Digital, Data & AI Advisory Lead

AECOM; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Job summary

AECOM seeks a Digital, Data & AI Advisory Lead to grow its advisory & consulting footprint in Europe & India, coordinating UK workstreams with regional teams. You will drive growth across Water, Energy, Defence & Transport while delivering data strategy, governance and transformation engagements for major clients.

You’ll lead delivery teams, shape operating models and guide data platforms adoption, reporting to the EUR&I Digital Advisory Lead. Hybrid work models are supported.

Qualifications

• 6–10 years’ experience in management consulting or a client-facing advisory role.
• Experience leading RfP, ITT and tender processes within consulting or professional services.
• Strong understanding of digital transformation, data strategy and governance.
• Proven client relationship and business development capabilities.
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to manage workstreams or small teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organise and implement BD/engagement activities to build a pipeline.
• Manage and grow a team to deliver digital and data advisory services.
• Lead delivery of data strategy engagements, roadmaps and transformation initiatives.
• Conduct data maturity assessments and architecture evaluations.
• Define and implement data governance operating models and processes.
• Advise on data platforms and cloud data ecosystems.
• Support delivery teams with governance, analytics and best practices.
• Collaborate with UK Client Account Managers to support engagement and delivery.
• Provide expert advice on digital transformation strategies and frameworks.
• Lead workshops and align strategy and delivery priorities.
• Evaluate new technologies and advise on adoption for clients.
• Lead RfP/ITT/tender responses with bid strategy and SME coordination.

Skills

Digital transformation

Data governance

Data strategy

Business development

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Tools

Azure

AWS

Google Cloud

Job description

• Primary Location: UK - Manchester, Level 4 - 100 Emban

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

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

AECOM is seeking a Digital, Data & AI Advisory Lead to help grow our digital advisory & consulting business and associated practice areas within the Europe & India region. Aligning to the global & regional Digital Advisory & Consulting strategy, overall regional growth strategy and focusing on key clients in the region, this role will grow the digital advisory & consulting business for the region.

The role will manage the UK workstream and coordinate with regional teams and global advisory, provide growth opportunities and deliver client services that will support contributions for growth across all our sectors from Water, Energy, Defence & Transport. The Digital, Data & AI Advisory Lead reports to the Digital Advisory & Consulting Lead EUR&I.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, organise and implement business development / engagement activities working closely with business lines and digital leads to build pipeline of capture and impact opportunities
• Managing and growing a team to deliver digital and data advisory client services
• Lead delivery of digital and data strategy engagements, including operating models, roadmaps and transformation initiatives
• Conduct data maturity assessments, digital capability reviews, and architecture evaluations across client environments
• Define and implement data governance frameworks, operating models and processes
• Advise on design and adoption of data platforms (e.g. cloud data ecosystems, analytics solutions)
• Support delivery teams by advising on data governance, analytics, and digital best practices throughout programme lifecycles
• Works with UK Client Account Managers to support client engagement and defines delivery requirements for team
• Provide expert advice on digital transformation strategies, data frameworks, and industry best practices
• Facilitate workshops and stakeholder sessions to align on strategy and delivery priorities
• Evaluate new technologies and advise on digital and data adoption for clients
• Ability to lead RfP, ITT, and tender responses, including bid strategy, content development, SME coordination, and end-to-end proposal management.

Qualifications

• 6–10 years’ experience in management consulting or a client-facing advisory role.
• Demonstrated experience leading and supporting RfP, ITT, and tender processes within a consulting or professional services environment
• Strong understanding of digital transformation, data strategy and governance frameworks
• Demonstrated client relationship and business development capabilities
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to manage workstreams or small teams
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with cloud platforms (e.g. Azure, AWS, Google Cloud) in a data or analytics context
• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks and standards
• Experience delivering digital or data transformation programmes within regulated or asset-intensive industries
• Experience within sectors such as infrastructure, public sector or transport

Attributes / Skills

• Commitment to building a diverse and inclusive team
• Self-starter with the ability to work as a positive, energized and adaptable team member
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present ideas and influence senior leaders
• Extremely strong relationship building skills
• Demonstrated ability to champion and drive ideas, programmes and solutions
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, able to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
• Able to demonstrate passion, energy and drive, especially in the face of resistance.

Additional Information

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. 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.

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 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, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. 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.

We are aDisabilityConfidentEmployer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [e-mail] if you would like to apply through theDisabilityConfidentInterview Scheme.

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