Head of Architecture & Design – UK & Ireland at AECOM · Manchester

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.

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.

Job Description

The Head of Architecture & Design, UK & Ireland is a senior leadership position responsible for driving the strategic direction, growth, technical excellence, and market reputation of AECOM’s architecture & design practice. This role leads multi‑disciplinary architectural, master planning, landscape and interior design teams across multiple offices, ensuring design quality, client satisfaction, operational performance, and alignment with AECOM’s wider business strategy.

The Head of Architecture & Design will also play a key role in business development, major pursuits, key client relationships, talent strategy, and practice-wide innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Define and deliver the strategic vision for the Architecture & Design practice across the UK & Ireland.
• Lead, inspire, and develop high‑performing architecture, master planning, landscape and interior design teams across multiple studios.
• Align architectural & design strategy with AECOM’s wider business and growth objectives.
• Champion a culture of design excellence, technical quality, collaboration, and innovation.
• Represent the Architecture & Design discipline within regional and global leadership forums.

Business Development & Market Growth

• Drive market positioning and growth across priority sectors (e.g., Transportation, Defence, Healthcare, Commercial, Education, Mixed‑Use).
• Lead major pursuits, bids, and proposal strategies in partnership with the Work Winning team.
• Develop and maintain senior‑level client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor.
• Identify and pursue new market opportunities, strategic partnerships, and frameworks.

Project & Design Leadership

• Provide oversight on major architectural & design commissions, ensuring quality, risk management, compliance, and design integrity.
• Serve as Design Authority or Technical Reviewer on complex, high‑profile projects.
• Promote integrated, multi‑disciplinary working alongside engineering, digital, planning, and advisory teams.

Operational & Financial Management

• Accountable for practice‑wide financial performance, revenue forecasting, utilisation, and profitability.
• Oversee resource planning, project staffing, and capacity management.
• Implement consistent operational standards, QA/QC processes, and best practice delivery tools.

People & Talent Development

• Lead talent strategy for the Architecture & Design practice including recruitment, retention, succession planning, and early careers development.
• Foster a diverse, inclusive, supportive studio culture.
• Promote professional accreditation, CPD, and career progression pathways.

Digital, Sustainability & Innovation

• Champion digital and AI design tools (Revit, BIM, parametric design, digital twins).
• Embed sustainability principles aligned to AECOM’s ESG and net‑zero goals.
• Encourage research, thought leadership, and new ways of working.

Qualifications

• Chartered Architect (ARB / RIBA Part III), Materplanner/Urban Designer (MRTPI) or Landscape professional (CMLI).
• Significant experience in leading architectural, masterplan or urban design teams at a senior or director level.
• Demonstrable track record in delivering major projects and managing large multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in P&L responsibility.
• Proven business development and client relationship management experience.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and strategic leadership skills.
• Experience with BIM and digital design workflows.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working within large consultancy or multi‑disciplinary environments.
• Established reputation and network within UK architecture, masterplanning, urban design or landscape design markets.
• Experience with major complex infrastructure, defence, transportation, healthcare or large‑scale commercial/mixed‑use schemes.
• Familiarity with ISO 19650, UK building regulations, government frameworks, and procurement routes.

Additional Information

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. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are committed to helping you achieve your career ambitions.

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.

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 ReasonableAccommodationsUKI@aecom.com if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

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