Deputy Department Manager - Environmental Remediation

Aecom2; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Deputy Department Manager to oversee Environmental Remediation operations along the West Coast. The role is based in California, preferably LA/Orange/Long Beach, with consideration for San Diego or Oakland/Sacramento.

You will continue to be involved in billable work while leading a team to deliver high-quality client outcomes. The position emphasizes program performance, risk management, and growth with major chemical clients, with opportunities to mentor staff and implement

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8 years of experience or equivalent.
• Background check is required.
• Valid driver's license and ability to pass MVR check.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 15 years related experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drives program performance to meet client KPIs and satisfaction.
• Manages governance and risk issues with leadership input.
• Develops solutions to client problems and issues.
• Participates in reviews of major program dashboards.
• Drives adoption of digital tools in delivery.
• Integrates Enterprise Capabilities into project delivery.
• Proposes ideas for program and process improvement.
• Directly engages and manages high‑quality client projects.
• Oversees ~50 department staff and mentorship.
• Learns and coaches project managers on KPIs and performance.
• Develops succession plans and staff recruitment guidance.
• Leads business development, budgeting, and capture strategies.
• Addresses resourcing, invoicing, and subconsultant concerns.
• Ensures Salesforce pipeline and forecast data accuracy.

Skills

Communication skills

Influence

Team player

Adaptability

Remediation expertise

Education

California Professional Geologist or Professional Engineer

Job description

About the role

AECOM is actively seeking a creative Deputy Department Manager overseeing Environmental Remediation operations along the West Coast. These managers are responsible for overseeing the performance of a group of major programs and/or projects to assure the achievement of internal and client-facing KPIs. The location of this position is based in California, preferably in the LA/Orange/Long Beach area, however we will consider those in San Diego or up North in Oakland/Sacramento areas. The successful candidate will be expected to continue to be involved in and execute billable work.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

Project Delivery

• Drives program performance to meet and/or exceed client satisfaction and KPIs.
• Understands and drives business performance and the attainment and exceedance of internal KPIs.
• Interacts with business leadership on governance & risk issues to ensure risk management triggers are identified and addressed proactively.
• Develops and formulates solutions to client problems/issues.
• Participates in project reviews of major program/project dashboards/deep dives to identify issues and improve performance.
• Works to drive faster adoption of digital tools.
• Actively integrates international Enterprise Capabilities into project delivery to meet business targets and works with business leadership to manage transitions.
• Continually develops ideas for program and process improvement.
• Is directly engaged and manages high-quality client projects.

People

• Actively shares people management responsibilities for approximately 50 department staff.
• Builds, maintains, and facilitates trusting relationships with key contacts across the depth and breadth of three multinational chemical company client organizations.
• Serves as a focal point for major issue resolution and provides rapid follow-up to address concerns.
• Participates in feedback for Project Managers to assure client satisfaction and long-term growth.
• Develops and implements succession plans for the team and advises on the recruiting of key people to serve client needs.
• Assures project delivery employees are trained and mentored with a long-term goal of training new project managers.
• Coaches project managers and team members on understanding business performance and internal KPIs; implements processes with Project Managers.
• Evaluates individual performance of project managers within the department.

Business Development

• Works collaboratively with Client Account Manager(s), Practice Area Leaders, and Business Line Leadership to grow profitable backlog and ensure financial success of their respective client program.
• Develops budgets that allow for business development portfolio management, tracking & optimizing wins and bookings, and project oversight.
• Leads capture strategies for key pursuits and major projects within the department, ensures those strategies yield high capture rates, and grows the business and relevant technical capabilities.

Operations

• Acts as a point of escalation for project issues and makes recommendations to improve performance. This may include addressing project resourcing gaps, supporting technical issues, resolving invoicing and cash collection challenges, addressing subconsultant and vendor concerns, etc.
• Drives consistent project management practices and procedures in alignment with AECOM Project Delivery System (PDS) and Quality Management System (QMS) requirements.
• Ensures accuracy of Workload Planning Tool output for the department.
• Maintains departmental compliance with West Region Environment Pricing guidance and DOA approval framework.
• Ensures the accuracy of the department's Salesforce pipeline data and associated Detailed Forecast data and output reports.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 8 years of experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
• Successful candidates will have to pass a background check.
• A valid driver's license is required, along with the ability to pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check in accordance with company policy
• US citizenship or permanent residency is required. Sponsorship at this time or in the future will not be offered for this role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree preferred.
• 15 years related experience.
• California Professional Geologist or Professional Engineer
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to influence others and move toward a common vision or goal.
• Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations.
• Resilient and tenacious with a propensity to persevere.
• Must be a team player and able to work collaboratively with and through others.
• Acute business acumen and understanding of organizational issues and challenges
• Strong knowledge and track record in the environmental / remediation business inclusive of risk-based strategic asset management and advocacy in multiple state jurisdictions