At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and deliver innovative Ports & Marine Engineering projects while mentoring high-performing teams.
- Company: Join AECOM, a leader in infrastructure and engineering with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team focused on innovation and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the marine engineering sector and drive sustainable project delivery.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in marine engineering and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 61408 - 80000 £ per year.
At AECOM, we are seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Practice Director – Ports & Marine Engineering to support the growth and delivery of our business. You will lead capability development, drive project delivery excellence, and play a key role in securing and delivering work across frameworks and standalone opportunities. This is a strategic leadership position, combining work winning, operational leadership, and people development, with a strong focus on collaboration across regions and Enterprise Capability (EC) teams.
The Practice Director will be focused on delivering our existing diverse portfolio of Ports & Marine projects as well as growing to meet the demands of high growth sectors for the integration and coordination of multi-disciplinary, complex infrastructure projects.
Here’s what you’ll do:
- Lead and support client relationships for the Practice
- Ensure successful project delivery – meeting schedule, cost, and quality targets
- Lead continuous improvement through client feedback and delivery performance
- Implement and uphold AECOM project governance standards
- Build and lead effective supply chain and partner relationships
Leadership & People Development
- Grow capability and capacity within the practice regionally and through EC collaboration
- Drive utilisation performance and align resource planning at a national level
- Mentor, develop, and retain high-performing teams, fostering a strong and inclusive culture
Operational Excellence & Performance
- Support operational performance across the Ports & Marine Engineering, including cost, schedule, and quality
- Drive quality and innovation to differentiate AECOM from peers
- Drive performance against key business KPIs and growth targets
- Coordinate national workshare and resource planning aligned to practice objectives
- Promote and lead Safety, Health, Environment (SHE) and Wellbeing initiatives across projects and teams
- Act as a visible safety leader, embedding best practices at both project and operational levels
- Monitor and improve both leading and lagging sustainability and safety metrics
- Work closely with other Business Lines, and global geographies
- Support multi-disciplinary project delivery across sectors
- Share knowledge, best practices, and technical expertise across the organisation
- Strengthen collaboration with EC teams to enhance delivery capability and efficiency
Business Development & Work Winning
- Deliver the existing Ports & Marine Engineering framework and project portfolio while helping to secure repeat business and new opportunities through the end-to-end sales cycle for projects
- Provide capability, expertise, and resources to support bids led at sector level
- Support and embed the Enterprise Capability (EC) vs. home country delivery model for bids
- Develop discipline‑specific EC strategies and relationships to maximise global delivery capability
- Support the Practice’s engagement in cross‑sector growth opportunities
Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Extensive experience in ports, coastal, or marine engineering with a track record leading large, complex programs.
- Professional registration (e.g., Chartered Engineer, PE, or equivalent) and degree in civil/coastal/marine engineering or related field.
- Demonstrable success in client development, winning strategic pursuits, and delivering major multi‑disciplinary projects.
- Strong technical grounding in marine structures (quay walls, jetties, berths), coastal protection, dredging and reclamation, terminals, navigation, and resilience.
- Familiarity with relevant standards and guidance (e.g., PIANC and regional codes) and digital delivery (BIM, analytics, modeling).
- Proven team leadership, P&L accountability, and capability building across distributed teams.
- Proven experience leading in Ports & Marine Engineering or multi‑disciplinary infrastructure teams.
- Strong track record in supporting work winning, delivering projects, and successful client relationship management.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.
Practice Director - Ports and Marine Engineering in London employer: AECO
At AECOM, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the architecture field, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our extensive training programmes and mentorship opportunities, ensuring that you can develop your skills while contributing to impactful projects that shape communities. With a culture that values diversity, innovation, and collaboration, AECOM provides the perfect platform for architects to thrive and make a difference in the world.
