Job Description

Start here. Grow here .

AECOM is seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Associate Director to lead high-profile rail commissions, shape delivery strategies, and drive outcomes across scope, schedule, cost, risk, and quality. You will be a visible client leader, a trusted advisor, and a coach for project managers—championing digital delivery, safety, and collaborative behaviours across our programmes.

Here’s what you’ll do:

Client Leadership : Act as Account/Project Director on major rail commissions; build trusted relationships and ensure client satisfaction.

Delivery Excellence : Lead end-to-end project management from business case through delivery and handover, governing scope, schedule, budget, risk, and change.

Governance & Controls : Establish PMO frameworks, stage gates, performance reporting, and assurance in line with client and industry standards.

Commercial Management: Manage contracts and suppliers, oversee procurement, and safeguard margin, cashflow, and risk exposure.

Planning & Risk: Direct integrated schedules, dependencies, and interfaces; lead quantitative/qualitative risk management and mitigation.

Stakeholder Management: Coordinate with operators, maintainers, regulators, community stakeholders, and third parties to secure timely approvals.

Digital & Innovation: Embed data-driven controls, BIM-enabled workflows, and dashboards to improve predictability and transparency.

Health, Safety & Quality : Model our safety culture and ensure robust quality management throughout the lifecycle.

People Leadership: Mentor and develop project managers; lead resource planning, capability building, and high-performing teams.

Work Winning : Shape capture strategies, lead bids/proposals, and present compelling value propositions that differentiate AECOM.

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Extensive experience delivering complex rail projects/programmes (typically 12+ years) with proven leadership on multi-disciplinary assignments
• Degree in engineering, construction/project management, or a related discipline
• Professional accreditation (e.g., MAPM/ChPP, PMP, PE/CEng, PRINCE2 or equivalent) or progress toward it
• Strong command of project controls, scheduling (e.g., Primavera P6/MS Project), risk, change, and commercial management (e.g., NEC or relevant regional forms).
• Familiarity with rail development and assurance processes (e.g., GRIP/PACE or regional equivalents) and systems integration principles.
• Demonstrated success in client development, stakeholder engagement, and leading distributed teams.
• Track record in bid leadership and securing new work.

Additional Information

• Hybrid working with flexibility to base you at the AECOM office closest to your home.
• Meaningful, high-impact projects that improve networks and communities.
• Competitive compensation and benefits aligned to your location and experience.
• Professional development, technical excellence programmes, and global mobility opportunities.
• A culture of inclusion, collaboration, and support—bring your whole self to work.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.