Technical Director

Atlantic58 is a small but rapidly growing environmental, ecological and social consultancy & research centre based in the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides. We provide a range of professional consultancy services, focusing on projects within the unique social, cultural, and ecological environment of the Western Isles. Our clients range from local community development trusts to global multinationals and our work spans renewables, infrastructure, the space sector, conservation research, aquaculture, forestry, fisheries, and crofting.

Working in the Western Isles provides the extraordinary opportunity to operate in one of the UK’s most distinctive natural and cultural environments. Our projects regularly interact with nationally and internationally designated sites, sensitive habitats, protected species, and challenging environmental constraints alongside the unique characteristics of crofting, island and Gaelic communities.

Our office is set within the picturesque Lews Castle Grounds in Stornoway, situated within the UHI North, West and Hebrides campus. This setting provides close links with academia, offering opportunities for collaborative research and applied ecological projects. The office space is dog-friendly and includes a private enclosed outdoor area.

The Role

The Technical Director will have a senior technical and commercial role with responsibility for strategic management and support for Atlantic58’s ecological, social and environmental consultancy and research. This appointment represents a newly created role in a growing business, and represents a highly flexible opportunity for an experienced, creative and ambitious individual to tailor the role to the needs of both the existing projects and emerging work opportunities.

The role will maintain oversight of major projects and client relationships, manage workload and resources, support Project Managers, and provide senior commercial and contractual oversight. Depending on the existing environmental skills of the candidate, the role may also allow for Project Directorship of specific roles. The role will also include responsibilities associated with business development, including client liaison, contract negotiation and management, managing and contributing to proposals / tenders, and strategic management of team workload and project requirements. In summary, the successful candidate will provide the framework, oversight and senior support required to enable Project Managers and technical staff to deliver projects successfully, in some cases as Project Director.

This role would suit an experienced, senior environmental or ecological professional who wishes to further develop or expand their skills in wider business / commercial management. The role will report directly to the Managing Director.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide strategic overview, management and support to environment and ecological teams with workload planning, resourcing, staff support, line management and capacity development.
• Maintain senior oversight of projects, ensuring appropriate scope, timescales, resources, technical report content and delivery.
• Assume Project Director role for key projects – aligning with the candidates existing environmental or ecological skillset – to maintain appropriate support and direction for staff.
• Manage key client relationships, acting as a senior point of contact and supporting ongoing and repeat work.
• Lead commercial and contract management for specific contracts, including proposals, tender responses, contract review, negotiation, variations and subcontractor management, supported by back-office staff and technical support.
• Contribute to business development and planning including grant applications, recruitment, operational improvement, emerging workstreams and the continued development of Atlantic58.

Essential

• Qualifications: Degree or higher qualification in a planning, environmental, ecological or related discipline.
• Professional Membership: Full Chartered status or senior professional membership with a recognised body (e.g., CEnv, ISEP, CIEEM, CIWEM)
• Experience: Substantial experience at a senior level within environmental and/or ecological consultancy (or similar setting) including line management and managing multidisciplinary teams, complex projects and workloads.
• Line management: Experience supporting, line managing and developing Project Managers and technical staff.
• Commercial awareness: contract management and experience managing project budgets more than £100k, including client liaison, preparing, reviewing or negotiating proposals and tenders.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel for key client, site, or regulatory commitments.
• Applicants must possess the right to work in the UK

Desirable

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) OR construction environmental management and ECoW/Environmental Manager services experience.
• Sectoral exposure to marine infrastructure, conservation, major energy projects, renewables or aquaculture.
• Knowledge or experience of the Hebridean environment.
• Enterprise or commercial development, including academic or enterprise grant funding.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary band (£40,000-£60,000)
• Flexible working arrangements / TOIL
• Company pension.
• 25 days holiday plus 8 statutory/bank holidays.
• Monthly personal development days (full-time) or half day (part-time).
• Regular training and development opportunities.
• Relocation assistance if required.
• Company profitability based annual bonus.
• Other benefits under development in line with expanding company growth