📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director of Growth & Business Development, Water - UK&I
🔹 Company: AECOM
🔹 Location: London, UK (with occasional travel to Exeter)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid
🔹 Category: Civil Engineering, Business Development
🔹 Date Posted: July 18, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Strategic growth leadership across AECOM's Water business in the UK and Ireland
- Business development and sales, driving new business opportunities and expanding the client base
- Market intelligence and positioning, ensuring AECOM's thought leadership in water resilience, digital water, ESG, and infrastructure innovation
- Cross-functional collaboration and bid development, working closely with marketing, sector leads, and internal teams
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong commercial acumen, and a deep understanding of the water market to drive sustainable growth and expansion.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the UK&I Water Business and collaborate with other business lines and sector leads on key pursuits and growth initiatives
✅ Define and execute a growth strategy aligned with corporate goals, while monitoring market trends, policy shifts, and emerging opportunities to guide investment and innovation
✅ Drive new business opportunities and expand the client base through engagement with public and private sectors, partnerships, and networking
✅ Lead major bids, proposals, and commercial negotiations, ensuring strong win rates and profitability
✅ Conduct market and competitive analysis to refine propositions and identify new revenue streams
✅ Position AECOM as a thought leader in water resilience, digital water, ESG, and infrastructure innovation
✅ Coordinate pipeline analysis and bid management to meet business plan targets
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of external engagement, requiring excellent communication, networking, and stakeholder management skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Business, or related discipline). A Master's degree would be an asset.
Experience: Extensive experience (10+ years) in business development, growth strategy, or commercial leadership within the water sector.
Required Skills:
- Proven track record in revenue generation, deal structuring, and leading complex bids
- Strong knowledge of the water market, including regulatory frameworks, infrastructure cycles (AMP), and digital transformation
- Well-established network in water utilities, infrastructure, or technology sectors
- Experience with public sector procurement and framework agreements
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills
- Proven ability to drive strategic plans and work across multidisciplinary teams
- Solid understanding of ESG principles in a water context
- Awareness of industry trends in Europe and India
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in a global organization
- Fluency in additional languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in business development and a deep understanding of the water market are most likely to succeed in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £80,000 - £120,000 per annum (based on experience and qualifications). This is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in the UK.
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package, including health insurance, pension, and flexible benefits
- Hybrid work options and flexible working arrangements
- Opportunities for professional development and career growth
- Employee resource groups and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for occasional travel and project demands.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including civil engineering, construction, environmental, and facilities management.
Company Size: AECOM is a large organization with over 10,000 employees worldwide, providing ample opportunities for career growth and development.
Founded: AECOM was founded in 1990 and has since grown to become a leading global infrastructure firm.
Company Description:
- AECOM is committed to delivering a better world through its infrastructure consulting services
- The company works with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges, improving people's lives and creating sustainable legacies for future generations
- AECOM's Water business provides a broad range of clients with a full range of Water services across all sectors
Company Specialties:
- Cities
- Commercial & Residential
- Education
- Governments
- Healthcare
- Industrial
- Leisure & Hospitality
- Oil, Gas & Chemicals
- Power
- Sports & Venues
- Transportation
- and Water
Company Website: http://www.aecom.com
ASSUMPTION: AECOM's global presence and diverse portfolio of services offer candidates the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects and gain exposure to various industries and markets.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, reporting directly to the Water Business Line Lead.
Reporting Structure: The Director of Growth & Business Development, Water - UK&I will have a team of Client Account Managers and Framework Managers reporting to them, as well as collaborating with regional growth and strategy teams, subject matter experts, and client account leads.
Work Arrangement: This role operates on a hybrid basis, with a mix of on-site work at AECOM's London office and remote work from home or client sites as needed.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a more senior leadership role within AECOM's Water business or other business lines
- Expanding responsibilities and team leadership opportunities as the business grows
- Broadening industry knowledge and expertise through exposure to diverse projects and markets
ASSUMPTION: Success in this role may lead to increased responsibilities and career advancement opportunities within AECOM's global organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: AECOM's London office is a modern, collaborative workspace with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities.
