Associate Director - Land Assembly

📢Full

Job Description:

Associate Director Scotland.docx (May to need be accessed via Desktop or our Careers website:  )📢

⏰ Full Time - Open to discuss flexible working

🏢 Directorate:
Land Assembly

Ardent is the UK’s leading provider of land, consent management, and stakeholder engagement services, supporting major infrastructure and regeneration projects from concept to delivery. We are passionate about delivering life‑improving change for communities and future generations.

The Associate Director will support the growth and success of the Scotland Team by managing project teams and overseeing land services for our infrastructure clients. This role is crucial for ensuring cohesive delivery and support for key renewable and infrastructure projects across the UK. The Associate Director will work closely with Project Directors to manage client requirements and budgets, provide technical advice, support junior staff development, and engage in business development.

By fostering a culture of integrity, collaboration, and excellence, the Associate Director will contribute to Ardent's mission of delivering life‑improving change for communities and future generations.

• Project Delivery: Manage projects and project teams alongside Project Directors to ensure successful project delivery and outcomes. Drive project performance to exceed client expectations and maximize team efficiency.
• Communication: Liaise with landowners and handle public enquiries to strengthen stakeholder relationships. Improve public trust, leading to smoother project delivery and reduced conflicts or delays.
• Project Hygiene: Lead financial management for projects, ensuring invoicing, debt collection, and time tracking are completed promptly. Meet or exceed commercial performance forecasts, supporting the wider business’s WIP and debtor KPIs.
• Technical Knowledge: Provide technical advice and guidance to the delivery team and clients. Deliver effective and efficient project instructions, building client and stakeholder confidence.
• People Leadership: Act as a coach and mentor to junior team members, providing line management and technical advice. Enhance team knowledge and performance, improving staff retention and engagement.
• Growth: Engage in business development and cross‑selling within the sector. Support team and business growth by expanding instructions or bringing in new clients to secure additional revenue.

• Client and Stakeholder Relationship Building: Experience in building effective working relationships with clients and stakeholders, both internally and externally. Foster cross-functional teamwork and aligned decision-making, leading to increased project efficiency.
• Leadership
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong leadership skills to inspire, develop, and empower high-performing teams. Create a culture of trust and accountability, enhancing team productivity and engagement.
• Market Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of the electrical utilities, renewable energy, and transport markets. Awareness of policy, project pipelines, and upcoming changes, including Natural Capital investments, Environmental Mitigation, and Forestry Management.
• Land Assembly
  
  Experience:
  
  Proven experience with land assembly for renewable/utility/transport projects, including both voluntary negotiations and compulsory acquisition. Deliver infrastructure projects in line with or ahead of program timelines.
• Negotiation and Stakeholder Engagement: Strong negotiation skills to secure timely agreements and maintain key stakeholder relationships. Proactively address project delivery challenges and opportunities.
• Communication
  
  Skills:
  
  Excellent interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, both verbally and in writing. Ensure clear and concise communication to team members, clients, and project teams.

✨ 25 days of annual leave (with options to buy or carry over)

✨ Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

✨ Benenden Health Care (mental health support, 24/7 GP services, physiotherapy, optical and dental cover, personal accident protection)

✨ Cycle to Work scheme, electric car leasing, recognition awards, long service leave, discretionary annual bonus scheme

🌈 We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer, and we’re passionate about creating a workplace where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work every day. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team where everyone belongs. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

🚀 If you’re ready to grow with a business that’s scaling rapidly and making a real impact, you’re in the right place!

• ✉️
  
  To apply or learn more about this opportunity, please submit your CV to or reach out to Savanna Poselay at savanna