Senior Program Manager

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead pursuit strategy across Federal, Transit, and Higher Education sectors in the Washington, DC metro area. The role emphasizes a player-coach approach, managing senior client relationships while guiding capture plans and cross-sector growth.

In this role you will collaborate with sector growth leads, drive multi-disciplinary pursuits, and represent the firm at senior meetings, shaping a disciplined growth practice within a global team.

Qualifications

• Accredited degree in Architecture, Engineering, Planning, or a related discipline; plus 10 years of related business development or client-facing pursuit experience.
• Professional licensure: PE (Professional Engineer) or AIA (Registered Architect).

Responsibilities

• Lead or co-lead pursuit strategy for large, complex, and multi-sector opportunities across Federal agencies, transit authorities, and higher education institutions in the Washington, DC metro area.
• Personally manage a portfolio of senior client relationships.
• Develop and execute capture plans for priority pursuits.
• Represent AECOM at senior client meetings, industry forums, and strategic partnership conversations.

Education

Accredited degree in Architecture, Engineering, Planning, or a related discipline

Professional licensure: PE or AIA

Job description

• Legal Entity: AECOM Technical Services Inc
• Business Line: B&P - Buildings & Places
• Work Location Model: On-Site
• Primary Location: US - Arlington, VA - 3101 Wilson Blv
• Compensation: USD 190,000 - USD 225,000 - yearly

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's architecture and engineering practice is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead pursuit strategy across three high-priority market sectors: Federal, Transit, and Higher Education, with additional opportunities to support Aviation and Data Center pursuits as needed. This is a player-coach role centered on personal pursuit leadership and cross-sector influence — the successful candidate will manage a portfolio of complex, high-value client relationships while working alongside the sector growth leads across Federal, Transit, and Higher Education to help build a more consistent, disciplined growth practice.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead or co-lead pursuit strategy for large, complex, and often multi-sector opportunities across Federal agencies, transit authorities, and higher education institutions in the Washington, DC metro area, with occasional support to Aviation and Data Center pursuits as additional markets.
• Personally manage a portfolio of senior client relationships.
• Develop and execute capture plans for priority pursuits.
• Represent AECOM at senior client meetings, industry forums, and strategic partnership conversations.

Qualifications

• Accredited degree in Architecture, Engineering, Planning, or a related discipline, plus 10 years of related business development or client-facing pursuit experience, or demonstrated equivalency of education and experience.
• Demonstrated success leading or co-leading complex, multi-disciplinary pursuits in one or more of the following sectors: Federal (civilian or defense agencies), transit/transportation, or higher education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional licensure: PE (Professional Engineer) or AIA (Registered Architect).
• Established relationships within the DC-area Federal, transit, or higher education client community.
• Experience developing and executing capture strategies from early client engagement through proposal submission and interview.
• Strong communicator and facilitator, able to run a high-quality discovery conversation, lead a capture, and present pursuit strategy to senior internal leadership.
• Commercially minded, with an understanding of fee structures, teaming economics, and the business case for selective pursuit investment.

Additional Information

• This position does not offer relocation assistance.
• Sponsorship for US Employment Authorization is not available now or in the future for this position.

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 proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options,well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting‑edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award‑winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.