Head of Combined Authorities & Devolved Government Relations in London

Head of Combined Authorities & Devolved Government Relations in London

London Full-Time 40500 - 49500 £ / year (est.) Hybrid
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic relationships with UK Combined Authorities and devolved governments to drive impactful projects.
  • Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting dedicated to delivering a better world.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits tailored for you and your family.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team focused on innovation and career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference by shaping regional governance and driving economic growth.
  • Qualifications: Extensive experience with UK Combined Authorities and strong networking skills required.

The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World. 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.

Job Description

AECOM is seeking a senior, externally facing leader to establish and grow strategic relationships with the UK's Combined Authorities, Mayoral Authorities and devolved regional bodies. This is a market-shaping role focused on helping AECOM understand and respond to the rapidly changing devolved governance landscape, where funding, decision-making and investment responsibility are increasingly moving from central government to regional authorities.

The successful candidate will be a recognised industry figure with deep experience working with Combined Authorities and a strong understanding of how these organisations operate, collaborate and compete. They will act as the bridge between authority priorities and AECOM's capabilities, translating regional ambitions into programmes, partnerships and opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop and lead AECOM's engagement strategy across UK Combined Authorities and Mayoral Combined Authorities.
  • Build trusted relationships with Mayors, Chief Executives, Directors, programme leaders and key influencers across devolved government.
  • Provide insight into authority priorities, funding mechanisms, political drivers and investment plans.
  • Identify opportunities where AECOM can support economic development, transport, energy, housing, skills, regeneration and infrastructure objectives.
  • Facilitate collaboration across authorities while recognising their individual ambitions and competition for funding.
  • Influence AECOM's strategy by bringing client insight, market intelligence and future policy direction into the business.
  • Champion a "voice of the authority" approach, ensuring AECOM solutions are aligned with client needs and outcomes.

Strategic Leadership

  • Lead AECOM’s wider engagement with strategic authorities across England.
  • Responsible for growing revenues and pipeline across different authorities and services.
  • Collaborate with regional leaders to develop and execute growth plans in the strategic authority market.
  • Provide leadership to local teams as they develop relationships with the devolved authorities in their region.

Business Development

  • Build and maintain a diversified pipeline of qualified opportunities in the devolved authority market; leveraging both your own insights and those of the wider AECOM team.
  • Contribute to capture and pursuit activities to convert pipeline into revenue.

Team Collaboration & Mentorship

  • Lead, support, and mentor AECOM’s strategic authority leads across England to combine national and industry best practice with deep local knowledge and relationships.
  • Ensure revenue growth across a diverse client portfolio.

Operational Excellence

  • Responsible for growing AECOM’s revenues in the strategic authority market.
  • Maximise the value from growth enabler functions (e.g. Pursuit Teams, Client Listening, AI4Engineering, Strategic Marcomms) by influencing their activity focus as appropriate to the devolved authority market.

Qualifications

  • Extensive experience working within, or alongside, UK Combined Authorities, local government or devolved public sector organisations.
  • Well-networked and credible at executive and operating levels.
  • Recognised and trusted by authority leadership teams.
  • Strong understanding of regional funding, governance and investment decision-making.
  • Commercially astute, politically aware and highly collaborative.
  • Able to translate complex client challenges into practical opportunities for AECOM and its clients.
  • Experience in working with, developing relationships, and building delivery portfolios with local government and devolved authorities in the UK.
  • Strong existing relationships with devolved authorities and their constituent organisations.
  • Excellent network with key stakeholders and decision makers within the Mayoral authorities and Combined authorities.
  • Demonstrable experience of growing revenues and pipeline in the devolved authority market.

Success Measure: Become AECOM's most trusted adviser and connector within the UK's devolved authority landscape, positioning the business as a partner of choice for regional growth and transformation.

Additional Information

  • Preferred Qualifications: Degree level relevant qualification (preferable).
  • Sector experience in Transportation would be highly advantageous.
  • Member of recognised professional body and/or professional qualifications relative to core markets.

What We Offer

At AECOM, we provide the flexibility to work in hybrid environments, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits tailored to support you and your family. We champion career growth through award-winning training programs and diverse opportunities.

Head of Combined Authorities & Devolved Government Relations in London employer: AECOM

At AECOM, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our extensive career development opportunities, flexible hybrid working model, and a culture that values diversity and inclusion. Join us in the South East, where you can make a meaningful impact on transport planning while enjoying a range of personalised benefits tailored to support your well-being and professional aspirations.

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Contact Details:

AECOM Recruitment Team

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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Combined Authorities & Devolved Government Relations in London

Strategic Relationship Management
Understanding of Devolved Governance
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Business Development
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