Job Description:

Associate Director / Regional Director - MEP Building Services Consultant
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Salary: Up to £120,000 per annum + Bonus + Excellent Benefits
 
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Mechanical Building Services professional to join a growing independent Building Services Consultancy as Associate Director / Regional Director, leading the Leeds office and becoming a key member of the senior leadership team.
 
This is a unique opportunity for an ambitious leader who combines technical excellence, commercial awareness and strong leadership capability, with the opportunity to influence business growth, develop teams and build long-term client relationships.
 
Working closely with the Managing Director, you will have overall responsibility for the operational leadership, commercial performance and continued growth of the Leeds office, ensuring projects are delivered to the highest technical, financial and quality standards.
 
The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping the future direction of the business, developing people, strengthening client relationships and driving sustainable growth.
 
About the Consultancy
 
A leading independent Building Services (MEP) Design Consultancy delivering innovative, sustainable and commercially focused engineering solutions throughout the UK.
 
The business provides:

• Mechanical Engineering Design
• Electrical Engineering Design
• Public Health Design
• BIM and Digital Engineering Services

Projects are delivered from concept through to completion across all RIBA stages, working with National Contractors, Developers, End Users and Public Sector Clients.
 
With an impressive portfolio of projects valued up to £150 million, the consultancy has built a strong reputation for delivering technically robust, practical and commercially driven engineering solutions across:

• Education
• Healthcare
• High-Rise Residential
• Commercial Offices
• Stadia and Leisure
• Mixed-Use Developments
• Industrial
• Student Accommodation

Key Responsibilities

• Leading the day-to-day management and performance of the Leeds office
• Providing leadership across Mechanical, Electrical, Public Health and BIM teams
• Ensuring projects are delivered safely, profitably, on programme and to the highest quality standards
• Driving operational efficiency, resource planning and project performance
• Supporting recruitment, succession planning and staff development
• Promoting collaboration across all offices
• Creating a positive, high-performing and accountable team culture

Client Relationship Management

• Build, develop and maintain long-term relationships with key clients
• Act as the senior client representative on major projects
• Attend client meetings, design workshops and strategic reviews
• Deliver exceptional client service to maximise repeat business
• Represent the consultancy professionally within the industry

Business Development & Work Winning
Working closely with the Managing Director, you will play a leading role in growing the business through:

• Identifying and securing new project opportunities
• Developing strategic client relationships
• Preparing and negotiating fee proposals
• Leading bid submissions and interview presentations
• Growing existing client accounts
• Developing new markets and sectors
• Supporting delivery of the long-term business strategy

Education Sector Leadership
 
A key requirement of this role is significant experience within the Education sector.
Applicants should demonstrate successful delivery of Mechanical Building Services Consultancy projects including:

• Department for Education (DfE) schools
• Primary and Secondary schools
• Colleges
• Universities
• Further Education establishments
• Decarbonisation programmes
• New-build schools
• Major refurbishment projects
• Public-sector frameworks

Existing client relationships within the Education sector would be highly advantageous.
Technical Leadership
 
Although this is a senior leadership role, candidates must possess strong technical knowledge of Mechanical Building Services Design.
 
Responsibilities include:

• Providing technical direction across multidisciplinary projects
• Leading design reviews and quality assurance processes
• Supporting project teams in delivering innovative engineering solutions
• Ensuring compliance with Building Regulations, British Standards, CIBSE guidance and industry best practice
• Promoting sustainable, low-carbon and energy-efficient design solutions
• Championing BIM and digital engineering throughout project delivery

Commercial Management
You will contribute to the commercial success of the business by:

• Monitoring project profitability and financial performance
• Reviewing fees, resources and programme performance
• Supporting contract negotiations
• Identifying and managing commercial risks
• Maximising project profitability
• Supporting debt management and fee recovery
• Contributing towards annual business planning and growth targets

Leadership & People Development
You Will

• Inspire, motivate and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Mentor Associate, Senior and Graduate Engineers
• Support professional development and Chartership progression
• Recruit and retain high-performing individuals
• Promote collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement
• Lead by example through professionalism, integrity and accountability

Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Degree qualification in Mechanical Building Services Engineering or equivalent
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or actively working towards Chartership
• Minimum 10 years' experience within a UK Building Services (MEP) Design Consultancy
• Strong Mechanical Building Services design background
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Extensive client-facing experience
• Demonstrable success in work winning and business development
• Significant Education sector experience
• Strong commercial awareness and financial understanding
• Excellent communication, leadership and interpersonal skills
• Full UK Driving Licence

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience leading a regional office
• Existing Education sector client network
• Knowledge of ISO 19650 and BIM delivery
• Experience delivering Net Zero Carbon and sustainable building solutions
• Membership of CIBSE or another relevant professional institution

Project Portfolio
Projects typically range from concept through to completion across all RIBA stages:

• RIBA Stage 0-2: Strategic Definition, Brief Development and Concept Design
• RIBA Stage 3: Spatial Coordination and Tender Documentation
• RIBA Stage 4: Technical and Detailed Design
• RIBA Stage 5: Construction Support, Site Inspections and Technical Assistance
• RIBA Stage 6: Handover, As-Built Information and Project Close-Out

Package & Benefits

• Salary up to £120,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
• Performance-related annual bonus
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced private pension
• Professional membership fees paid
• Continuous professional development and leadership training
• Flexible working arrangements
• Company laptop and mobile phone
• Annual leave plus bank holidays

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Mechanical Building Services leader who wants to take ownership of a regional office, develop high-performing teams and play a key role in the strategic growth of an ambitious consultancy.