Office Location(s): AECOM's UK headquarters is located in London, with occasional travel to the Exeter office and client sites as needed.
Geographic Context:
- London is a major global city with a thriving business ecosystem and excellent connectivity to the rest of the UK and Europe
- Exeter is a historic city in the South West of England, known for its cultural attractions and scenic beauty
- The UK&I region offers a diverse range of water infrastructure projects and opportunities for growth and development
Work Schedule: The work schedule is typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for occasional travel and project demands.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers candidates the best of both worlds, with the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in the office and work remotely as needed.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening with the HR team
- Face-to-face or video interview with the hiring manager and other stakeholders
- Final interview with the Water Business Line Lead
- Background check and onboarding
Key Assessment Areas:
- Commercial acumen and business development skills
- Water market knowledge and industry trends
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Communication and stakeholder management skills
- Leadership and team collaboration
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant business development experience and water market knowledge
- Prepare examples of successful bids, proposals, and commercial negotiations you have led in the past
- Research AECOM's Water business and be ready to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's growth strategy
ATS Keywords: Business Development, Growth Strategy, Commercial Leadership, Water Market, Regulatory Frameworks, Digital Transformation, Public Sector Procurement, ESG Principles, Market Analysis, Client Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, Collaboration, Networking
ASSUMPTION: AECOM's recruitment process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best match for the role and the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics)
- Project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Asana)
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)
- Industry-specific software and platforms (e.g., water management systems, GIS)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with relevant tools and technologies is essential for success in this role, as they enable effective collaboration, data analysis, and project management.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Safety
- Quality
- Integrity
- Innovation
- One AECOM
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and proactive
- Adaptable and resilient
- Customer-focused and responsive
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you embrace AECOM's safety culture and prioritize the safety of yourself and others in all aspects of your work?
- Are you comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and adapting to change as needed?
- Do you thrive in a collaborative, team-based work environment and enjoy contributing to a positive, inclusive culture?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who align with AECOM's values and work style are more likely to succeed in this role and contribute to the company's ongoing success.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The water market is subject to regulatory changes and policy shifts, requiring candidates to stay up-to-date with industry trends and adapt their strategies accordingly
- Business development and growth initiatives may involve long sales cycles and complex stakeholder management, requiring patience, persistence, and strong communication skills
- The hybrid work arrangement may present challenges in maintaining work-life balance and staying connected with colleagues and stakeholders
- Occasional travel may be required, which could disrupt personal and family schedules
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be aware of these potential challenges and be prepared to navigate them effectively in this role.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on driving growth and business development within AECOM's Water business in the UK and Ireland
- Compared to other business development roles in the water sector, this position offers a broader scope of responsibilities and the opportunity to shape the organization's long-term growth strategy
- Career progression in this role may lead to increased responsibilities and leadership opportunities within AECOM's global organization
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider the unique aspects of this role and how it aligns with their career goals and aspirations.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a strategic growth plan for AECOM's Water business in the UK and Ireland, identifying new market opportunities and expanding the client base
- Leading a major bid for a large-scale water infrastructure project, coordinating with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure a successful outcome
- Conducting market analysis and competitive assessments to refine AECOM's propositions and identify new revenue streams in the water sector
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, collaborative, and innovative nature of the work required in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current state of the UK&I water market and the key trends shaping its future?
- How does AECOM's Water business differentiate itself from competitors, and what are the key opportunities for growth and expansion?
- What is the company's approach to fostering a positive, inclusive culture, and how does this role contribute to that effort?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how will success be measured?
- How does AECOM support the professional development and career growth of its employees, particularly in roles like this one?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, insightful questions demonstrates your interest in the role and helps you make an informed decision about your fit with the organization.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant business development experience and water market knowledge
- Prepare examples of successful bids, proposals, and commercial negotiations you have led in the past
- Research AECOM's Water business and be ready to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's growth strategy
- Follow up with the recruiter on LinkedIn one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
