Managing Director / Partner - Award-Winning RIBA Practice, South West England

So what is the role?

Are you an RIBA-chartered Architect seeking the opportunity of a lifetime? Perhaps you’ve reached the ceiling within your existing organisation and are left wanting more. Do you want the chance to lead an ambitious team in shaping the future of their business?

Due to a forthcoming retirement, my Client, a leading architectural practice based in Devon with an impressive portfolio of Clients and projects that extends around the UK and internationally, is seeking an experienced Architect to become Managing Director / Partner on a full-time permanent basis.

Working with the Chairman and Board, my Client is seeking motivated candidates who demonstrate exceptional leadership, strategic commercial planning, business development and financial management experience, along with an appreciation for a growing and dynamic SME practice.

If you’re interested & think you’re suitable for this opportunity, please apply online OR call Greg at Paul Mitchell Associates (quoting ref: 11381) on 0116 254 9404.

What experience should I have?

Professional Experience:

• An RIBA-chartered Architect with exceptional experience in commercial practice,
• A strategic thinker with demonstrable success in developing and delivering operational strategies to achieve commercial objectives,
• A proven provider of solutions with an instinctive ability to identify and evaluate business opportunities,
• Significant experience in presenting key strategic recommendations at Board level, providing comprehensive and compelling business cases for all stakeholders,
• Exceptional projects and change management skills with a track-record in leading expansion from inception to completion,
• Superb people management skills… a natural coach and hands-on leader,
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills,
• First-rate commercial awareness and robust cost control aptitude,
• An appreciation of the SME business environment,
• A detailed knowledge of finance and being finance literate.

Qualities:

• Highly motivated to succeed, energetic, dynamic and confident,
• Capable of cultivating respect from all stakeholders,
• A strong relationship builder with the ability to communicate at all levels internally and externally,
• A team player yet a clearly defined leader,
• The ability to compliment and form a close relationship with the Chairman,
• Willing and able to travel and work to a flexible schedule, including overseas.

Role Remit:

• Provide highly visible and effective leadership to the organisation, engendering a culture and set of values as one in which people are encouraged to develop their professional, managerial technical skills in support of the achievement of the practice’s objectives,
• To lead, manage and motivate all employees, directly or indirectly via delegating appropriate authority (with clear mandates) through the management responsible, to execute their duties by creating a clear vision with shared goals in a positive and dynamic business environment,
• To lead the Management Team within the Terms of Reference set by the Chairman and Board to increase shareholder value,
• To deliver year-on-year business performance that meets and exceeds expectations whilst ensuring the interests of the business are protected,
• To meet the objectives of the practice’s strategic plan,
• To develop annual business plans for review and approval by the Board, ensuring Management Team commitment to achieve set goals,
• Manage and administer the day-to-day business affairs of the practice to meet all regulatory / corporate governance, good practice standards and ensuring a safe working environment for all employees.

Strategy:

• Work with the Chairman to ensure cohesive strategies are developed and implemented to achieve performance targets,
• Ensure that supporting strategies for, inter alia, Information Systems and Communications strategy, Leadership & Development strategy, Technology developments and Intellectual Property developments, retention and exploitation are developed and implemented for the business.

Leadership & Performance Management

• Lead the Management team, setting objectives for team members and appraising their performance annually,
• Ensure the Management team is always appropriate for the business, making recommendations to the Chairman on the top-level organisation as required,
• Ensure the Management teams are manging their organisations effectively, with a view to ensuring delivery of their function to the overall business plans,
• Develop a culture through organisation of “can-do” with appropriate motivational rewards for success and penalties for failure,
• Provide leadership on all HR matters,
• Ensure that a monthly Board Report is prepared, with contributions from all senior managers. Review and approval of monthly management accounts and short-term forecasts prior to their release to the Board.

Business Development:

• Provide active support to the business leaders in the management of key customer relationships,
• Review bid strategies for major bids and manage the approval process for bids,
• Provide support for business marketing activities such as exhibitions in conjunction with individual business leaders,
• Review all major contracts, service level agreements etc to ensure optimal results for the company.

Risk Management:

• Develop risk mitigation programmes as appropriate,
• Ensure that risk is appropriated managed with the practice via bid and contract reviews, reviews with the Finance Director etc,
• Report at all Board meetings on all aspects of risk management impacting on the practice’s activities at all times.

Operational Management:

• Chair monthly business performance reviews to ensure short-term performance is optimised,
• Chair monthly business control meetings covering CAP-EX applications, financial controls, information systems, quality, health & safety and environmental matters,
• Chair project and contract reviews for all major programmes,
• Review with the FD all cashflow forecasts ensuring adequate liquidity is maintained at all times,
• Lead the Management team in increasing operational efficiency throughout the organisation.

Marketing:

• Provide overall marketing direction to the business.

What package is on offer?

In return, my Client offers a superb opportunity to shape the future of the business with a highly competitive package:

• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Hours: Full Time
• Salary: from £100,000pa + (negotiable subject to experience & circumstances)
• Bonus
• Opportunity to become a Shareholder
• Assistance with Relocation Expenses (if applicable)
• Private Health
• Death-In-Service Benefit
• Company Pension

If you’re interested & think you’re suitable for this opportunity, please apply online OR call Greg at Paul Mitchell Associates (quoting ref: 11381) on 0116 254 9404.