, contract selection and the preparation of robust Employer's Requirements, tender and contract documentation. Issue and manage instructions, notices, certificates and other contractual communications, maintaining complete and auditable records.

Lead progress, design, commercial and risk meetings, coordinating actions across the client, consultant, contractor and stakeholder teams. Monitor contractor performance against programme, quality, statutory, planning and contractual requirements, escalating risks and agreeing recovery actions where required.

Oversee change control, payment assessment, extensions of time, loss and expense, practical completion, defects rectification and final account processes, drawing on specialist advice where appropriate.

Provide strategic cost management advice, including feasibility, cost planning, benchmarking, value management, procurement, tender analysis, forecasting and commercial reporting. Build, deepen and sustain strategic client relationships, identify opportunities to increase our share of spend and connect clients with the wider AtkinsRéalis offer.

Lead and assure multidisciplinary project teams, setting clear expectations and maintaining effective governance, risk management, reporting and decision-making. Own the commercial management of commissions, including fee management, forecasting, resource planning, change control, cash collection and delivery against agreed margins.

Lead and contribute to bids, proposals, presentations, account plans, thought leadership and market engagement, helping to secure new and repeat work. Take ownership, alongside the Head of Cost Management and leadership team, for pipeline growth, sector leadership, work winning and account development. Represent AtkinsRéalis and the profession with credibility, integrity and a strong external profile.

Lead, coach and mentor colleagues, developing Employer's Agent, contract administration and cost management capability across the team. Champion quality, safety, sustainability, digital delivery, data-led insight and continuous improvement in the way our services are delivered.

About you

Significant experience acting as Employer's Agent and delivering quantity surveying/cost management services within the UK property or built environment sector, preferably within a consultancy. A proven track record of leading major or complex development projects and commissions, including responsibility for client outcomes, contract administration, team performance and project commercial results.

Strong working knowledge of JCT Design and Build contracts and associated amendments, with wider knowledge of relevant JCT and NEC forms advantageous. Experience preparing and reviewing Employer's Requirements, tender and contract documentation, and managing the transition from pre-contract strategy into effective post-contract administration.

Confident experience managing contractual instructions, payment processes, change, delay, completion, defects and close-out, with the judgement to identify when specialist legal or technical advice is required. Strong strategic cost planning, procurement and commercial management capability, supported by a sound understanding of current construction markets and key cost drivers.

Excellent client and stakeholder leadership skills, with the confidence to influence senior decision-makers, chair complex meetings and resolve sensitive contractual or commercial issues. Evidence of developing client accounts, supporting work-winning and converting opportunities into sustainable revenue.

Experience leading, managing and developing teams, including delegation, technical review, coaching and performance support. Commercial acumen, including commission financial management, forecasting, resource planning, risk management and recovery of fees. The ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgement and provide clear direction in a fast-moving, deadline-driven environment.

A degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or a related discipline, together with MRICS or an equivalent recognised professional qualification. Competence in Microsoft Office, Excel and relevant industry tools, with an active interest in digital contract administration, cost management, data and emerging technology.

What success looks like

Clients regard you as a trusted development and commercial adviser and provide strong feedback, repeat commissions, and referrals. Contracts are administered consistently, transparently, and in accordance with their terms, with clear records and timely decisions.

Commissions are well governed, commercially successful and delivered to the agreed programme, cost, quality, and scope. Risks, change, and emerging issues are identified early, communicated clearly, and managed to support informed client decisions.

Your teams have clear direction, produce consistently high-quality work and develop stronger Employer's Agent and cost management capability.

You make a measurable contribution to pipeline, work-winning, cross-selling and growth in priority clients and sectors. You actively support an inclusive, collaborative and accountable culture across London & South-East.

Development and benefits

We will support your continued development through professional, technical and leadership learning, mentoring and opportunities to broaden your career across our clients, sectors and global bus