Global Rail Major Projects Director: Ireland

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 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.

Job Description

 At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world.

At AECOM, we believe infrastructure creates opportunities that transform lives and communities. Our global team is united by a common purpose to bring together the best people, ideas, technical expertise, and digital solutions to deliver positive impacts in transportation, buildings, water, environment, and new energy sectors. We’re one global team – 50,000 strong – driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world.

Our rail professionals are leading transformational changes, delivering solutions that meet our clients’ complex challenges that ensure communities have access to transportation and transit systems that are safe, reliable and sustainable – today and in the future.

About the Role

Our Global Transit Business Line has a range of exciting, nation-building projects internationally and has an opening for a Major Rail Projects Delivery Director, based in Ireland and available for immediate projects globally while  rail delivery business ramps up in Ireland. 

Ireland’s strong year on year economic growth continues, driving growth in population, workforce and travel. This, along with the need to decarbonise transport and to accelerate housing development, has led to a raft of public transport investment. The National Development Plan Review 2025 confirmed Government commitment to total investment of €275.4 billion over 2026-2035 of which €102.4 billion has been allocated for 2026 to 2030 including over €24 billion to Transport. Major rail programmes include MetroLink, Ireland’s first underground metro; major heavy rail upgrade programmes for the Dublin and Cork city region, and across the network; and programmes to renew and expand the Luas light rail system.

Ireland is a key growth market for AECOM. We are already well established, employing more than 700 people in Ireland across offices in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway.

Our transportation clients include the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Irish Rail, Translink and Dublin Airport. We are now seeking an individual with international experience of major rail infrastructure and infrastructure upgrade programmes to lead rail programmes and projects in Ireland.

You will have the opportunity to pursue and deliver world-class rail programmes that create positive social and environmental outcomes, leading complex, multidisciplinary teams across diverse sectors and regions, and working with key clients and stakeholders to achieve their goals.

As a key member of our organisation, you will play a pivotal role in driving the growth and success of our business. We are looking for a transformational leader who can shape our rail delivery capability in Ireland and, bring new technical direction and value to our rail clients and projects. 

Here’s what you’ll do:

Safety, Ethics & Quality first

• Identify areas of high risk and act to positively impact programme outcomes
• Advocate for ethical and safe working practices

Deliver excellence

• Lead and manage large rail programmes which have a high level of execution complexity and are of significant strategic value

• Provide AECOM with highly experienced technical leadership for rail project delivery in Ireland and in other markets if/where appropriate

Thrive together

• Develop high performing delivery teams for rail projects in the Irish market

• Contribute to, and where appropriate lead, development of successful tenders for rail projects in Ireland

Innovate with impact

• Drive innovation in technical and management approaches to achieve marketplace differentiation

• Assess long-term and disruptive trends