Senior Talent Intelligence & Market Research Specialist (Recruitment)

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 a Principal Talent Intelligence & Market Research Specialist to work within our Talent Acquisiton function.  This is a role that can be based in any of our major AECOM office locations within the US or UK.  

Role Purpose

The Principal Talent Intelligence & Market Research Specialist is a senior strategic advisor who shapes business direction through external labor market intelligence, competitive insight, and internal capability analysis. Operating at the intersection of Talent Acquisition, workforce strategy, and AI-enabled research, this role partners directly with TA, Talent Management and business leadership across the enterprise to anticipate talent risks and opportunities, surface where the market is moving, and enable evidence-led decisions on capability, structure, and growth. This is a highly visible Individual Contributor role designed for a sophisticated researcher who blends deep investigative rigor with the executive presence to translate complex market data into actionable hiring strategies for one of the world’s largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms.

Scope & Impact

• Influences business strategy and direction through insight that guides organizational growth, and capability build/buy/borrow decisions across architecture, engineering, construction management, and advisory businesses.
• Advises Leadership Team stakeholders with recommendations affecting multiple regions, business lines, and functions.
• Leads complex, high-visibility intelligence initiatives with material business impact, including talent mapping for critical leadership roles and competitive landscape analysis for strategic markets.
• Anticipates talent trends, proactively shaping leadership thinking and strategic scenarios 12–24+ months ahead of open roles.
• Builds decision and recommendation frameworks requiring conceptual, innovative, and strategic reasoning in ambiguous problem spaces.
• Serves as the recognized subject matter expert on AEC labor markets and a trusted advisor to senior leadership and the global TA function.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Intelligence & Market Research

• Strategic Market Intelligence: Conduct in-depth external research, including competitor organizational mapping, geographic talent availability, compensation benchmarking, and skill trend analysis across AEC and adjacent industries.
• Capability Heatmapping: Identify emerging talent and capability risks and opportunities tied to the enterprise growth plan; produce capability heatmaps and tiered target lists that translate ambiguous business questions into precise recommendations.
• Executive Insight Narratives: Build and deliver executive-ready narratives that combine internal signal with external market intelligence to inform workforce planning and business decisions.
• Bench Building: Through research, help to build bench strength for future leadership needs, identifying and nurturing high-potential external talent well ahead of open roles.

Strategic Talent Mapping

• Talent Mapping: Execute best-in-class talent mappings for niche, competitive roles spanning technical disciplines, project leadership, and corporate functions.
• Sourcing Partnership: Partner with sourcing teams, recruiters, TA leadership, and hiring leaders to translate business goals into targeted sourcing strategies and prospect management approaches that strengthen long-term pipelines.

Analytics, AI & Enablement

• Insight Products & Dashboards: Assist and actively participate in developing and maintain directional dashboards and talent visibility tools that surface trends, measure effecti