Associate

Overview of the Role

As an Associate, you play a pivotal role in driving both technical and commercial contributions to our business. Your responsibilities extend beyond project-specific tasks, encompassing broader initiatives aimed at fostering technical and process improvements. This includes standardisation of outputs, ensuring cohesion across offices, refining recruitment processes and actively participating in R&D initiatives. In the realm of quality assurance (QA), you will be a key player, overseeing the QA process for all technical deliverables and regularly chairing design reviews within the team.

Associates maintain responsibility for their projects while collaborating with other senior colleagues to enhance technical skills and capabilities across the entire team. Beyond individual project responsibilities, you actively contribute to team performance by working closely with colleagues to establish learning pathways. Taking the lead on career development plans, you become a role model for other engineers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.

Demonstrating enhanced self-awareness, you excel in language use and consistency, aligning with the senior leadership message. Exceptional communication skills are a must, as you are expected to build and maintain client relationships through the successful delivery of projects, showcasing the inherent value of DFC’s services.

In addition to your core responsibilities, we encourage and support your professional growth through comprehensive training programmes, mentorship opportunities, and initiatives aimed at furthering your career development. Join us in an exciting journey where your contributions are valued, and you have the chance to make a meaningful impact within our dynamic and innovative organisation.

We look forward to welcoming candidates who share in our passion for excellence and are eager to contribute to our collaborative and forward-thinking team.

Suitability

To thrive in this role, you should:

• Hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) field, or an equivalent qualification.
• Be able to demonstrate an ability to converse technically in English with precision and clarity.
• Recognise the value of office presence to foster a collaborative environment for team growth. DFC value a balanced approach that allows our team members the flexibility to thrive in the vibrant atmosphere of our office and in the comfort of their own home when needed.
• Bring a wealth of experience, with a background in an engineering consulting role, preferably within a fire engineering environment.
• Possess advanced knowledge of the UK construction industry, an understanding of the project procurement process, strong commercial awareness, RIBA stages, and the pivotal role of a fire engineer within this process.
• Hold Chartered Engineer status through the Engineering Council with a relevant UK institution or possess an equivalent international qualification.
• Exhibit substantial experience in effectively managing the time, deliverables and training of other graduate engineers, engineers, and senior engineers in a fire engineering capacity.
• Showcase the ability to independently oversee a significant number of projects simultaneously, both as a project leader and in a support capacity, actively participating in all aspects of the project management process.
• Identify a specific area of technical expertise and lead the company’s initiatives in this specialised field.
• Demonstrate outstanding leadership, mentorship, and role model attributes that inspire and guide team members towards success.

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary: Our Associate salary shall be based on qualifications, relevant experience and strength of candidate.
• London Weighting: A 12% weighting is applied to London team salaries, up to a maximum of £50k, the portions of salaries exceeding £50k do not attract London weighting.
• Holiday Entitlement: 30 days paid annual leave per year (pro-rated for part time employees). Additionally, you will be entitled to the public bank holiday days set for England and Wales each year, pro-rated for part time employees.
• Bi-Annual Commercial Bonus Payment: Reflective of DFC’s commercial performance, paid in December and June, is based on a percentage of gross salary earned during the qualifying period.
• Flexible Working: DFC value a balanced approach that allows our team members the flexibility to thrive in the vibrant atmosphere of our office and in the comfort of their own home when needed.
• Employee Assistance Programme: DFC offers an Employee Assistance Programme which includes wellbeing and mental health support with a 24/7 confidential helpline with calls answered by experienced in-house counsellors, legal and financial experts.
• Company Pension: DFC offers a company pension scheme, providing a 150% match of employee contribution up to a maximum of 7.5% of your annual gross salary.
• Flexible Benefits: DFC offer several salary-sacrifice benefits, including a cycle-to-work scheme and the option to purchase personal computer equipment.
• IT Equipment: On your start date, you will be provided with a company laptop and mobile phone as part of your IT equipment package.
• Professional Membership: DFC supports your professional development by reimbursing the annual cost of membership to two relevant professional institutions.
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme: DFC employees have the option to make savings on the cost of their commute by purchasing a season ticket. The commuting loan is interest free for employees.