Practice Director (PD2) – Power and Energy Solutions (PES)

Job Description

Overview

We are seeking to appoint a Practice Director (PD2) for Power and Energy Solutions (PES), part of a wider Engineering & Design Practice of over 1,250 staff. PES is a fast‑growing, multi‑disciplinary practice of approximately 150 people, with teams located across the UK, Germany and our extended team in the Global Technical Centre (GTC).

The ambition and mission of the PES practice is to drive accelerated growth in in the Power, Renewables and Industrial growth market through the delivery and upscaling of engineering services. Expanding capacity rapidly, whilst delivering world class services is a key requirement of this role.

Our Ambition 2026 is to be recognised by our clients as a trusted partner for developing and implementing innovative engineering solutions that generate and transmit clean energy, while providing security and resilience for the current energy system. PES designs and delivers solutions across electricity transmission and distribution, energy storage, thermal power, hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

The Practice integrates a broad range of engineering and advisory disciplines, including:

• High Voltage (HV) electrical engineering (substations, protection & control, power systems studies).
• Civil engineering for energy infrastructure.
• Mechanical, process, chemical and control & instrumentation engineering.
• Process safety, subsurface and well engineering.
• Engineering project management.
• Advisory services for energy master planning and decarbonisation.

Your role

As Practice Director, you will have full accountability for setting and delivering the PES Practice Plan, driving growth, operational performance, technical excellence and people development across the practice.

You will lead the continued evolution of PES towards its 2026 growth markets and service lines, with particular focus on:

• Power Grids – supporting the Transmission & Distribution sector through full discipline substation and network design, including development of CDAE‑accredited capability within the GTC.
• Energy Storage & Hydrogen – advancing process‑led engineering, FEED and detailed design delivery capability, and strengthening construction oversight.
• Power & Industrial Assets – supporting operational performance, asset resilience and decarbonisation for power and industrial clients.

A critical success factor for the role is the scaling up of our delivery model, seamlessly integrating our GTC and services through trusted partners. To enable our growth ambitions in the Power, Renewables and Industrial growth market and Ireland Market., ensuring this integrated model delivers quality, value and scalability is a core leadership responsibility. As a senior member of the Engineering Practice Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping the wider business, contributing to cross‑practice collaboration and supporting market expansion into our AtkinsRéalis Markets, incl Defence, Buildings & Places, Water and Aviation.

Strategy & Growth

• Own and deliver the PES Practice Plan 2026, translating ambition into executable, measurable outcomes.
• Lead growth across PES priority markets, aligning with Key Accounts and Priority Pursuits in the Power & Industrial market and supporting Plant Engineering and Power Grids Global Practices.
• Develop and scale new and transformed service lines aligned to the energy transition, Net Zero and digital engineering agendas.
• Strengthen PES’ external profile as a trusted technical and delivery partner, engaging senior client and industry stakeholders.

Operations & Performance

• Deliver strong operational performance against Practice targets, including utilisation, revenue, cost control and margin.
• Ensure effective governance of bids, projects and portfolios, maintaining high standards of technical assurance, QSSE and commercial discipline.
• Work closely with regional and discipline leadership to enable consistent, high‑quality delivery across locations.
• Champion the integrated GTC & supply chain delivery model, ensuring clear accountability, capability development and seamless integration with UK and European teams.

Technical Excellence & Innovation

• Maintain and enhance PES’ technical leadership across HV electrical engineering, power systems, process‑led design and multi‑disciplinary delivery.
• Lead investment in tools, processes and templates to enable delivery of complex FEED and detailed design projects under the Project Execution Model (PEM).
• Drive adoption of digital innovation, including process digital twins and intelligent systems to optimise asset performance.

People & Capability

• Lead the PES People Plan, including workforce planning, recruitment and succession in line with projected growth (including a planned 23% increase).
• Build capability through targeted hiring, particularly in HV electrical engineering, civil CDAE leadership, BIM for substations, and cable and overhead line disciplines.
• Champion structured training and development, including Power Grids academies, discipline leadership, engineering project management and career pathways.
• Foster an inclusive, psychologically safe, high‑performance culture focused on wellbeing, engagement and talent retention.

About you

The successful candidate will ideally bring:

• Significant experience leading complex engineering delivery across energy, infrastructure or industrial markets.
• A strong technical foundation with the credibility to lead multi‑disciplinary engineering teams at scale.
• A proven track record of driving growth, service development and transformation in line with market demand.
• Demonstrable experience working in a Design & Build type environment directly into a contractor.
• Demonstrable experience operating a mature offshore or global delivery model.
• Strong commercial acumen, including ownership of sustainable P&L performance.
• Experience working at senior leadership level within a matrix organisation, enabling collaboration across practices and geographies.
• An outward‑facing mindset, with the ability to build trusted senior‑level client relationships.
• Willingness to travel across the UK and internationally as required.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

The application end date is 12th May 2026.

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.