Business Unit Director

Sygna; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm seeks a Business Unit Director to drive strategic and operational excellence for a portfolio of clients. This role demands proven leadership in a high-complexity environment, ensuring client satisfaction and profitability. Key activities include overseeing project delivery, financial performance management, and continuous operational improvement. Candidates should demonstrate strong team management, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement skills. The position offers opportunities for hybrid working and professional development.

Benefits

Competitive Salaries

Pension contributions

Private healthcare

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading multi-client operations in a mission critical or high-complexity environment.
• Strong strategic planning and financial management capabilities.
• Experience mentoring and developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the business unit strategy in alignment with divisional objectives.
• Oversee the day-to-day delivery of client projects, ensuring high standards of execution.
• Maintain accountability for the financial performance of the business unit.

Skills

Strategic planning

Operational management

Stakeholder engagement

Financial management

Team leadership

Job description

Join to apply for the Business Unit Director role at Sygna.

Sygna is an independent Commissioning Management and Technical Services consultancy operating across the UK and Europe. With over 20 years of expertise, we deliver customised and complex solutions spanning data centres, mission‑critical facilities, commercial offices, pharmaceutical laboratories, heritage projects, major developments, gigafactories and retail.

From inception and commissioning through to post‑occupancy, we certify building services and technology systems to ensure the design is delivered faithfully and reliably. Sygna is on a mission to lead the field in the commissioning of high‑functioning spaces.

Why join Sygna

Are you someone who takes pride in delivering outstanding results, possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and has an exceptional eye for detail? If so, we want YOU to be a part of our team.

Job Description

The Business Unit Director is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic and operational management of a portfolio of clients and projects within the business unit. Reporting to the Divisional Director, the role leads a team of Client Delivery Managers in most cases; for smaller schemes without a dedicated CDM, the Business Unit Director will take direct operational ownership of project delivery. The BUD holds full accountability for operational performance, client satisfaction, and profitability within the business unit.

The Business Unit Director ensures that operational delivery is consistently aligned with the wider divisional strategy and works in close partnership with the Head of Commercial & Partnerships to ensure commercial, bidding, and marketing activities fully support delivery, growth, and client retention.

This is a primarily office and site‑based role, with regular travel to client sites and project locations in the UK and internationally. Hybrid working may be considered on occasion when there is no operational requirement to be physically present, but presence will be required whenever business needs dictate.

The role also carries a strong focus on continuous improvement — proactively identifying, proposing, and trialling new ways of working to enhance operational efficiency, quality, and client outcomes. The Business Unit Director will work closely with Sygna’s Digital Innovation team to explore, adopt, and embed improvements that benefit both the business unit and the wider organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and implement the business unit strategy in alignment with divisional objectives set by the Divisional Director.
• Drive the creation and sustainable growth of the business unit, ensuring long‑term profitability and market competitiveness.
• Translate strategic objectives into operational plans, ensuring consistent execution and performance.
• Ensure operational delivery is fully integrated with commercial, bidding, and marketing strategies led by the Head of Commercial & Partnerships.

Operational Leadership

• Oversee the day‑to‑day delivery of client projects, ensuring high standards of execution, compliance with health and safety protocols, and adherence to contractual obligations.
• Ensure the consistent use of approved methodologies, processes, and documentation aligned with brand standards.
• Set and enforce delivery standards, ensuring Client Delivery Managers consistently follow approved methodologies and brand‑aligned processes.
• Act as a senior escalation point for operational matters within the business unit.

Financial Oversight

• Maintain accountability for the financial performance of the business unit, including budget adherence, forecasting accuracy, and profitability.
• Partner with the Commercial Manager and Head of Commercial & Partnerships to ensure commercial execution supports BU objectives.
• Monitor margins, cost control, and financial risk in all projects.

Client Engagement & Representation

• Act as the primary senior point of contact for business unit clients, ensuring strong relationships and responsiveness to needs.
• Attend BU‑level strategic client meetings, planning sessions, and on‑site reviews.
• Collaborate with the Divisional Director for divisional‑level account strategy and major escalations.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with company procedures, ISO 9001 standards, health and safety regulations, and contractual requirements.
• Act as the senior H&S champion within the business unit, ensuring all operational activities are planned and executed with the highest safety standards.
• Promote a strong health and safety culture, ensuring all team members receive required training, follow safe systems of work, and proactively report hazards or incidents.
• Conduct and/or oversee regular site safety visits, audits, and risk assessments to verify compliance and drive continuous improvement in safety performance.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, health and safety, and reputational risks.
• Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks.

Team Management & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Client Delivery Managers, ensuring performance targets are met and career growth is supported. Where a scheme does not have a dedicated CDM, take direct operational responsibility for delivery to maintain standards and client satisfaction.
• Oversee leave management, welfare arrangements, and resource allocation for operational teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance.

Recruitment & Resource Planning

• Collaborate with internal recruitment to attract and onboard talent as the business unit grows.
• Plan and allocate resources effectively to meet project demands and maintain operational capacity.
• Be responsible for continuation of work for staff within business unit.

Staff Welfare & Engagement

• Oversee staff welfare arrangements including accommodation, expenses, and project mobilisation.
• Implement initiatives that support wellbeing, retention, and morale.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Proactively identify and propose process improvements to enhance efficiency, quality, and client outcomes.
• Trial and evaluate new methods, tools, and operational approaches to delivery.
• Collaborate with the Digital Innovation team to explore, adopt, and implement innovative solutions and digital enhancements across the business unit.

Reporting & Documentation

• Provide monthly performance reports to the Divisional Director, covering operational, financial, and compliance metrics.
• Ensure all internal and client‑facing documentation follows approved templates and reflects Sygna’s brand values and methodologies.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Proven experience leading multi‑client operations in a mission critical or high‑complexity environment.
• Strong strategic planning and financial management capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to grow teams and client portfolios while maintaining operational excellence.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship‑building skills at senior levels.
• Experience mentoring and developing high‑performing teams.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 standards, compliance frameworks, and health & safety regulations.
• Strong understanding of project lifecycle management and risk mitigation.

Benefits Include But Are Not Limited To

• Competitive Salaries
• Pension contributions
• Private healthcare
• Regular employee socials
• Business travel insurance
• 25 days annual leave each calendar year (pro‑rated from start date) plus bank holidays. After 5 years of service this will increase to 30 days.
• Buy or Sell Annual Leave Scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Exclusive discounts on a wide range of products and services, including gift cards from brands like Argos, B&Q, Costa, M&S, and Sainsbury’s.
• Referral Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Interest Free Travel Loan

Note

The general responsibilities listed herein above are not exhaustive and as such additional duties, which are related to this position in the Company, may be added to the above list at the discretion of the EMEA Managing Director as and when it is deemed necessary. Similarly, as the company grows, there should be an expectation that job roles will be refined over time, to accommodate collaboration with new and existing colleagues.

The schedule of delegated authority (SODA) applies to this role and shall always be adhered to without exception.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. The information provided will be treated in strict confidence. Personal data collected will be used for recruitment purposes only.

Job Details

• Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
• Employment type: Full‑time
• Job function: Business Development and Sales
• Industries: Construction, Software Development, and IT Services and IT Consulting
• Location: London, England, United Kingdom