Arup University Business Partner - Americas

Description

• Engage with the Region Business Development, Client Relationship Managers, and Work Winning teams, as appropriate, on behalf of the leadership team to identify opportunities for AU to support work winning, client engagements, and major pursuits
• Recruit, manage, support, and enable the development of a cohort of AU Geography Representatives to represent and interface with Arup members around the delivery and implementation of AU programs and services
• Part of the global leadership team of Arup University, working across Regions and AU portfolios of Discovery, Expertise, and Knowledge to shape and deliver an integrated strategic plan for AU
• Responsible for working with AU Geography Representatives on region advocacy and promotion of AU, including internal and external engagement of stakeholders and clients to capture, delivery, and communicate the value and impact of AU
• Primary point of contact for AU in the region, including Region Total Design Leadership, Regional Leadership Teams, and region senior leadership
• Act as a mediator where local AU and other priorities or behaviors do not align and result in conflict
• Responsible for quarterly reporting of AU activities and impact for Region TD Leadership and region leadership teams
• Enabler of collaboration and coordination across Region Program/Service Leaders/Champions, acting as convener of Region SMEs where needed
• Coordinate in-region investment needs and funding requirements and feed these into AUs global integrated operating plan
• Engage region leadership and stakeholders to identify current and emerging business- and client needs and feeding these into AUs strategic plan – be the bridge between global and local and ensure region needs are understood
• Support for region recruitment of AU staff, such as regional governance support or liaison with People team on local labor law and culture
• Participate periodically in regional leadership meetings and strategy sessions to align AU initiatives with business plans and region priorities
• Enable regular meetings and exchanges between AU team members based in their region, enabling and facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Influencing and enabling the strong regional adoption and implementation of AU programs and services, with measurable impact on Region member experience, project delivery, and strategic outcomes
• Responsible for working with AU Directors and Program/Services Leaders on the effective regional adoption, uptake, promotion, and implementation of AU Programs and Services, driving change where needed
• A thriving network of AU Geography and/or Country Representatives that connect AU to members across the Region, enabling local engagement, feedback, and equitable distribution of AU activities and program delivery
• Work with Region TD Leaders and Region Fellows Convenor on the enabling of Fellows activities in region, and supporting TD Leadership in the development of a strong and diverse Fellows pipeline
• Work closely with other Region AU Business Partners and global AU leadership to share best practice, ensure consistency, and contribute to a unified AU strategy
• Strategic engagement with regional business development and work winning teams, ensuring AU capabilities are leveraged to support major pursuits and client differentiation

Requirements

• Background and experience in the delivery of complex program, services, or solutions in the domains of Foresight, Research, Innovation, Learning, Knowledge, and/or Technical Expertise
• A responsive and future-focused AU, where programs and services are informed by regional/local business and client needs, with feedback loops into AU’s global planning and prioritization processes, and agile but globally consistent responses to short-term regional needs
• Ability to recruit, enable, and coach a distributed cohort of team members and collaborators
• 5+ years of working in the built environment sector or related industries
• Experienced presenter and speaker with an ability to deliver clear, compelling storytelling for internal/external audiences and an ability to position AU as a strategic enabler and differentiator
• Exceptional ability to align programs with Americas market/client needs, while maintaining global consistency and economies of scale
• Proven success in a matrixed, global organization – leading influence without formal authority, and aligning programs with regional priorities
• Strong written/verbal communication in English; additional regional languages (Spanish/Portuguese) advantageous for stakeholder engagement
• Track record of adoption and uptake of enterprise level programs (learning, research/foresight, skills, knowledge/information), delivering globally consistent, but locally relevant outcomes
• Clear and consistent reporting of AU activities and impact to Regional Leadership Teams and wider Region leadership, enabling transparency, accountability, strategic alignment, and proactive plans to meet their needs
• Experience in the operational leadership of teams or functions, including strategic, financial, and project/program management and planning
• A visible and valued AU presence in the Region, with strong relationships across Regional Leadership Teams, Total Design Leadership, and senior stakeholders that position AU as a strategic enabler and differentiator, with a specific focus on Total Design
• Experience in influencing and engaging staff members and senior leadership in the design and delivery of corporate learning, research, innovation, and/or knowledge management programs
• Experience coordinating in‑region investment and funding cases, contributing to integrated operating plans and demonstrating program ROI
• Evidence of program adoption and impact reporting at scale (case studies, metrics, references)
• Significant experience of stakeholder engagement, including proven ability to develop trusted relationships
• Willingness to travel within the Americas; comfortable operating across time zones and hybrid settings

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance