Senior Program Manager - Water Business Line

AECOM•Boston, MA

3d•$180,000 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

AECOM’s Water Business Line is seeking a dynamic and accomplished strategic leader with bold ideas to join our leadership team in one of our New England offices. This role is an exciting opportunity to shape meaningful water accounts and drive regional growth in the drinking water, wastewater, conveyance, and water resources markets. As a Senior Program Manager, you will manage a multi-year, multi-project capital improvement program (CIP) exceeding $2 billion for a municipal or regional water/wastewater utility. You will establish and lead a Program Management Office (PMO), providing executive-level stakeholder leadership and driving delivery outcomes across key areas such as schedule, cost, risk, quality, safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. You will oversee the full program lifecycle—from planning through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and operational handover—across complex infrastructure portfolios including treatment facilities, conveyance systems, reservoirs, CSO programs, resilience initiatives, and digital/asset systems. This position offers a unique chance to work within an established and successful group that boasts a diverse range of technical proficiencies and abundant career development opportunities. You’ll be client-facing, managing meaningful accounts that will contribute to our ambitious growth plans.

Requirements

BA/BS in Engineering, Construction Management or related field + 10 years of related experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
4+ years of experience in leadership roles.
Proven experience managing large-scale infrastructure programs, including scope, budget, and schedule oversight
Strong communication, leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
Experience working in a digital, paperless project environment
Due to the nature of work, U.S. Citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management or related field
Professional Engineer (PE) license in New England states or ability to obtain within 4 months
Demonstrated success leading complex water/wastewater capital programs
Experience with program controls and digital platforms (e.g., Primavera P6, Power BI, cost/risk systems)
Passion for innovation, sustainability, and advancing resilient infrastructure solutions

Responsibilities

Lead and Inspire – Build and lead a high-performing PMO with best-in-class governance, controls, reporting, and performance metrics for a multi-billion-dollar CIP.
Drive Program Excellence – Implement and oversee program controls including cost, schedule, risk, change management, and document control, ensuring accurate forecasting and accountability.
Strategic Advisor – Guide clients on delivery models (DBB, CMAR, DB, Progressive DB) and lead procurement strategy and execution.
Compliance & Stewardship – Oversee regulatory compliance (EPA, state agencies), permitting, and consent decree/enforcement obligations.
Shape Sustainable Outcomes – Integrate resilience, sustainability, equity, and lifecycle asset strategies into program decisions and prioritization.
Deliver End-to-End Programs – Lead design management, value engineering, constructability reviews, commissioning, and operational turnover.
Proactively Manage Risk – Drive risk identification, analysis, mitigation planning, and governance across the program lifecycle.
Build High-Performing Teams – Attract, mentor, and develop diverse talent; manage subconsultants and contractors; foster a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Communicate with Impact – Establish executive dashboards and reporting frameworks; ensure transparency and effective issue escalation.
Strengthen Client Relationships – Serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders including utilities, agencies, community leaders, and partners.
Innovate for Performance – Identify and implement digital tools and new technologies to enhance program delivery and outcomes.