Service Area Leader - Independent Assurance (Melbourne)

Role Description The Service Area Leader Independent Assurance Australia will lead the Independent Assurance Service Area Group in Australia to deliver high value Services aligned with regional priorities and global standards, driving capability development, operational excellence and client satisfaction through strategic oversight and change leadership. The role will be responsible for building and sustaining strong client relationships, while supporting the generation and conversion of current business opportunities. Role Accountabilities
- Monitor compliance with company policies and mandatory training across the Independent Assurance Service Area Group in Australia.
- Conduct evaluations and check ins for Team Leaders, mentoring and guiding their development and ensuring they do the same for their teams.
- Set Independent Assurance objectives and career paths, lead calibration processes for performance and reward, and decide on pay increases, bonuses and promotions across discipline pools.
- Act as an ambassador for change initiatives, coordinate enabling functions and create conditions for successful implementation.
- Maintain a complete view of skills and capabilities across Independent Assurance, validating data and managing key person risk and scarce resources.
- Align capabilities within the Australian market and client needs together with Team Leaders, ensuring technical excellence through enforcement of best practices and discipline standards in Independent Assurance.
- Contribute to global standards and lead pilots for the Independent Assurance Service Area Group, providing strategic input on where to invest for discipline growth and capability development.
- Foster a learning and growth culture by mentoring Team Leaders, setting clear expectations and supporting knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
- Oversee capability based resourcing decisions, maintaining accurate visibility of group availability and ensuring data integrity for proactive resourcing.
- Participate in demand and supply forecasting and provide reliable supply inputs, ensuring the Independent Assurance Service Area Group in Australia has the right talent at all times by assigning short- and long-term needs in line with workforce plans.
- Ensure the Independent Assurance Service Area Group meets financial and billability targets.
- Support Team Leaders in identifying complex tasks and connecting to global experts.
- Gather client feedback, monitor satisfaction and implement improvements.
- Escalate systemic issues beyond own scope and propose solutions.
- Review high complexity projects, flagging risks and managing signing authority, and contribute in projects.
- Leverage client relationships and work‑winning activities to drive sustainable revenue growth across accounts and sectors.
- Partner with Client Success Teams and Delivery Project Managers to define fit for purpose teams and ensure cost‑effective, high‑quality delivery that meets or exceeds client expectations.
- Collaborate with other Service Area Groups and Sector Executives to align priorities, share resources and ensure consistent application of global standards and best practices.
- Work closely with enabling functions such as Workforce Planning, HR and Commercial Operations to ensure consistency, efficiency and effective implementation of change initiatives.
- Champion a strong health, safety and wellbeing culture within the Service Area Group, ensuring Service delivery meets Arcadis health and safety expectations. Qualifications & Experience
- Proven multi‑team leadership experience in Independent Assurance within Australia in the AEC industry, with accountability for delivery performance, utilisation and client satisfaction.
- Proven ability to build, maintain and grow client relationships, with a track record of contributing to the development and winning of new business.
- Expertise in workforce planning, capability development and discipline excellence, including experience shaping and implementing capability development programmes and succession plans, in collaboration with the People Team and other stakeholders.
- Proven experience leading operational, organisational or capability‑related change initiatives within a Service or discipline environment, including adoption of recent ways of working.
- Awareness of digital and technology‑enabled delivery approaches relevant to the Service Area, and ability to support adoption within teams.
- Expertise in independence assurance, with sufficient depth to provide credible leadership, oversight and guidance on complex projects and to support discipline excellence within the group.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, able to build effective relationships and work collaboratively with Service and/or Sector leadership, Client Success Teams, Global Excellence Centres and Enabling Functions.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop Team Leaders, set clear expectations and support high performance, engagement and wellbeing.
- Strategic mindset with a focus on client delivery and business growth, able to align Service Area Group objectives with regional and global priorities.
- Ability to work closely with Client Success Team leadership to articulate explicit Service value propositions and translate client needs into effective delivery models and resourcing plans.
- Strong understanding of company policies, compliance requirements and health and safety expectations, and experience applying these within project and Service delivery.
- Leadership style that empowers Arcadians, promotes accountability and continuous improvement, and supports a healthy, inclusive and high engagement culture aligned to the Arcadis Leadership profile of being curious, driving success and igniting passion.
- Degree level education in engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
- Leverage client relationships and work‑winning activities to drive sustainable revenue. Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. As an equal opportunity employer, we value and promote diversity at Arcadis and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Veterans and spouses are invited to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rt2bc