Aviation Client & Programme Director

AECOM; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM in the UK & Ireland is seeking a strategic Programme Director for Aviation to lead growth and delivery of major programmes (>£5M). You will own client relationships, drive bids, and ensure performance across schedule, cost and quality within a global infrastructure context.

The role requires proven leadership of large, multi-disciplinary projects, strong commercial acumen, and collaboration across geographies to win opportunities and deliver excellence.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading major opportunities in aviation or infrastructure.
• Experience delivering large, multi-disciplinary projects profitably.
• Strong leadership across global teams and geographies.
• Excellent client engagement and bid management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead growth strategy and win major aviation opportunities (>£5M).
• Own and manage senior client relationships for delivery and satisfaction.
• Drive end-to-end work winning and governance for major programmes.
• Collaborate with global teams to share knowledge and resources.

Skills

Market leadership

Aviation programmes

Strategic growth

Client relationship mgmt

Commercial acumen

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

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 nearly 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.

Programme Director – Aviation

AECOM is seeking a strategic and commercially driven Programme Director to support and drive the growth and delivery of Aviation programmes across the UK & Ireland. Reporting to the Sector Director and working closely with the global Transportation leadership, you will play a critical leadership role in shaping and delivering the sector’s 3-year growth strategy, while strengthening collaboration with the global Transportation business. This role is focused on winning and delivering major projects (>$5M), building high‑value client relationships, and driving excellence in project performance, safety, and operational outcomes.

Responsibilities

Strategic Growth & Work Winning

• Support and drive the sector’s 3-year growth plan across UK & Ireland, in support of the Sector Director’s strategy
• Lead positioning, client engagement, and bid activity to win Aviation opportunities ≥$5M, including early and enabling packages
• Manage the end‑to‑end work winning process for major programmes
• Define and implement the hybrid Enterprise Capability (EC) and home country delivery model for bids
• Enhance AECOM’s market presence and reputation with infrastructure owners, operators, and contractors
• Collaborate with global teams to support growth across Europe and India through capability, knowledge, and resource sharing

Project & Client Leadership

• Act as AECOM’s senior representative in the delivery of major aviation programmes
• Own and lead strategic client relationships, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and repeat business
• Drive continuous improvement based on client feedback and performance outcomes
• Lead collaboration with contractors, partners, and supply chain to ensure high‑performing delivery teams

Delivery & Commercial Performance

• Accountable for successful delivery of Aviation Sector owned projects, typically >$5M in revenue, ensuring performance across schedule, cost, and quality
• Project governance compliance
• Drive strong commercial performance, including sales bookings and revenue growth, gross/net revenue and margin, cashflow and DSO performance, optimisation of EC utilisation, and high‑quality project data and reporting
• Deliver programmes profitably and sustainably, aligned with business objectives

Leadership & Capability Development

• Work within Transportation to build capability and capacity aligned to long‑term growth
• Lead collaboration across Business Lines, sectors, and geographies to unlock opportunities and strengthen delivery
• Contribute to the development of a high‑performing, globally connected team
• Support the implementation of strategic workforce planning and resourcing models

Safety, Health, Environment & Wellbeing (SHE)

• Champion and actively lead the SHE & Wellbeing agenda across all major projects
• Ensure strong performance against both leading and lagging safety and sustainability metrics
• Act as a visible safety leader, embedding best practice across delivery teams and partner organisations

Qualifications

• Proven market leader with a strong track record of positioning, leading, and winning major opportunities
• Extensive experience delivering large‑scale, multi‑disciplinary infrastructure projects profitably
• Demonstrated success working with infrastructure owners, operators, contractors, and partners
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing financial performance and project metrics
• Experience operating within a global organisation, collaborating across sectors and geographies
• Strong leadership capability, with a focus on developing teams and building long‑term capability
• Passionate about safety leadership, wellbeing, sustainable delivery, quality and innovation

Additional Information

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [e-mail]. At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you! Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more! At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.