Executive Director, Major Transport Programs

AECO; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Additional annual leave

Volunteer leave

Flex public holidays

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Major Projects Director to lead and deliver complex, high-value transport programs across Australia. You will oversee multidisciplinary design teams, drive governance and commercial strategy, and shape the major projects pipeline from executive level.

This senior role requires strategic vision, delivery excellence and the ability to manage change across geographically dispersed teams, with hybrid work options and strong client relationships.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of major infrastructure programs in transport (rail/metro highly regarded) and adjacent experience welcomed.
• Strong design leadership across multidisciplinary environments and interfaces.
• Experience with collaborative delivery environments (alliances, D&C, ECI, PPP).
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement with senior client and board levels.
• A leadership style that builds culture, drives accountability and creates momentum through change.
• Proficiency in program controls (planning, cost/EV, risk, change), reporting and assurance.
• Tertiary qualification in engineering or related discipline; chartered status advantageous.
• Ability to travel and lead geographically dispersed teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of multi-billion-dollar transport programs (including projects such as high-speed rail), with accountability for scope, schedule, cost, risk, safety and quality.
• Direct and integrate multidisciplinary design teams (rail, civil, tunnels, stations/structures, systems, approvals) and manage complex technical interfaces and dependencies.
• Provide strong governance and design assurance across packages, embedding program controls, change management, reporting and decision frameworks.
• Build trusted client relationships and engage senior stakeholders across government, delivery partners, JV/alliances and regulators, representing AECOM at executive level.
• Lead commercial strategy across contracts and procurement (alliances, D&C, ECI, PPP and other collaborative models), ensuring value, performance and compliance.
• Champion digital delivery (BIM, digital engineering, model-based design) to drive coordination, quality and efficiency at every stage.
• Embed sustainability, resilience and social outcomes in project delivery, aligning with client objectives and community expectations.
• Shape pursuits and strategic positioning, strengthening our major projects pipeline and market presence.
• Mentor, grow and energise high-performing teams, fostering accountability, wellbeing and continuous improvement.
• Oversee readiness, commissioning and handover planning to ensure safe, timely and fit-for-purpose outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Program controls

Design leadership

Change management

Delivery excellence

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

AECOM is seeking a Major Projects Director to lead and deliver complex, high-value transport programs across Australia. You will oversee multidisciplinary design teams, drive governance and commercial strategy, and shape the major projects pipeline from executive level.

This senior role requires strategic vision, delivery excellence and the ability to manage change across geographically dispersed teams, with hybrid work options and strong client relationships.