Regional Business Manager

Location: Hybrid / Oxford, UK
Job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Architecture Architecture
Salary: Competitive Salary

Are you a dynamic leader with strong business and financial acumen, excellent organisational skills, and a proven track record in strategy development and implementation?

We are looking for a Business Manager to work alongside the Regional Partner, Deputy Regional Partner and Studio Leadership Team in the West region to deliver the Regional Business Plan. The Business Manager will oversee day-to-day operations across our region's four cost centres, ensuring consistency and excellence in the running of our studios and in the efficient delivery of our architectural projects.

The Regional Business Manager will collaborate with the Regional Partner, Deputy Regional Partner, and Studio Leads on the creation and implementation of both strategic and operational initiatives to ensure our regional goals and objectives are successfully achieved, aligned and contributing to Purcell's national 'Collective Ambition' Business Plan.

Purcell is an award winning employee owned architectural and heritage consultancy practice with a commitment to quality, innovation, and diversity. We have staff of approximately 330 talented architects, designers, heritage consultants and surveyors across 14 offices, in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Winners of Architect Employer of the Year 2022.

Collaboration is central to our employee ownership culture, providing opportunities to work on some of the finest buildings; from meticulous heritage and conservation schemes to bold contemporary design. We offer a rewarding and supportive environment for personal and professional development and our employee owned ethos empowers everyone to use their voice. We believe in creating an equitable and inclusive culture, founded on our values, which celebrates knowledge sharing and our successes, to build an inspiring work environment.

It is our distinctive employee owned working culture that has contributed to our status as a World Architecture Top 100 Practice, renowned for our excellence in architecture and heritage consultancy.

Our benefits package includes agile, flexible and hybrid working (a minimum of 3 days in office, up to 2 days WFH), annual leave increasing with long service, life assurance, study sponsorship with paid study leave, sabbaticals, employee assistance programme, season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, virtual GP service, subscription fees, company day out, a volunteering scheme and enhanced learning & development opportunities.

• Collaborate with RP, dRP and Studio Leads to define and implement strategic goals for the region and studios that foster growth and innovation, translating objectives into day to day action.
• Provide insights and recommendations on how the region operates to align regional strategies with broader organisational objectives, ensuring the regional business plan supports the national plan (Collective Ambition). Oversee KPI's on behalf of the West Region Leadership Team.
• Ensure regional studios have a balanced structure comprising technical and administrative staff of appropriate levels of skill and experience required to deliver current and future workload and key support functions are covered.
• Monitor and support performance management of individuals alongside Partners, Associate Partners and Line Managers. Identify, encourage and address learning and career development opportunities within the objectives of the West Region Business Plan.
• Forecast recruitment requirements, ensuring we have the highest calibre of people for each role. Work with RP, dRP and Studio Leads to identify top talent and skills gaps, and where necessary determine requirements for regional structural changes.
• Maintain relationships with key stakeholders, clients, and industry leaders.
• Identify regional trends and patterns that require Main Board attention, preparing and presenting through reports and presentations.
• Keep employees engaged, motivated and working effectively and efficiently.
• Encourage positive initiatives and team building activities.

• Oversee the financial health of all cost centres within the region, providing commentary to RP, dRP and Studio Leads on change and potential risks to achieving financial targets.
• Maintain a grip on projects presenting financial or reputational risk. Develop and communicate project specific action plans with the Project Lead for review and adoption by RP, dRP and Studio Leads. Seek opportunities for maximising fee income.
• Maintain regional productivity through effective forecasting and utilisation of cross office fee income opportunities (regional and/or national) to minimise non productive time expenditure.
• Oversee regional budgets, ensuring effective allocation and utilisation of resources.

• Supervise day to day business operations, ensuring adherence to organisational standards.
• Take guidance from the Practice Operations and Specialist Support Team networks, manage implementation and provide oversight of any matters of statutory or regulatory compliance.

• Support the Leadership Team in their work winning initiatives through effective resource management in following up bids and opportunities, including support for reallocation of project tasks and activities across regional teams where required.
• Support RP, dRP and Studio Leads to identify trends and patterns affecting work winning and bid performance, liaising with regional teams and the wider practice where required.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a similar managerial role within the construction or professional services industry.
• Experience: Previous positions with regional or multi location responsibilities with minimum team size of 50 people and turnover of £5m.
• Experience: Proven experience of leading a team through project lifecycles (planning, budgeting, scheduling, and tracking) ensuring delivery meets budget, programme and quality standards.
• Experience: Ability to demonstrate strategic thinking, planning and vision setting in previous roles.

• Exceptional leadership and team collaboration abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage risk, implement solutions and drive efficiency and effectiveness.
• Problem solving and decision making capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Proficiency in operational management.

This job description is a guide to the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive and will be subject to change as working requirements dictate and to meet the organisational requirements of Purcell.

Don't meet every single requirement? That's okay.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented backgrounds can be less likely to apply unless they meet every criteria listed. At Purcell, we are committed to building an inclusive, transparent, and welcoming team. If you're enthusiastic about the role and excited to grow and learn with us, we warmly encourage you to apply.

When applying, please feel free to use your preferred name - we don't require full or birth names at this stage.

We are proud to foster a culture of kindness, respect, and authenticity, where everyone can thrive and bring their whole selves to work.

Please submit a copy of your CV by following the application workflow. Please include details of your Right to Work in the United Kingdom, as well as an available start date.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback. If you have not heard from us within 6 weeks of your original application, then you have been unsuccessful. Please continue to look at our vacancies and apply where relevant. We wish you all the best in your job search.

As world leaders of heritage and conservation, Purcell is committed to embracing diversity and equal opportunity within our international teams, reflective of the society in which we work and live.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and celebrate differences through our culture of employee ownership.