Water/Wastewater Program Director

AECOM; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 280,000 - 330,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Water/Wastewater Program Director to provide senior leadership for large, complex programs in California, setting governance, technical assurance, and program-wide frameworks to meet client objectives and regulatory obligations.

The role leads multidisciplinary teams across engineering, construction management, environmental compliance, operations readiness, and commercial management, and supports pursuit strategy and client engagement for high-priority opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field with 12+ years delivering large water/wastewater programs, including 4+ years of leadership.
• Preferred: 20+ years in water/wastewater; PgMP/PMP/CCM or PE license.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership across full lifecycle of major water/wastewater programs.
• Establish and maintain governance, assurance, and performance frameworks.
• Direct and integrate senior leaders across engineering, construction management, environmental compliance, operations readiness, and commercial management.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, drinking water, and water quality standards.
• Provide senior commercial oversight including contract strategy, supplier engagement, risk management, and financial governance.
• Act as principal contact for municipal clients, regulators, delivery partners, and community stakeholders.
• Champion innovation, digital delivery, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Water/wastewater domain

Governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental sciences, construction management, project management, or related discipline

Job description

• Legal Entity: AECOM Technical Services Inc
• Business Line: Water
• Work Location Model: On-Site
• Primary Location: US - San Francisco, CA - 150 Califor
• Compensation: USD 280,000 - USD 330,000 - 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 worldâs 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

The Water / Wastewater Program Director provides senior leadership and oversight for the successful delivery of large, complex water/wastewater programs of significant strategic and public value in California.

The role has been established to strengthen leadership readiness for critical water and wastewater pursuits and to support long-term succession planning for our active programs, ensuring experienced program leadership is in place to transition seamlessly from pursuit through delivery. The Program Director sets the overall direction for program delivery, establishing governance, technical assurance, commercial frameworks, and integrated management systems required to meet client objectives, regulatory obligations, and community expectations.

Acting as the primary leader for day-to-day integration and performance, the role oversees multidisciplinary teams across engineering, construction management, environmental compliance, commercial management, and stakeholder engagement. In addition to delivery leadership, the role plays a key part in winning work, contributing to capture strategy, proposal development, and client engagement for high-priority pursuits.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership across the full lifecycle of major water/wastewater programs, from pursuits and mobilization through execution, commissioning, and closeout.
• Establish and maintain program governance, assurance, and performance frameworks aligned with municipal, state, and federal regulatory requirements.
• Direct and integrate senior leaders across engineering, construction management, environmental compliance, operations readiness, and commercial management.
• Ensure program-wide compliance with safety, environmental, drinking water, and water quality standards, including permits and consent decrees.
• Provide senior commercial oversight including contract strategy, supplier engagement, risk management, change control, and financial governance.
• Act as the principal point of contact for municipal clients, regulators, delivery partners, and community stakeholders.
• Champion innovation, digital delivery, and continuous improvement across water and wastewater infrastructure programs.
• Support major water/wastewater pursuits and programs, including proposal strategy, interviews, and transition from award to delivery.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental sciences, construction management, project management, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience) and 12+ years of professional experience delivering large, complex water and/or wastewater programs or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education including 4 years of leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• 20+ years of relevant experience delivering large, complex water and/or wastewater programs
• PgMP, PMP, CCM, or similar professional certification preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent professional registration preferred.

Additional Information

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.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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.