Aviation Programme Director in Leeds

Aviation Programme Director in Leeds

Leeds Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
AECOM

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and drive growth in aviation programmes, managing major projects and client relationships.
  • Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting, making a positive impact worldwide.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options, competitive compensation, and a supportive environment for personal growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic workplace fostering innovation, safety, and collaboration across global teams.
  • Why this job: Be part of a team that shapes the future of aviation and infrastructure.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in leading large-scale projects and strong commercial acumen required.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. 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 invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

AECOM is seeking a strategic and commercially driven Programme Director to support and drive the growth and delivery of Aviation programmes across the UK & Ireland. Reporting to the Sector Director and working closely with the global Transportation leadership, you will play a critical leadership role in shaping and delivering the sector’s 3-year growth strategy, while strengthening collaboration with the global Transportation business. This role is focused on winning and delivering major projects (>$5M), building high-value client relationships, and driving excellence in project performance, safety, and operational outcomes.

Here’s what you’ll do:

  • Strategic Growth & Work Winning
    • Support and drive the sector’s 3-year growth plan across UK & Ireland.
    • Lead positioning, client engagement, and bid activity to win Aviation opportunities ≥$5M.
    • Manage the end-to-end work winning process for major programmes.
    • Define and implement the hybrid Enterprise Capability (EC) and home country delivery model for bids.
    • Enhance AECOM’s market presence and reputation with infrastructure owners, operators, and contractors.
    • Collaborate with global teams to support growth across Europe and India through capability, knowledge, and resource sharing.
  • Project & Client Leadership
    • Act as AECOM’s senior representative in the delivery of major aviation programmes.
    • Own and lead strategic client relationships, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and repeat business.
    • Drive continuous improvement based on client feedback and performance outcomes.
    • Lead collaboration with contractors, partners, and supply chain to ensure high-performing delivery teams.
  • Delivery & Commercial Performance
    • Accountable for successful delivery of Aviation Sector owned projects, typically >$5M in revenue.
    • Ensure performance across schedule, cost, and quality.
    • Drive strong commercial performance, including sales bookings and revenue growth, gross/net revenue and margin, cashflow and DSO performance, optimisation of EC utilisation, and high-quality project data and reporting.
    • Deliver programmes profitably and sustainably, aligned with business objectives.
  • Leadership & Capability Development
    • Work within Transportation to build capability and capacity aligned to long-term growth.
    • Lead collaboration across Business Lines, sectors, and geographies to unlock opportunities and strengthen delivery.
    • Contribute to the development of a high-performing, globally connected team.
    • Support the implementation of strategic workforce planning and resourcing models.
  • Safety, Health, Environment & Wellbeing (SHE)
    • Champion and actively lead the SHE & Wellbeing agenda across all major projects.
    • Ensure strong performance against both leading and lagging safety and sustainability metrics.
    • Act as a visible safety leader, embedding best practice across delivery teams and partner organisations.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

  • Proven market leader with a strong track record of positioning, leading, and winning major opportunities.
  • Extensive experience delivering large-scale, multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects profitably.
  • Demonstrated success working with infrastructure owners, operators, contractors, and partners.
  • Strong commercial acumen with experience managing financial performance and project metrics.
  • Experience operating within a global organisation, collaborating across sectors and geographies.
  • Strong leadership capability, with a focus on developing teams and building long-term capability.
  • Passionate about safety leadership, wellbeing, sustainable delivery, quality and innovation.

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!

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.

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

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.

Aviation Programme Director in Leeds employer: AECOM

At AECOM, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive career development opportunities, flexible hybrid working arrangements, and a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. Join us in our mission to deliver a better world while enjoying the benefits of working with a global leader in infrastructure consulting.

AECOM

Contact Details:

AECOM Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Aviation Programme Director in Leeds

Join Aerospace Forums and Groups

Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.

Attend Industry Conferences

Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.

Spotlight Your Projects

Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!

Apply Directly on Company Websites

When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with AECOM for a Aviation Programme Director. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!

We think you need these skills to ace Aviation Programme Director in Leeds

Strategic Growth Planning
Client Engagement
Bid Management
Project Delivery
Commercial Acumen
Financial Performance Management
Leadership Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at AECOM, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!

Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.

Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At AECOM, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.

Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.

How to prepare for a job interview at AECOM

Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge

Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with AECOM.

Showcase Your Projects with Confidence

Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Technical Interviews

Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with AECOM. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.

Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills

As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like AECOM love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.