Why Choose AECOM?
AECOM is a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm positioned to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world for public- and private-sector clients. With nearly 100,000 employees – including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals – serving clients in over 150 countries around the world, AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering design firm by revenue in Engineering News-Record magazine’s annual industry rankings, and has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a World’s Most Admired Company. The firm is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering customized and creative solutions that meet the needs of clients’ projects. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM companies, including URS Corporation and Hunt Construction Group, have annual revenue of approximately $19 billion. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at NA.
About the Business Line
Environment
Our team of environment specialists offers clients expertise in air quality, impact analysis and permitting, environmental health and safety management consulting/due diligence, remediation consulting/engineering and construction/site restoration, specialty and emerging technologies, waste services and water and natural resources.
Job Summary
Through effective leadership, collaboration across lines of business/offices and resource management this position is accountable for achieving agreed team utilisation targets and maintaining a high level of staff engagement.
The individual will establish effective Client relationships and work in partnership to deliver a programme of works safely, on budget and on a schedule which meets the Client’s required outcomes.
In addition, the individual is also expected to demonstrate best practice program management and contribute effectively to the performance goals for environmental business. The individual will also be required to understand contractual obligations of the programme and ensure that the local business achieves the KPIs set out under the contract.
Key Responsibilities:
People
- Demonstrate leadership to the programme delivery team through effective communication, coaching, reward and recognition and leading by example.
- Communicate clearly with practice leads to ensure a balanced workload and utilisation targets are maintained.
- Work with relevant practice leads to develop training programs for enhancing staff skills in managing projects with large cash flows and subcontracts.
- Work with practice leads to recognise and attract relevant talent to grow the practise and deliver quality reports.
- Ensure timely completion of staff performance appraisals and development plans, and that development plans are actioned in a timely manner.
- Should be comfortable supporting senior technical staff in disciplines outside their speciality on projects.
- Effective communication skills both internal and external.
- Comfortable mentoring junior and mid-level staff and project managers to describe the objectives of the individual projects as well as how specific segments of work relate to site objectives.
- Assist in the recruitment process in line with AECOM recruitment policy and processes (e.g., conduct behavioural based interviewing and reference checking).
Business
- Learn, commit to, align with, and lead in AECOM’s behaviour-based safety culture, using it to take full ownership of your personal safety and the safety of those around you;
- Look yourself, and encourage staff to look for unsafe conditions/acts, follow AECOM incident reporting requirements, and enter all observations into Lifeguard;
- Actively engage in the follow up on events entered into Lifeguard;
- Learn and follow all appropriate and applicable AECOM and the client’s health and safety requirements, rules and procedures;
- Effectively manage team billability and maintain balanced workflows within the programme delivery team – this includes effective management of any under/over resourcing issues;
- Achieve individual sales/utilisation targets through effective project progression and “selling through the work” on the existing book of business;
- Drive strategic business plans with other practice leads and the environmental Business Line lead to ensure on-going implementation of marketing initiatives;
- Can interact with subcontractors, have comfort discussing commercial terms and invoices with subcontractors.
- Can recognise AECOM’s commercial risks with the client and subcontractors and work with the practice leads to mitigate such risks.
- Complete timesheets, resourcing sheets and project tracking spreadsheets on time.
- Must have comfort discussing and reviewing scopes of work/cost estimates prepared by PM’s independently.
- Performs weekly budget reviews and monthly invoicing for multiple projects.
- Effective communication skills both internal and external.
- Assist with additional tasks/responsibilities as required by the environmental Business Unit Lead.
Clients
- Organises, prepares for, and leads meetings with project teams, clients, and regulators as needed.
- Effectively distribute meeting minutes and other deliverables.
- Work closely with existing programme contacts to develop an in-depth understanding of their needs, both current and future, and propose appropriate solutions/services.
- Comfortable being client-point-of-contact and to discuss project activities.
- Conduct, review, lead and teach development of the programme team.
- Participate in regular conference calls and face to face meetings with the Client representative to review project dashboard and identify bottlenecks in delivery.
