Project Management Director (Surface Water)

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

AECOM is seeking an accomplished Project Management Director (Surface Water) to provide strategic leadership, technical oversight, and operational direction for our Surface Water practice in Sacramento, California.

In this role, you will lead multidisciplinary teams delivering complex and high-profile surface water programs, including dams and reservoirs, levees and canals, flood risk reduction and resilience initiatives, watershed and river restoration, and major conveyance and tunnel systems. You will set technical vision, shape project execution strategy, mentor senior and emerging leaders, strengthen executive-level client relationships, and drive the sustained growth and performance of our Surface Water business.

This position is designed for a senior leader with demonstrated technical authority and business acumen — someone prepared to assume broader operational leadership responsibilities, including full department leadership with P&L accountability, as the Surface Water practice continues its expansion across AECOM’s Pacific West Division.

Backed by AECOM’s #1 ENR-ranked Water business line and sustained project wins across California and the western U.S., this role offers the opportunity to lead transformative infrastructure programs while advancing your executive leadership career within a globally recognized firm.

Business Development & Strategic Growth

• Lead strategic business development initiatives, including executive client engagement, pursuit strategy, and proposal governance to secure major programs and expand market share.
• Contribute to division-level business planning, revenue forecasting, backlog management, and workforce strategy to enable scalable and sustainable growth.
• Cultivate long-term partnerships with key public agencies, industry leaders, and teaming partners to position AECOM for priority infrastructure investments.
• Develop market intelligence and competitive insights to guide strategic positioning in targeted sectors across California and the Pacific West.
• Serve as a visible industry leader representing AECOM at agency, regulatory, and professional forums.

People Leadership & Organizational Development

• Mentor and develop high-performing technical and project management leaders, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and technical excellence.
• Provide executive oversight of resource planning and workload management to optimize utilization and delivery performance across multidisciplinary teams.
• Lead talent acquisition, retention, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives to strengthen organizational depth and long-term capability.
• Promote cross-discipline integration and collaboration across offices and business lines.

Technical & Delivery Excellence

• Provide executive technical oversight and strategic guidance on complex water infrastructure programs, including design, analysis, inspection, construction support, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead senior technical teams in the development of plans, specifications, construction estimates, and delivery strategies for major capital programs.
• Direct engineering analysis and design for water resources infrastructure, including dams, reservoirs, levees, canals, tunnels, pipelines, flood protection systems, and conveyance facilities.
• Oversee preparation and quality assurance of technical reports, design memoranda, and construction documentation.
• Champion innovation, resilience, and sustainability in surface water solutions.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Geology,  or related field and 12+ years of relevant experience including 4 years of leadershi