Program Management Director, Water/Wastewater

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.

About the role

The Program Director, Water / Wastewater provides senior leadership and oversight for the successful delivery of large, complex water/wastewater programs of significant strategic and public value across the United States. The role strengthens leadership readiness for critical water and wastewater pursuits and supports long-term succession planning for active programs, ensuring experienced program leadership transitions seamlessly from pursuit through delivery.

Current programs include municipal drinking water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, collection and conveyance networks, water reuse, regulatory compliance and consent decree programs, climate resilience initiatives, and major capacity expansion and rehabilitation efforts.

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. This role oversees multidisciplinary teams across engineering, construction management, environmental compliance, commercial management, and stakeholder engagement.

In addition to delivery leadership, the role contributes to work winning, including capture strategy, proposal development, and client engagement for high-priority pursuits. The initial work location may be flexible, but relocation to a program location will be required once a suitable program is identified and awarded. Current program locations include Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, and Dallas.

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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental sciences, construction management, project management, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Typically 15+ years of professional experience delivering large, complex water and/or wastewater programs.
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams within regulated public-sector environments.
• Willingness and ability to relocate within the United States upon program award.

Qualifications

• PgMP, PMP, CCM, or similar professional certification preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent professional registration preferred.

Benefits

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, and disability benefits.
• Paid time off, leaves of absence, and voluntary benefits.
• Perks, flexible work options, and well-being resources.
• Employee assistance program and business travel insurance.
• Service recognition awards.
• Retirement savings plan and employee stock purchase plan.

Pay

Offered rate of compensation will be based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. The range for this position is $250,000 to $340,000 yearly.