Job spotlight: national director, Pick Everard

What are your main responsibilities?

As a national director at Pick Everard, my main responsibility is overseeing the project management discipline.

This includes ensuring the highest standards of delivery and quality, managing resources effectively and monitoring the commercial performance of the discipline to achieve the business plan targets.

I also serve as the face of the discipline, both internally and externally, to promote our services and raise the profile of our multidisciplinary brand.

A key part of my role is developing and implementing the business plan, focusing on driving growth.

Over the past few years, we’ve achieved significant expansion and increased profitability through our improved delivery efficiency. 

What qualifications do you need for your role?

To become a national director, I believe the soft skills of people management, listening and thinking strategically are just as important as formal qualifications and experience. 

I have a construction management degree, and have worked for contractors, clients and on the consultancy side of the industry, but most importantly I like to think I am a people person.

I have also been fortunate enough to have worked around the globe and spent time in the UK, US, New Zealand and Australia, where I have been able to fine-tune my skills in leadership.

I am also comfortable delivering in a variety of situations, enabling me to lead by example and experience.

What do you enjoy most about your role and what would you change if you could?

The two most satisfying aspects of my role are seeing people’s careers flourish and contributing to the realisation of a client’s vision.

I take pride in helping individuals grow, whether they’re fresh graduates or team members with no prior experience, and seeing them develop into industry leaders.

Creating an environment that fosters career development through mentorship, training and growth opportunities is key to how we deliver better together.

It’s equally rewarding witnessing schemes come to life and seeing their positive impact on clients, communities and the planet. 

If I could change anything, I’d want an unlimited pool of talent – it would be a utopia.

I also miss the hands-on aspects of project delivery – being on-site and seeing the physical progress. I still make a point to visit sites as often as possible though, and get the boots dirty. 

How do you keep your skills and knowledge up to date?

I keep up to date by regularly reading industry magazines and articles, attending conferences, talks and exhibitions, and maintaining my NEC accreditation and MCIOB chartership.

I’m now less involved in the day-to-day project delivery, but I stay closely connected to our projects to ensure I have a clear understanding of the outputs we provide for our clients. 

I’m also heavily engaged with our supply chain, working closely with subcontractors to deliver consultancy services. These interactions help me continuously learn and stay up to date on the latest design standards, methods of construction and industry best practice.

What are your long-term career goals?

My goals focus on growth, leadership and making a lasting impact.

I aim to lead my discipline in achieving our growth targets, creating new opportunities for my team and raising our profile to become the most highly regarded multidisciplinary consultancy in the property and construction industry.

I am hopeful that I will take my experiences and collaborative ethos to new heights to achieve these goals and look forward to leading and growing within the industry, to leave a positive lasting legacy.