- Look for opportunities to cross sell other AECOM services (e.g. permitting, auditing, compliance, waste management and GIS) to our clients.
Projects
- Assist with project management in conjunction with PMs, taking accountability for project outcomes including client service and satisfaction, budget and cash management, and quality control of deliverables.
- Perform monthly HS observation and feedback sessions. Ensure observations are entered into AECOM’s safety system and followed up as appropriate.
- Drive project execution by working closely with Project Managers including scope development and clear communication of project expectations with technical specialists and sub-consultants.
- To promptly notify the Client representative of unanticipated delays, change of scope, and/or additional services required in regards to project delivery following weekly discussions with PMs.
- Identify solutions to address issues and problems in projects to achieve satisfactory resolution.
- Comfortable and experienced in independently developing scopes of work and managing multiple projects.
- Ensure project work, especially field work, is conducted in a safe manner by:
- adequately staffing and scoping project work (with respect to # of staff, # of hours, need for third party traffic control, etc.);
- using subcontractors which have been pre-qualified and have signed a subcontractor agreement with AECOM;
- using staff with appropriate Client specific HS training and core competencies to complete a given scope of work;
- prepare and review appropriate HS documentation and work plans prior to issuance to the client and mobilisation to the field;
Self
- Background in hydrogeology, engineering or similar discipline, but at a min. should have a strong background in revising and developing Conceptual Site Models.
- Have a working knowledge of local environmental legislation and its application to the assessment and approvals process.
- Ideally would have a solid downstream OG background.
- Knowledge of quantitative health or ecological risk assessment, or remediation, while not a requirement, is preferred.
- Prepare responses to comments from Clients and regulators on AECOM deliverables.
- Work directly with the clients team of technical experts and AECOM internal technical advisors as needed.
- Invest in professional development by reading relevant technical material and attending training courses/seminars to maintain personal expertise and advance company position in the market.
- Establish and manage effective, collaborative working relationships with AECOM staff, both within and outside of South Africa.
- Have well developed report writing skills.
- Maintain a high level of integrity (and, when required, discretion) in communications and dealings with staff.
Minimum Requirements
Practical Experience
- Minimum of 8 years relevant experience.
Computer Skills
- High degree of general computing skills (eg, Microsoft applications), and working knowledge of appropriate specialist programs a plus.
Business Skills The ability to:
- influence others;
- demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking;
- work autonomously;
- exercise judgement and make decisions;
- assess client needs;
- write clear reports and deliver projects within budget.
- High degree of commercial acumen and integrity;
Meeting Management
- Strong meeting management and co-ordination skills;
Project Management Skills
- Advanced Project Management skills; Must have the ability to
- track budgets,
- handle financial aspects of billing and invoicing, and
- recognise scope variations.
Planning and Organisation
- Ability to develop and implement necessary client required plans;
- Ability to meet deadlines under tight time constraints, and work extended hours as required;
Behavioural Competencies
- Flexibility
- Ability to undertake and successfully complete a wide range of tasks.
- Communication Skills
- Well developed verbal and written presentation skills are required for both client and internal communications.
- Relationship Skills
- The ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders such as project team members and leaders across the company is essential. Similarly, the ability to develop and build a trusting relationship with the Client teams and the AECOM regional delivery team is critical to the success of the program.
Leadership Skills
- The ability to train and mentor junior staff members is required, as well as leading by example.
Motivation
- Candidate must demonstrate initiative which may be demonstrated through seeking out opportunities for advancement, putting in extra time, and assisting others as needed without being asked.
Collaboration
- Working with others, encouraging cooperation, fostering good working relationships across the company is essential to success of this role.
Preferred Qualifications
- Minimum of undergraduate degree in engineering, geology, hydrogeology or related field.
What We Offer
AECOM is a place where you can put your innovative thinking and business skills into high gear and work alongside other highly intelligent and motivated people. It’s a place where you can apply your skills to some of the world’s most challenging, interesting, and meaningful projects worldwide. It’s a place that values the diversity of our areas of practice and our people. It’s what makes AECOM a great place to work and grow. AECOM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.