Operations Lead, Water UK&I

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.

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.

Key Responsibilities of the Role

• 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!

Come & Grow with Us.

Become part of our dynamic Water business, which boasts around 670 experts across the UK & Ireland. Collaborate with top-tier civil, mechanical, electrical, and process engineers to deliver a variety of captivating projects, from small initiatives to large-scale ventures, all the way from concept to completion.  Here, you’ll thrive in an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where your contributions are valued.

Enjoy the Perks.

At AECOM, you'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

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 [email protected]. At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives.

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.

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 $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. 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 a Disability Confident Employer 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 [email protected]  if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

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