Associate Director - Development Transport Planning

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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.

Our Team

Our Transport Development Planning and Management Team delivers a wide range of exciting projects across the UK and Overseas in a wide range of sectors. We work across the housebuilding sector, delivering “Vision-Led” planning approvals for sites such as Langarth Garden Village. We support major employers such as Jaguar Land Rover and Universities and NHS Trusts in the ongoing development of their Estates. We have an extensive portfolio of urban regeneration projects, including Liverpool Street Station, Cardiff Central Square and Kings Quarter, Gloucester. For the Public sector, we support many Highways Authorities in Development Management and Local Plan preparation. We encourage and enable our staff to work across a range of sectors to develop broad knowledge, experience and relationships.

AECOM offers a full spectrum of services in the Built Environment, and we regularly collaborate as multi-disciplinary teams, unlocking significant value to our Clients. Our depth of expertise and ability to act as a complex integrator provides us access to prestigious and impactful projects. With our Environment colleagues, we are at the forefront of Infrastructure planning, and have led the transport work on six of the 15 Solar Energy DCOs which have been consented in the UK, and are currently progressing many more. With our Buildings and Places colleagues, we deliver multi-disciplinary services for development Clients such as Homes England.

Job Description

Are you ready to challenge the boundaries of what's possible?

AECOM offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where you can lead impactful projects and work alongside industry experts. We are seeking an ambitious individual to drive growth in the West Midlands private sector market as part of our well-established Development Planning  and Management Team in the Birmingham Office. As an Associate Director, you will bring in and  lead projects, delivering solutions that enhance connectivity, sustainability, and quality of life.

About You

We are currently looking for a Client-focused Associate Director to play a key role in driving growth in the West Midlands area. We have a well-established and high performing team of Development Planners in Birmingham, part of our Central, South West and Wales region, with a stable workload. This role represents an investment in the right person to drive revenue growth and expand our Client-base. You will have a proven track record in Business Development, and growing teams. You will take a lead role in project delivery, managing client and stakeholder relationships, co-ordinating teams, ensuring quality and achieving excellent outcomes.

The role will suit a self-motivated individual, well connected in the West Midlands development market, who is aspiring to take a lead role in client engagement and manage dynamic teams delivering high quality projects such as:

• Strategic sites including major housing and mixed-use developments;
• Infrastructure projects such as Solar Farms and Water Transfer schemes;
• NHS and Higher Education Estates development
• Urban Regeneration, Commercial, and Employment development
• Collaborative working across multi-disciplinary major projects

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Client and Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, including private developers, Estates Directors, and infrastructure operators. Provide strategic advice to clients, ensuring their goals are met with innovative and sustainable solutions. Represent AECOM at client meetings, industry events, and conferences, enhancing the company’s reputation as a leader in transport planning.
• Business Development: Identify and pursue new business opportunities in the Development Planning sector. Lead the preparation of bids and proposals, ensuring they align with client needs and AECOM’s strategic priorities. Build relationships with and collaborate with leads in other business lines to secure and deliver multidisciplinary projects.
• Project Delivery: Oversee the delivery of complex transport planning projects, ensuring they meet quality, budget, and timeline requirements. Provide technical oversight and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards. Manage project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure successful outcomes.
• Team Development: Support in the mentoring and development of a high-performing team of transport planners and consultants. Exhibit visible leadership within the office, and build internal relationships. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the team. Promote diversity and inclusion, ensuring a supportive and equitable workplace.
• Team Performance: Play a key role in driving the financial performance of the team through proven work winning, project management and team management abilities with excellent Client relations.

Come grow with us.

We develop projects from concept through to operation providing engineering and construction services for multiyear, multimillion-dollar projects for major rail and transit agencies. Our specialists provide analytical and strategic expertise for every stage of a project

And let's not forget about the perks at AECOM. You'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customized to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

 

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Degree in Transport Planning, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• Membership in professional body such as the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) or Transport Planning Society (TPS).
• Extensive experience in Development Planning, with a proven track record in winning work and growing teams
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. Including the ability to build relationships with Clients and colleagues.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and deliver strong financial performance.
• Established profile and relationships in the West Midlands Development Market
• Comprehensive knowledge of transport planning principles, policies, and regulations in the UK&I region.
• Well rounded knowledge and awareness of a broad range of transport disciplines including transport modelling (strategic and local) and transport economics
• Collaborative behaviours and the ability to interface with design teams in scheme development
• Proficiency in commonly used transport planning tools and software.

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 [email protected]

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!

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more!

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About AECOM

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 $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. 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 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, 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 using this email address [email protected]  if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

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