Associate - Advisory and Transformation

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Annual leave and benefits

Job summary

AECOM is seeking an Associate - Advisory and Transformation in Abu Dhabi, UAE to lead significant workstreams across advisory, transformation, operating model, and organisational effectiveness engagements.

This client-facing role combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery leadership, requiring close engagement with senior stakeholders to design practical solutions, strengthen organisational capability, and implement sustainable change.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of experience in consulting, advisory, transformation, or organisational change environments.
• Experience leading projects or workstreams within complex transformation programmes.
• Proven experience working with senior client stakeholders.
• Practical experience in operating model design, governance, or transformation.
• Strong stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication capabilities.
• Experience leading teams and managing project delivery.
• Willingness to spend time at client locations in the Middle East.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation, operating models, and organisational effectiveness workstreams.
• Advise stakeholders on opportunities for improvement and governance.
• Design target operating models and governance frameworks.
• Develop transformation roadmaps, implementation plans and business cases.
• Facilitate workshops and client engagements; present findings to senior stakeholders.
• Lead multidisciplinary delivery teams, manage risks and quality assurance.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Delivery leadership

Workshop facilitation

Operating model design

Business development

Client engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

Associate - Advisory and Transformation Job Snapshot Role: Associate - Advisory and Transformation Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Industry: Management Consulting Function: Management Consultant Experience: 8 to 12 years Job Type: Full Time Work Arrangement: On-site

A job overview: AECOM is seeking an Associate - Advisory and Transformation in Abu Dhabi, UAE to lead significant workstreams across advisory, transformation, operating model, and organisational effectiveness engagements. This client-facing role combines strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery leadership, requiring close engagement with senior stakeholders to design practical solutions, strengthen organisational capability, and implement sustainable change across complex organisations in the UAE and wider Middle East.

Job Details Country: UAE City: Abu Dhabi Industry: Management Consulting Function: Management Consultant Salary: Not disclosed Gender: No Preference Candidate Nationality: Not specified Job Type: Full Time Work Arrangement: On‑site

The Opportunity This position is focused on both advisory thinking and implementation. Rather than concentrating solely on strategic recommendations, the Associate will help shape solutions, lead delivery teams, and support clients through the practical implementation of transformation initiatives. You will join an established client engagement and take responsibility for critical workstreams. The role involves spending a proportion of the working week at client locations in Abu Dhabi, engaging directly with stakeholders and supporting delivery, decision‑making, and transformation outcomes.

Client Leadership and Advisory

• Lead workstreams covering transformation, operating models, and organisational effectiveness.
• Advise stakeholders on organisational challenges and opportunities for improvement.
• Assess governance arrangements, operating models, organisational capabilities, and performance.
• Design target operating models, governance frameworks, and organisational structures.
• Develop transformation roadmaps, implementation plans, and business cases.
• Facilitate workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Present findings, recommendations, and proposed solutions to senior client stakeholders.

Delivery Leadership The Associate will lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate delivery activities across assigned workstreams. Responsibilities include managing project plans, risks, dependencies, and quality assurance while ensuring that outcomes remain aligned with client expectations and engagement objectives. The role also supports programme governance and performance monitoring and includes coaching and developing consultants and senior consultants within delivery teams.

Business Development

• Contribute to proposals, bids, and client pursuits.
• Help identify potential growth opportunities with existing clients.
• Contribute to thought leadership and internal capability development.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients across the market.

What Success Looks Like

Successful delivery in this position means helping clients define future operating models and organisational structures, establish effective governance and accountability, strengthen organisational capability, and improve performance. The role also contributes to the successful delivery of complex transformation programmes, helping organisations embed sustainable change, realise measurable benefits, and create stronger alignment between strategy, operations, and delivery.

Qualifications and Experience

• 8 to 12 years of experience within consulting, advisory, transformation, or organisational change environments.
• Experience leading projects or individual workstreams within complex transformation programmes.
• Demonstrated experience working with senior client stakeholders.
• Practical experience in operating model design, organisational effectiveness, governance, or transformation.
• Strong stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication capabilities.
• Experience leading teams and managing project delivery.
• Proven ability to work directly within complex client environments.
• Comfortable spending time at client locations to support delivery, stakeholder engagement, and decision‑making.
• Commercial awareness with experience supporting business development activities.
• Experience with government, built environment, real estate, infrastructure, transport, utilities, water, energy, or development organisations in the Middle East.
• Bachelor 's degree in a relevant discipline.

Additional Information

Newly hired AECOM employees are required to attend an in‑person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment. The position sits within AECOM 's PCC business line, DCS business group, and ME and Africa strategic business unit.

Why Join AECOM

The position offers exposure to significant organisational transformation engagements and direct collaboration with senior stakeholders across the UAE and wider Middle East. It combines advisory work with implementation, providing opportunities to influence operating models, governance, organisational performance, and complex transformation delivery. AECOM provides training and development programs and access to a global network of professionals. Depending on employment status, benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life and disability coverage, paid time off, leave programs, well‑being resources, employee assistance, business travel insurance, recognition programs, retirement savings, and an employee stock purchase plan.

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm working across transportation, water, environment, energy, and buildings. Its services span advisory, planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management. AECOM reported revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025 and has a global team of more than 50,000 professionals.