Associate Director

A permanent, senior position with a competitive salary and excellent benefits package.

MEC is a multi‑disciplinary engineering and environmental consultancy, delivering services for private and public sector projects across residential, commercial, industrial, retail, leisure, education, and healthcare. Operating nationally from offices in Leicestershire, Birmingham, Brighton and Nottingham, we provide expert guidance for a wide range of clients.

As part of our continued growth, we are recruiting an Associate Director to join our Structures team. The role will be based in our Birmingham office, with flexibility for the right person to be located in one of our other offices.

You will take strategic ownership of our structures discipline, driving innovation, ensuring consistently high‑quality project delivery, and leading business development activity. The role includes overseeing and developing the team, managing a healthy pipeline of projects, and playing a key role in shaping the future of MEC’s structural services across the UK.

About the role:

The Associate Director will take strategic responsibility for the Structures discipline, leading its technical, commercial and operational performance across MEC. The role combines senior leadership, project oversight and business development, with accountability for team growth, service quality and long‑term discipline development.

• Responsible for building and leading a team.
• Assist the Directors with business operations to meet the productivity and growth aspirations of the company;
• Working nationally across the UK, including additional hours if necessary, to supervise site works and attend meetings and events to enable the delivery of all responsibilities.
• The Senior Management Team (SMT) is responsible for driving operational excellence and ensuring the achievement of long‑term business objectives.
• Actively participate in high‑level decision‑making processes that affect the overall direction of the company;
• Contributing to Senior Management Team/Board Meetings, driving continuous improvement in business processes to enhance productivity, quality, and efficiency across the company.

• Research, development and implementation of technological innovations for your discipline, to aid continual growth and diversity.
• Business development and networking. Maintaining and growing existing client relationships, identifying and perusing new opportunities and diversifying the range of commissions;
• Maintaining and developing department standards, systems and procedures, embracing industry "best practices" and embracing emerging technical advancement;
• Prepare business plans in accordance with company financial projection targets;
• Maintain a capabilities matrix for the team, identifying skill gaps and areas for development, and recommending strategies for recruitment, promotions, or professional development;

• Management of projects across a range of sectors and, where instructed by a Director, across multiple disciplines;
• Effective management to company standards including administration, client liaison, quality, fee proposals, budgeting, resource management, team briefing and invoicing;
• Monthly invoicing and Work in Progress (WIP) management;
• Managing applicable project finances, ensuring projects operate within agreed budgets;

• Attend meetings with clients, development teams, other disciplines and relevant third‑parties;
• Deliver high service levels to clients and secure repeat business/future opportunities for the company;
• Ensure the delivery of high quality and technically accurate calculations, technical documents, reports and correspondence to clients…