Project Delivery Lead/Operations Leadership Manager - AECOM

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AECOM is looking to hire a Project Delivery Leader (PDL)/Operations Leadership Manager to oversee projects and project teams within our East Environment Business line.  The role is set up to be remote, however we will need the candidate to reside within the United States of America.  

The PDL will report directly to the Director of Operations (DOO), will serve as Project Director, and will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of projects in the Environment Business Line. The PDL will work closely with the Project Managers responsible for these projects to grow their financial acumen, project management capabilities, and drive overall project performance. In addition, the PDL will work closely with the Department Manager/Regional Practice Leader in which their portfolio of projects resides to support achieving business and financial goals.  The PDL will support the DOO in meeting Business Line objectives in the areas of financial profitability, project delivery, risk management, commercial terms evaluation, and budgeting and forecasting.

The ideal candidate for this opportunity has a natural drive and ability to communicate effectively with all levels of stakeholders, both internally and externally. The ideal PDL must have the ability to present information in a confident and concise manner to stakeholders.  This opportunity requires someone who enjoys building relationships, is a team player, works with the PMs to achieve success, operates and responds in a fast-paced environment with less than complete information, is well-organized to understand priorities, and is familiar with the challenges projects with a variety of scopes and contract types bring.

Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Accountability for the planning, safe execution, and delivery of a portfolio of Environment projects at As Sold or better financial KPIs and in accordance with the East Environment Proposal and Pricing Guidance.
• Evaluating day-to-day project delivery performance, pricing strategies, risk management, forecasting and budgeting, and performance reporting for a ranging portfolio of Environment clients and projects.
• Interpreting project performance figures to support risk evaluation and financial forecasting.
• Providing proactive and hands-on support to project managers to support strong financial monitoring, prevent project issues, address risks, and make recommendations to improve project performance.  This includes analyzing project costs, billings and schedules, driving cash flow, trouble-shooting problems both common and unique, supporting mitigation measures, and being “root cause oriented” in the resolution of issues.
• Ensuring appropriate scheduling tools and processes are in use by the project team and are supported by the Project Controller (PC) and/or PDL.
• Providing support to Project Managers (PM) by:
  • Fully understanding applicable contracts
  • Leading comprehensive project reviews covering scope, schedule, budget, risk, quality, resourcing, and client-focused agenda topics
  • Engaging project team at all milestones
  • Proactive management of change (cost, revenue budget, schedule, etc.)
  • Proactively communicating risks to the DOO
  • Supporting dispute resolution, where required
  • Supporting timely and accurate Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) preparation and review
  • Driving data quality index to 0%
  • Proactively engaging project stakeholders
  • Identifying and implementing appropriate tools to track physical % complete and translate to Earned Value Management.
• Developing strong deputy project managers.
• Partnering with Finance to deliver successful projects.
• In partnership with Project Controls leadership, mentoring and directing the work of Project Controls staff to appropriately support both the common and unique needs of their assigned portfolio.
• Assisting in the development and review of proposal resource plans, schedules and pricing that aligns with business line objectives and individual bid strategies. Supporting the client service/business development staff on key pursuits (e.g., initial evaluation of terms and conditions, commercial risk, and competitive advantage).
• In coordination with the Department/Area Manager or Practice Lead, providing guidance in assigning projects and pursuit efforts to project managers as requested.
• In partnership with the Department/Area Manager or Practice Lead, continually evaluating performance of project managers within the portfolio, and mentoring project management staff to ensure timely, effective, and efficient performance of responsibilities.
• Fostering career growth of project managers and project manager candidates.
• Developing PM risk competencies, including a strong contractual understanding of risk and contingency management
• Supporting project managers and project team members with invoicing and cash collection strategy.  Reviewing unbilled/accounts receivable portfolios and making recommendations for improved performance to drive appropriate Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).
• Driving consistent project management practices and procedures in alignment with AECOM PM requirements, quality and East Environment guidance.
• Evaluating and driving AECOM delivery excellence practices including Healthy Start project reviews.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Environmental Sciences or comparable technical or business professional degree
• 10+ years of relevant experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.  
• Two years of leadership experience
• Due to the nature of work, U.S. Citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Recent experience managing projects, including the development, monitoring and ownership of scope, schedule, budget, quality, team, subconsultants and client relationships
• Understanding of scheduling concepts and earned value management
• Strong project management skills, with experience in organizing, planning, and executing projects from pursuit through closeout, involving internal personnel, contractors, and vendors
• Experience with multiple types of contracts – Fixed-Price, Fixed Unit Rates, Cost-Reimbursable (T&M), Performance-Based, Target-Price with Incentive, etc.
• Broad knowledge of and experience in environmental consulting work in various markets including State/Local, Oil and Gas, Power, Infrastructure, Industrial, Mining and/or Federal.
• Business development experience
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including ability to present to an internal audience in a confident and concise manner and facilitate workshops
• Change enabler with an ability to promote best practices and coach & mentor staff through change. Leader who thinks and acts globally, engaging the best and most appropriate AECOM resources on projects.
• Strong positive communication style and collaborator when working through challenging issues, differences of opinion, project mitigation plans, etc.
• Understanding of AECOM financial systems, procedures, and policies
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

• Please note that this role can be based anywhere in the United States and compensation data will vary in each location, including higher or lower than the stated range. 

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absence, voluntary benefits, perks, U.S. and global well-being programs, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

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 is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

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.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. 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.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.