Major Projects Director (Infrastructure Planning/DCO) - National

Cobalt is thrilled to be partnered with leading Utilities & Infrastructure consultancy - Dalcour Maclaren, to find them their lead for Planning within the Major Projects space - covering DCOs, NSIPs, energy and transport.

With the key to this opportunity being to make the most of their excellent network, track record and expertise, from their major national client base to impressive Surveyors, and Planners working on less major projects.

Given the nimble nature of their business, this person could be based in either the North or South - with possible office locations being: Bicester (HQ), Bristol, Tewkesbury, Birmingham, Manchester or Leeds.

Role Purpose:

To lead and manage a new Major Projects Team to deliver Environmental Statements and DCO's for Utilities and Infrastructure clients. Build on previous success of delivering small and medium planning and environmental projects, by harnessing technical expertise in the major projects arena to enhance the service offering and capability of the existing E&P Team. Provide strategic project advice to clients, in addition to managing and expanding the technical resource of the E&P team, primarily through recruitment with the view to consistently exceed targets and expectations, demonstrating pride in the standard of work and the people behind it.

Key Activities:

• Assess the current skillset available within the E&P team and work with the E&P Lead to identify resource needs and a programme for recruitment.

• Lead on this recruitment piece to ensure people of the right technical calibre and character are recruited to join the existing E&P team, complementing our services to clients, but to focus on delivering major projects. Lead on providing strategic advice to clients on their major schemes across all utility and infrastructure sectors.

• Ability to understand and interpret appropriate legislation to advise clients on the most appropriate legislative approach.

• Keep abreast of changes to legislation to ensure advice provided is current and appropriate.

• Ability to provide advice relating to nationally significant projects, specifically DCOs across all sectors and understand and advise on the merits of this form of delivery, as well as the Town and Country Planning Act.

• Initially, manage and deliver a small number of projects, to include preparation of text and technical documents to assist and guide the development of the wider team. Once the team is established, responsibilities would shift, with a focus on the strategic review and guidance of the professional delivery team.

• Responsible for the overall financial management and performance of the Major Projects team. Specifically responsible for the sign off on fee proposals to clients and acceptance of sub-consultant quotes.

• Providing financial project management advice to the wider team, ensuring best practice relating to invoicing, scope creep, WIP, debt and gross margin performance.

• Provide supportive line management for the Major Projects Team, ensuring adherence to the DM values and behaviours, holding regular constructive one to ones, empowering individuals by recognising their achievements, encouraging feedback and delegating effectively whilst also being able to hold difficult conversations.

• Manage the Environmental Planning 'Major Projects' service area with the view to provide the highest standard of service, setting out, managing and reviewing objectives in line with wider Environmental and Planning team organisational targets and strategies, taking pride in the full ownership of the standard of work, client satisfaction and financial and team performance.

• Use own excellent leadership skills to grow strong working relationships with clients and own team, using people's strengths and acting on feedback and suggestions to drive and improve service delivery.

• Proactively support the team with wider business development, using own excellent commercial skills to forward innovative ideas, achieve financial and operational efficiency gains and bring in new work through networking and cross-selling.

• As a secondary task, identify future resources with the E&P Lead, across other technical disciplines so that a complimentary suite of technical experts is identified and a programme of recruitment mapped out with the aim of delivering more in house technical services as part of DCO delivery

• Take responsibility for time recording and client reporting in own area of responsibility, maximising billing and continuously seeking financial gains.

• Act as an ambassador both to the Environmental and Planning function and to the wider company by getting involved in engaging and inspiring pitches and presentations both internally and externally, influencing the future direction of the function and of the company.

Key Skills, Experience & Knowledge:

• Proven experience at a senior level (minimum Associate, or above) in preparing, managing and delivering major projects, including DCOs and Environmental Statements.

• Significant experience of multi-disciplinary major projects, to include managing their delivery.

• Experience working for a planning and multi-disciplinary consultancy is desirable.

• Experience of interviewing, recruiting and building and manging a small technical team

• Possess as an individual sufficient commercial and financial understanding or work with the E&P Lead sufficient to create a recruitment programme and revenue plan for the first 3 years to allow for company budgeting and revenue forecasting

• In the context of delivery of DCO, you will ideally have experience of all the 6 stages, from preliminary design and pre-application through to decision and post-decision.

• Experience of delivering major projects across a variety of utility and infrastructure sectors (i.e. Water, Energy, Highways etc…)

• Chartered in a relevant area of expertise, such as RTPI, IEMA etc…

• Strong commercial acumen, with proven financial project management experience.

The DM Way - the way we work

As role holder of this position you will be required to be a role model of the DM Values and be proficient in the following:

Trust (Commitment & Leadership, Influencing & Impact)

• Translates overall strategy into meaningful direction for the team

• Adapts style and tactics to the needs of the person, audience or situation

Excellence (Analytical Thinking, Planning & Prioritising)

• Thinks through the business implications of problems and situations

• Relentlessly removes barriers to performance excellence

Pride (Developing People, Delivering Results)

• Actively encourages and supports individuals to realise their full potential e.g. providing mentoring and coaching

• Uses measures to identify shortfalls in product quality and client services and acts upon the information

One Team (Building Relationships, Team Work)

• Encourages individuals to address and resolve conflicts in the team

• Ensures that disagreements and conflicts are brought out into the open

Progressive (Researching the Business Environment, Creative Thinking)

• Uses a broad range of sources to build a rich information base about the external business context

• Is resourceful in identifying and exploiting trends and developments