Executive Director, Major Transport Projects

Aecom; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

6 weeks annual leave

Volunteer and representation leave

Flex public holidays

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Major Projects Director to lead and deliver complex, high‑value transport programs globally, including high‑speed rail. The role requires strategic vision, delivery excellence, and the ability to guide multidisciplinary design teams while managing stakeholders and complex interfaces.

The position offers hybrid work options and entails leading governance, program controls, and commercial strategy across contracts, with a focus on sustainability and social outcomes in line with

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of major infrastructure programs in transport (rail/metro highly regarded)
• Strong design leadership and management capability across complex environments
• Demonstrated success in collaborative delivery environments (alliances, D&C, ECI, PPP) including governance
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills with credibility at senior client, partner 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) and reporting

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end delivery of multi‑billion‑dollar transport programs with accountability for scope, schedule, cost, risk, safety and quality
• Direct and integrate multidisciplinary design teams and manage complex interfaces
• Provide governance and design assurance across packages and embed program controls
• Build trusted client relationships and engage senior stakeholders across government and partners
• Lead commercial strategy across contracts and procurement
• Champion digital delivery (BIM, digital engineering) to drive coordination and efficiency
• Embed sustainability and social outcomes in delivery and align with client objectives
• Shape pursuits and strengthen major projects pipeline
• Mentor and energise high‑performing teams
• Oversee readiness, commissioning and handover planning

Skills

Leadership

Design leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Program controls

Travel readiness

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered status (CPEng/RPEQ)

Postgraduate qualifications advantageous

Job description

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

We are shaping the future of transport infrastructure across Australia and globally. We are hiring a Major Projects Director to lead and deliver complex, high-value, high‑profile transport programs — including projects such as high‑speed rail — driving outcomes across multidisciplinary design teams, stakeholder relationships and major delivery packages.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who thrives in major project environments, bringing strategic vision, delivery excellence and the ability to lead teams through complexity and change.

How you’ll make a difference

• 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.

Qualifications

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes you could still be a great fit.

• Proven leadership of major infrastructure programs in transport (rail/metro highly regarded), with adjacent experience (tunnels, highways, aviation, water or energy) welcomed.
• Strong design leadership and design management capability across complex, multidisciplinary environments and interfaces.
• Demonstrated success in collaborative delivery environments (alliances, D&C, ECI, PPP), including commercial stewardship, risk management and performance governance.
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills with credibility at senior client, partner and board/steering committee 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, project management or a related discipline; chartered status (e.g., CPEng/RPEQ) or postgraduate qualifications are advantageous.
• Ability to travel as required and lead geographically dispersed teams

Additional Information

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, job-sharing and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
• Volunteer and representation leave
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

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.

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

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 program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled 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 and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

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 AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program.

We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

ReqID: J10157193

Business Line: Transportation

Business Group: DCS

Strategic Business Unit: ANZ

Career Area: Engineering

Work Location Model: On-Site