Want to work with the most sought-after minds and most-talked about projects? Your skills in delivering Aviation, High Rise projects and championing technical standards might just make you our new Associate - PDM.
The purpose of this role is to work within the practice on some of our large multi-disciplinary projects in India. These projects will be projects of significant scale and value and will vary in nature including airports, commercial, residential, cultural, and sport. The position will be based in the India but will involve travel within the country for site visits and meetings.
Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.
From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.
Your next role
The role of an Associate - PDM can be very varied, duties will include but are not limited to:
Project Delivery
- Leading a project as a Project Leader.
- Working within an agreed budget, raising and/or resolving any budgetary concerns and ensuring profit targets are maintained.
- Drafting fee proposals, negotiating additional fees with the client, where appropriate.
- Autonomously representing Buro Happold and providing consultancy advice to clients, architects and collaborators.
- Attending and chairing meetings with architects, planners, contractors, government agencies etc. in a consultative capacity as part of a single and/or multi-disciplinary team.
- Be alert to commercial risks and opportunities and take immediate and necessary action to manage.
- Driving project performance, service delivery and technical and commercial outcomes and undertaking reviews, ensuring client delivery is above expectation
- Ensure risks are proactively identified, assessed and managed to avoid adverse impacts on the project.
Leadership
- Lead the design, analysis and consultancy on projects as guided by the PL/PD.
- Coach, mentor and support junior employees to ensure they can be as effective and successful, as possible.
Collaboration
- Establish a strong internal and external network to contribute to work winning through bidding for projects and repeat work. Where appropriate, set personal work winning targets and promote other Buro Happold service offerings.
- Work in a multi-discipline environment interfacing with and delivering projects through the wider team (core disciplines, specialists, architects and client).
Technical Competence
- Propose multiple creative solutions to challenges, articulating and documenting the benefits/shortfalls of each to the client while taking into consideration other disciplines’ requirements.
- Produce reports, presentations, models and drawings as required.
- Understand and following all of Buro Happold’s internal quality assurance procedures, ensuring that they are rigorously applied across all projects; actively seek to improve processes and engage with the QA team to implement these.
- Ensure maintenance of ongoing learning and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- Continually look to enhance productivity through improved processes, procedures and systems.
Your skills and experience
As an experienced Associate - PDM, we would expect that you will be able to demonstrate:
Required Skills:
- Contributes to the development of innovative solutions and collaborates with team members to implement them effectively.
- Fosters a supportive environment for learning and creativity by sharing knowledge and encouraging team engagement.
- Builds understanding of sector trends and client needs to support business development efforts in alignment with team goals.
- Identifies project risks and opportunities, and communicates them clearly to clients and internal stakeholders.
- Maintains strong working relationships with internal teams and external partners to support project delivery.
- Embraces digital tools and computational engineering methods to improve design efficiency and quality.
- Shares relevant commercial and technical insights during team meetings and encourages open dialogue and idea exchange.
- Participates in regular project reviews, providing timely feedback and ensuring alignment with client expectations.
- Supports the delivery of projects with a focus on technical quality, timely execution, and client satisfaction.
- Keeps informed about market trends and how they may impact project delivery and client needs.
- Helps manage project risks and supports mitigation strategies in collaboration with senior leadership.
- Acts as a positive role model, promoting a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
- Communicates project goals and updates clearly, encouraging input and participation from all team members.
- Demonstrates flexibility in leadership—knowing when to delegate and when to take initiative.
- Encourages technical excellence within the team and supports participation in external industry forums and events.
- Assists in recruitment efforts by helping evaluate candidates for technical and cultural fit.
- Understands key project challenges—technical, contractual, and financial—and supports junior team members in navigating them.
- Participates in internal and external forums to represent the team and contribute to knowledge sharing.
- Develops expertise in a specific technical area and contributes to outreach activities to build the firm’s reputation.
Desirable Skills:
- Supports financial success of projects through effective planning and resource management.
- Proactively contributes to cost recovery efforts and helps improve project financial performance.
- Assists in reporting on project and team performance to senior leadership.
- Contributes to performance reviews and lessons learned across projects to support continuous improvement.
Required Experience:
- Hands-on experience and track record of design delivery of minimum 2 Aviation projects in the region.
- Experienced technical and project design delivery; track-record of exceptional delivery over a sustained period within the industry (typically 12+ years).
- Must have excellent command on business communication.
- Preferably Chartered Engineer with international institutions
- Preferably have worked on international projects.
- Must be proficient in a global matrix organisation.
Desirable Experience:
- Multiple stints in international working environments
- Likely to have proven success across the region; capable of thinking outside of own patch to drive performance improvement for the benefit of the Region, and a broader group.
Required Qualifications and Accreditations:
- Degree in Engineering in Civil/Structures discipline
- Professional Accreditation of a recognised and relevant organisation
- Proven experience in a comparable role as a lead designer and/or project manager on large, complex, multi-discipline projects
- Strong facilitation and team leadership capability
- Effective communication capability
- Understanding of relevant policy and regulation
- Strong external network to support you in the role
What we offer you
Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies.
- Competitive salary and benefits package including Annual Discretionary Bonus, Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme for both you and your family, Group Personal Accident Cover
- Our 5-day workweek policy supports work-life balance, ensuring you have time to relax and recharge.
- A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you
- Receive entitlements to two professional memberships or subscriptions, fostering your professional network and knowledge
- Benefit from our Employee Referral Bonus, rewarding you for bringing talented candidates into our fold
- A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and wellness initiatives designed to support your mental and physical health
- Back to Work Program for Women - Swam Siddha - We're committed to empowering women, facilitating seamless re-entry into the workforce through our dedicated program
- Engage with our vibrant community through the Young Employees Forum, Diversity and Inclusion Forum, and BH Women's Network, fostering a supportive and diverse workplace culture
- Make a difference in the world with our Share Our Skills (SOS) program, offering opportunities to support local communities and those in need globally.
- An International Culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.