Company Description
At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.
There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.
We’re one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.
Job Description
Job Title
Highways & Streets Sector Lead (UK & Ireland)
Location
UK & Ireland (Flexible / Major Hub)
Reports to
Managing Director – Regional Business Line Leader
About the Role
AECOM is seeking a Highways & Streets Sector Director to provide strategic leadership and market direction for our Highways & Streets business across the UK. This role will shape sector strategy, drive sustainable growth, strengthen client relationships and ensure the successful delivery of complex, multidisciplinary Highways & Streets programmes.
The Sector Director will act as a market leader and trusted advisor to clients, while working closely with technical, commercial and delivery leaders to position AECOM at the forefront of the UK Highways & Streets market.
We seek an inclusive and innovative leader to spearhead our growth across Highways & Streets in the UK & Ireland. You will play a pivotal role in driving the growth and success of our business, shaping strategies and operations for the future and fostering a culture of digital innovation.
Our successful candidate will bring unrivalled knowledge of the Highways & Streets Sector, commercial insight, and a strong grasp of the latest digital tools and innovations. People leadership, effective relationships with external clients and a deep understanding of Highways & Streets engineering challenges are essential.
About You
You are a highly motivated, organized, and proactive leader with a proven track record in leading and growing infrastructure businesses, business development, bidding and delivering major projects, and strategy implementation. You possess an in‑depth understanding of the Highways & Streets market and the social, political, and economic drivers that influence it. You have extensive experience in leading diverse teams in a fast‑paced environment, implementing data‑led performance improvements, and championing equity, diversity and inclusion.
Key Responsibilities
Sector Strategy & Market Leadership
* Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Highways & Streets market.
* Define and lead the sector strategy in alignment with AECOM’s UK and global Transportation objectives.
* Monitor market trends, policy developments and investment programmes to identify growth opportunities.
* Position AECOM as a market leader in advisory, design and delivery.
Client & Relationship Leadership
* Serve as AECOM’s regional industry leader and collaborate with peers in other geographies to provide consistent market approaches.
* Own the coordination of forming teams for bids and mobilisation.
* Work with regional teams to analyse and understand Highways & Streets opportunities and advise strategic planning.
* Build and maintain senior‑level relationships with key clients, devolved authorities, and major contractors.
* Act as an executive sponsor for priority client accounts, frameworks and alliances.
* Lead strategic client engagement, ensuring AECOM is seen as a trusted long‑term partner.
* Build and maintain C‑suite relationships and maximize cross‑selling and long‑term retention.
* Own the integrity of sector data within Salesforce, ensuring accurate and actionable opportunity pipelines.
Business Development & Work Winning
* Participate in winning work, developing the market with key regional and global transport/transit leads.
* Build relationships with key clients, funding sources, industry organisations, partners and stakeholders.
* Coordinate and collaborate across business lines to maximize cross‑selling and offer integrated services.
* Drive work‑winning strategy for major opportunities, frameworks and commissions.
* Provide leadership on bids, tenders and pursuits, including client strategy and value proposition for bids exceeding $5m.
* Collaborate with commercial and delivery teams to develop competitive and innovative commercial models.
Delivery & Performance Oversight
* Provide executive oversight of project delivery performance, ensuring quality, safety, programme and commercial outcomes for projects exceeding $5m.
* Support project directors and technical leads on complex or high‑risk programmes.
* Champion best practice in governance, risk management and assurance.
External Profile & Thought Leadership
* Represent AECOM at industry forums, conferences and client events.
* Contribute to thought leadership, innovation and sustainability agendas within the sector.
* Strengthen partnerships across the supply chain and industry bodies.
Operational Excellence & Bidding
* Drive bidding best practices, ensuring high‑quality submissions and improved win rates.
* Provide integrated solutions across technical disciplines to meet complex client needs.
* Lead in health, safety & wellbeing, championing safety in design principles across all sector projects.
People & Talent Development
* Partner with national disciplines to identify recruitment needs and bridge capability gaps.
* Proactively manage the talent pipeline for leadership continuity and technical excellence.
Qualifications
* BEng/BSc in Engineering, Transportation or a related field (or equivalent experience/education), including 6 years of leadership and large team management.
* Member of a recognised professional body.
* Understanding of design and delivery processes for infrastructure projects.
* Progressive experience in the Highways & Streets industry.
* In‑depth knowledge of safety, operations and compliance standards.
* Financial acumen with proven ability to manage large budgets.
* Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, building and maintaining long‑term relationships.
* Strategic thinker focused on continuous improvement and innovation.
* Firm understanding of the sector’s social, political and economic drivers.
* Significant experience leading large, matrixed businesses.
* Experience leading multi‑year, complex business transformation.
* Experience in high‑level client engagement.
* Proven ability to develop and execute strategy for a large business.
* Catalyst for innovation and digital solutions.
* Experience building diverse, inclusive and highly motivated teams.
Preferred Qualifications
* Chartered Engineer.
* Membership of a recognised professional body relevant to the core market.
Additional Information
* Demonstrate dedication to inclusion and wellbeing strategies by fostering a culture of respect and care.
* Build a diverse and inclusive workforce by recruiting and retaining the best talent.
* Lead with empathy, respect and understanding, actively seeking diverse points of view.
* Provide employees with the freedom to grow, develop, innovate and be their whole selves at work.
About AECOM
AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to programme and construction management. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm with a Professional Services business revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025.
Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity
You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.
You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.
AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well‑being programmes to meet diverse needs of employees and families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential and will help you reach yours.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long‑term condition who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Please contact ReasonableAccommodations@aecom.com if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Job Reference
ReqID: J10147889
Business Line
Transportation
Business Group
DCS
Strategic Business Unit
Europe & India
Career Area
Business Management
Work Location Model
Hybrid
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