At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global desalination projects and drive innovative water solutions.
- Company: Join AECOM, a trusted infrastructure consulting firm making a positive impact worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid work options, competitive compensation, and a focus on well-being.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Be part of a team delivering sustainable water solutions that shape the future.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in water engineering and strong knowledge of desalination technologies.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
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.
We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Global Desalination Practice Leader to drive the growth, technical excellence, and market leadership of our global desalination and water treatment business. This executive-level role will be responsible for setting and executing the strategic direction of the firm's desalination practice across municipal, industrial, mining, energy, and water security markets. The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary teams across engineering, consulting, program management, and operations while serving as a trusted advisor to clients, regulators, investors, and industry stakeholders worldwide.
The Global Desalination Practice Leader will oversee business development, major project pursuits, technical innovation, strategic partnerships, and practice performance, ensuring delivery excellence and sustainable growth across key regions including North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The purpose of this role is to lead the AECOM global desalination practice. The role will encompass strategy development and project delivery to ensure AECOM becomes the leading engineering firm in desalination.
This role requires a recognised senior leader with a strong technical understanding of the role of desalination from strategy through to delivery.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Serve as part of the AECOM global water leadership team, advocating and delivering growth in desalination.
- Develop and coordinate global desalination market strategy based on knowledge of the global desalination market, with an emphasis on seawater desalination, desalination technologies, and emerging market trends.
- Collaboration and coordination with the Regional Water Business Line Leadership, Global Water Market Sector Lead, and sub-region Region Business Line Leaders and area market sector leads.
- Work with regional business development and project delivery teams to develop regional desalination market sub-strategies and drive growth.
- Serve as project director/design manager/technical lead directing and executing work related to seawater desalination and/or similar treatment processes.
- Assist in development and implementation of major pursuit capture strategy and provide oversight of capture plans as they relate to major desalination opportunities.
- Coordinate with regional and market sector leadership and Technical Practice Network to align skills with market trends and to drive strategic technical leadership hires.
- Reinforce collaboration and team building, ensure client focus, demonstrate commitment to excellence and innovation, and motivate others to ensure positive morale and engagement.
- Leverage technical expertise from across the organization to support pursuits and delivery.
- Continuously interact with clients assuring satisfaction with AECOM services and interact with project delivery personnel to ensure any service issues are identified and addressed in a proactive manner.
- Build a strong capability to deliver desalination solutions including internal and external (recruitment).
- Build strong relationships and interact regularly with clients, teaming partners, industry groups and stakeholders linked to the market sector.
- Continuously build a strong professional network through personal contacts, conference planning and strategy development.
- Ensure that AECOM programs such as Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Ethics & Compliance are an overriding part of the organizational culture.
Key areas of responsibility:
- Strategic Leadership & Growth: Actively lead and participate in the global water leadership team with a proactive role in growing a successful and sustainable desalination practice.
- Foster a culture of sharing knowledge of best practice in winning and delivery of desalination projects from planning through to delivery.
- Collaborate with peers across the globe and cross business line to develop our go to market for desalination.
- Active leadership and building global relationships with equipment suppliers and contractors active in desalination.
- Support the Regional Business Line leadership teams to implement the regional desalination growth and delivery strategies.
- Technical and Design Leadership: Oversee competitive pricing strategies that balance winning bids whilst managing business risk.
- Work closely with the Regional Leadership teams on Enterprise Critical Pursuits.
- Oversee and lead technical and engineering reviews during pursuit stages, particularly in emerging markets, ensuring alignment with business strategy.
- Identify and recruit talent to build desalination capability including for our Enterprise Capabilities team.
- Proactively build an AI focused growth platform for delivery of desalination.
- Resource & Capability Development: Develop and implement resourcing strategies for a global desalination practice.
- Identify gaps and actively support global and regional teams to recruit and resource.
- Build Enterprise Capabilities (EC) knowledge base for the delivery of desalination infrastructure.
- Focused succession planning for key roles.
- Project Delivery & Performance: Ensure MPD delivery suite, MP Systems and tools are implemented on major projects.
- Help support wellness, health, and wellbeing initiatives for major projects in delivery, working closely with the Business Line Major Projects Leader.
- Ensure consistent project performance monitoring and reporting across individual projects which you are supporting.
- Deliver projects as Design Manager / Design Director – specifically for our largest Water Infrastructure projects.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in Engineering. Environmental, Civil or Chemical preferred.
- Several years of leadership experience working in the water engineering or professional services industry.
- Extensive and proven knowledge of global desalination market, including desalination technology, project delivery models, and emerging market trends.
- Demonstrated experience in delivery of desalination (or similar water/wastewater scheme) project/program development, planning, design and implementation internationally.
- Strong relationships and experience working with clients and potential clients in the global desalination market.
- Well-known in the industry through American Water Works Association, Australian Water Association, International Desalination and Reuse Association, and related industry organizations, demonstrated through publications and presentations related to seawater desalination.
- Agile response to fast paced, complex work environment and organizational change.
- Ability to travel internationally, as required.
Global Desalination Leader in Manchester 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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Desalination Leader in Manchester
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We think you need these skills to ace Global Desalination Leader in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at AECO.
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Tailor Your Application to the Role:Don't just send a generic CV and cover letter. Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Global Desalination Leader at AECO. Highlight experiences that align directly with the job description and give concrete examples of your work to demonstrate that you’re the right fit for a full-time position.
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How to prepare for a job interview at AECO
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest environmental regulations and standards. In an environmental engineering tech role at AECO, you might be asked specific questions about compliance measures, so understanding these will definitely give you an edge.
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Prepare to demonstrate your proficiency with relevant tools and software, such as AutoCAD or GIS. You might be given a practical problem to solve during the interview, so it’s a great idea to brush up on these skills and perhaps even bring a portfolio of your projects to showcase your technical prowess.
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