Water Geospatial Lead, UK&I in Cardiff

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AECOM’s Water business across the UK&I is investing in its geospatial capability to meet growing client demand across AMP8 and beyond. This is a new role created to lead that growth. As Geospatial Lead, you will establish and grow a dedicated geospatial team serving our water clients, combining technical leadership with strategic client engagement. You will shape how AECOM delivers spatial data services to the UK water sector, from asset data management and network analysis to spatial planning and regulatory submissions.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Technical Leadership and Capability Building
  • Establish AECOM's geospatial service offering for the UK&I water market, defining the technical approach, tools, and standards that underpin delivery.
  • Build and lead a team of geospatial professionals, recruiting talent and developing capability to meet current and future demand.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with AECOM's wider geospatial community, ensuring the water team benefits from global best practice while contributing sector-specific expertise.
  • Drive innovation in how we apply geospatial technology to water sector challenges, including integration with BIM, digital twins, and asset information management systems.
  • Establish robust, repeatable data integration processes using FME and related tools, enabling efficient data exchange between client systems, AECOM platforms, and third-party applications.
  • Ensure quality and consistency in GIS deliverables across the water portfolio.
• Client Engagement and Business Development
  • Work directly with water utility clients to understand their challenges and shape geospatial strategies and methodologies that address them.
  • Lead major programme delivery, taking responsibility for client relationships, commercial performance, and technical outcomes.
  • Identify and pursue growth opportunities across existing frameworks and new clients, contributing to bids and proposals.
  • Position AECOM as a trusted adviser on geospatial matters within the water sector, building our reputation through delivery and thought leadership.
  • Collaborate with other disciplines such as asset management, engineering, environmental to develop integrated propositions that draw on geospatial capability.
  • Explore opportunities to support or enhance projects using geospatial tools and techniques.
• Team Development and Operations
  • Recruit, develop, and retain high-calibre geospatial professionals.
  • Create a team culture that balances technical excellence with commercial awareness and client focus.
  • Manage utilisation, resource planning, and financial performance for the geospatial team.
  • Establish efficient ways of working, including appropriate use of AECOM's capabilities centres and technology platforms.

Qualifications: You are technically credible and commercially minded in equal measure. You understand that building a successful capability requires both excellent delivery and proactive client engagement. You are comfortable operating with ambiguity and taking ownership of shaping direction rather than waiting for instruction. You can recruit and inspire good people, and you create an environment where they do their best work. You communicate clearly with clients, colleagues, and senior stakeholders, and you represent AECOM well externally. You see this as an opportunity to build something meaningful, and you have the drive to make it happen.

Significant experience in geospatial roles, with a substantial portion in or serving the UK water sector. Demonstrated ability to lead and grow teams, including recruitment and capability development. Track record of client-facing work, including shaping strategy and leading programme delivery. Strong technical grounding in GIS platforms (Esri ecosystem preferred), spatial data management, and geospatial analysis. Proficiency in FME for spatial data integration, transformation, and workflow automation. Experience with water sector data contexts, such as asset registers, network models, and regulatory reporting. Commercial awareness, including experience with bids, proposals, and managing project or team finances. Ability to operate credibly at senior client level while remaining hands-on where needed.

Qualifications: Degree in geography, geomatics, GIS, environmental science, or a related discipline. Chartered status or working towards (e.g., CGeog, MRICS) is advantageous but not essential.

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at ReasonableAccomodations@aecom.com.

At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!