Role: Associate Director (Consultancy)

Career Area: Transport Strategy & Planning

Location: Manchester

My role at SYSTRA

My current role at SYSTRA involves the development and application of complex mathematical models representing many of the key aspects of traveller decision making, including our purpose for travelling, where we travel to, and whether we travel by car, public transit, walk or cycle.

I work for a wide range of, mostly public sector, organisations responsible for transport infrastructure and service delivery across the UK and Ireland. Over the years, I have made the analytical case for several £bn of transport investment.

I am now a successful project manager, planning, overseeing and developing technically challenging mathematical transport models and their use to research and answer real-world transport questions.

My career journey

I graduated with MSc Transport Planning from the University of Leeds in 2000. Nearly 25 years later I have no regrets about the career path I have followed in transport consultancy. I was a mathematician with an aptitude for programming, a keen interest in maps and the outdoors, and so a varied role in mathematical transport modelling, programming, data analytics and behavioural research has been a perfect match for me.

My flexible working experience
What is your flexible working arrangement?

I have followed a flexible working arrangement for over 20 years, almost my entire consultancy career. I have been at SYSTRA for the last 10 years and have had flexible working arrangements for that entire period.

Why did you request your arrangement, and what are the benefits for you?

I originally sought a flexible working arrangement in 2003 to allow me to undertake further academic study whilst continuing to work part-time in consultancy. Choosing to continue flexible working thereafter has most definitely provided me a better work/life balance.  At various times, I have used my reduced hours to allow me to undertake voluntary work, explore other hobbies, look after my young daughter, and to mitigate the impacts of ill health.

How has SYSTRA supported you in adopting your flexible working pattern?

SYSTRA has always supported my request to follow a flexible working pattern. It was originally discussed at my interview, and I have worked reduced hours ever since.

Most recently, flexible working has been imperative following being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a life-long progressive degenerative autoimmune illness that will impact my ability to work throughout the rest of my career. Having flexibility to work reduced hours, as well as regularly working from home, has, and will continue to be, critical in me delivering optimum performance in my work. SYSTRA recognises that there might be some ongoing variability and work with me to accommodate these specific needs.

Have you been able to effectively manage your arrangement alongside the demands of your role?

I have been promoted twice since I started working at SYSTRA and have never felt flexible working has been detrimental to my career. In my view, flexible working can be accommodated within consultancy relatively easily as it can be built into proposals from the outset.

As I am organised and take particular care as to how I manage my time, I don’t find it too difficult to plan appropriate engagement with clients or engage and manage tasks with colleagues even when I am away from work.

What advice would you give to someone who’s considering submitting a flexible working request?

My own view is that it would be more difficult to engage fully across the working week if I worked less than 3 days a week. For myself, I also find it works best to work every Monday and Tuesday as it allows me to start the week as others do and take my time off later in the week.

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