Practice Director - Ports and Marine Engineering in Basingstoke

Practice Director - Ports and Marine Engineering in Basingstoke

Basingstoke Full-Time No working from home possible
AECOM

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and deliver innovative Ports & Marine Engineering projects while mentoring high-performing teams.
  • Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting, dedicated to delivering a better world.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options, competitive compensation, and a commitment to your professional growth.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team with opportunities for career advancement and personal development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on complex infrastructure projects that shape communities and the environment.
  • Qualifications: Extensive experience in marine engineering and proven leadership in delivering large-scale projects.

Company Description

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 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 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:

  • Project & Client Leadership
    • 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
  • Collaboration & Strategy
    • 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 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

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? 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.

Additional Information

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too. Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours. 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. Please let us know if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

AECOM

Contact Details:

AECOM Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Practice Director - Ports and Marine Engineering in Basingstoke

Join Local Manufacturing Groups

Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!

Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces

Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!

Leverage the Power of Internships

While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.

Apply Directly Through Company Websites

When you find a role at a company you love, like AECOM, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!

We think you need these skills to ace Practice Director - Ports and Marine Engineering in Basingstoke

Project Leadership
Client Relationship Management
Operational Leadership
Capability Development
Multi-disciplinary Project Delivery
Marine Engineering Expertise
Technical Knowledge in Marine Structures

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!

Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to AECOM specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!

Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!

How to prepare for a job interview at AECOM

Know Your Manufacturing Processes

Before you walk into the interview with AECOM, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.

Technical Questions Are Key

Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.

Align Your Values with Quality and Safety

In a full-time role, companies like AECOM value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.