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Job Description

START HERE. GROW HERE.

As part of the exciting evolution of AECOM’s Water UK&I business, we are seeking an Operations Lead to join and support our dynamic Water leadership team. You will be part of the Water Operations team, working alongside the Sub-Business Unit Directors and their teams to drive operational performance, optimise delivery, and enhance the financial and strategic success of the business.
This role is integral to the operational management of the Water UK&I Sub-Business Units (SBUs), providing oversight across key performance indicators and ensuring effective planning and delivery. You will work closely with Resourcing, Commercial, Finance and Project Delivery teams to monitor and improve performance across NSR, utilisation, gross margin, and governance metrics, as well as guide teams through opportunity and project lifecycle processes.
You will support the gross margin improvement plan by promoting adherence to project governance, change management processes, and improved EC (Enterprise Capability) usage. In addition, you will maintain involvement in project delivery, either through operational oversight or technical input depending on your background.
This role reports into the Deputy Operations Director, Water UK&I and you will lead collaboration across project delivery and governance.

READY TO PUSH THE LIMITS OF WHAT’S POSSIBLE?

Here’s what we’re looking for:
We’re seeking an experienced, proactive leader with exceptional communication skills and a strong background in operations management. You’ll have a proven track record in project delivery, contract management, and financial oversight, with the ability to think critically and lead continuous improvement initiatives that drive business success.
This role demands a great listener and collaborator, someone who can build trust, foster open communication, and nurture a supportive and inclusive team culture. Your passion for developing people will shine through in your mentoring approach and commitment to innovation and team growth.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience in operations, with a focus on project control and finance.
• Expertise in contract management and project delivery.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, implement improvements, and support individual development.
• Hold a degree (or equivalent) in business, finance, or commercial management (preferably a Master’s Degree).

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 ReasonableAccomodations@aecom.com. At AECOM, we value everyone’s unique contributions and perspectives.
Additional Information
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!
For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn – Jay Hewitt.

• Performance & Financial Management
• Support the Water UK&I Operations Directors and SBU Directors in business planning and monitoring performance against plan and outlook.
• Collaborate with Sub-Business Unit (SBUs) leads and Resourcing teams to forecast and monitor Cost Utilisation (CU) across SBUs, flagging early risks and supporting interventions to meet targets.
• Drive the Sources of Revenue (SoR) process, coordinating with Client Account Manager, Framework Managers and Resourcing Leads to ensure an accurate forward view of workload and revenue.
• Opportunity & Project Governance
• Oversee compliance with Water governance for bids and projects, including Opportunity Go/No-Go’s and risk-based reviews.
• Lead reactive project reviews and support recovery efforts, collaborating with Project Managers and Approvers to diagnose root causes, implement corrective actions, and restore delivery performance.
• Provide operational oversight and guidance to resolve challenges and improve delivery across the Water portfolio.
• Ensure consistent implementation of Healthy Starts, Tier 1 reviews, change control procedures, and DQI reporting to uphold project quality standards.
• Change & Efficiency
• Drive improvements in project and change management practices, working closely with Commercial and EC teams to improve margin protection and operational efficiency.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators including net service revenue (NSR), gross margin (GM), cost utilsation (CU), data quality index (DQI), enterprise capability (EC) usage, financial metrics (AR, WIP, and EBITA). Additionally, supporting teams to address underperformance.
• Technical & Delivery Involvement
• Where appropriate, contribute to project delivery in a billable capacity—for example, through project controls, commercial assurance, or acting as a specialist reviewer.
• Culture & Safety
• Promote and uphold AECOM’s safety culture, ensuring projects have appropriate safety planning, budget, and monitoring.
  If you’re passionate about innovation and turning bold ideas into reality, AECOM welcomes you. Join our team, where we don’t just construct infrastructure but also uplift communities and enhance lives. Why not give our AECOM Water page on LinkedIn a follow to stay updated on the impactful projects we’re working on and see firsthand the difference we’re making in the industry!