VP, Program Management, Rail

AECOM • Austin, TX

15h

About The Position

The Rail Program Director is the senior executive leader accountable for the overall strategy, direction, and successful delivery of a major Light Rail Transit program of high complexity, public visibility, and strategic importance. The role establishes the vision and delivery environment for the program, ensuring outcomes are achieved in alignment with client objectives, statutory approvals, regulatory obligations, and wider transport network integration goals. This role provides executive-level leadership across all technical, commercial, operational, and stakeholder domains of the LRT program, ensuring safe, compliant, and integrated delivery across planning, design, construction, systems, testing, and commissioning phases. The Program Director champions excellence in safety leadership, assurance, and governance, while driving innovation, digital delivery, and continuous improvement. The role also plays a pivotal part in developing capability, strengthening market position, and enhancing long-term value for communities and transport authorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, project management, construction management, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 15+ years’ experience, including senior leadership roles on major rail or transport infrastructure programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multidisciplinary teams in regulated rail environments.
• Strong understanding of rail systems, assurance, safety certification, and operational readiness.
• Professional certification (PgMP, MSP, APM RPP, CCM, or equivalent) preferred.
• Chartered or professionally licensed status (e.g., CEng, RPEQ, PE) desirable depending on jurisdiction.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership of major LRT, metro, or rail programs with significant public profile and stakeholder complexity.
• Experience delivering through alliance, PPP, or multi-contract program models.
• Strong background in rail systems integration, testing & commissioning, and safety assurance.
• Proven capability in managing regulator, operator, and independent assurance relationships.
• Experience driving organizational rail capability uplift and digital or systems-based delivery approaches.
• Recognized contribution to the rail industry through leadership, governance roles, or professional associations.

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership & Strategy: Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the LRT program, ensuring alignment with client objectives, transport strategies, funding agreements, and regulatory frameworks. Define and communicate a clear vision for successful program delivery, balancing safety, performance, cost, schedule, quality, and public outcomes. Shape the overall delivery strategy, including packaging, contracting models, alliances, PPPs, or design-and-construct approaches as appropriate.
• Governance & Assurance: Establish and maintain a robust program governance framework, enabling effective senior decision-making, assurance, escalation, and performance oversight. Ensure compliance with rail safety legislation, independent safety assessor (ISA) requirements, systems assurance frameworks, and operator requirements. Lead program-wide assurance, readiness, and gateway processes across design, construction, testing, commissioning, and operational handover.
• Integrated Delivery Oversight: Direct and oversee senior delivery leaders across civil infrastructure, rail systems, rolling stock, utilities, stations, depots, operations readiness, and integration. Ensure coordination and interface management between civil works, systems, third parties, operators, maintainers, and government stakeholders. Maintain accountability for end-to-end integration, including network interfaces, interfaces with existing rail or road networks, and urban environments.
• Stakeholder & Client Leadership: Act as the primary executive interface with transport authorities, government agencies, operators, regulators, local councils, and funding bodies. Lead complex stakeholder environments involving public, political, community, and media sensitivities with credibility and authority. Represent the program and organization at executive forums, steering committees, and industry engagements.
• Safety, Risk & Quality Leadership: Hold senior accountability for safety leadership across the program, fostering a strong safety culture aligned with rail regulatory expectations. Oversee program-wide risk management, environmental stewardship, and quality systems, ensuring risks are proactively identified and managed. Champion health, safety, and wellbeing outcomes for workforce, passengers, and communities.
• Commercial & Financial Stewardship: Provide executive oversight of commercial strategy, contract administration, claims management, and supplier relationships. Maintain accountability for program financial performance, funding compliance, and value-for-money outcomes. Guide strategies for contingency, change control, and commercial risk mitigation.
• Innovation, Digital & Continuous Improvement: Champion digital engineering, BIM, systems engineering, and data-driven delivery to enhance integration, assurance, and efficiency. Drive innovation in delivery models, construction methodologies, and rail systems integration. Foster a culture of learning, continuous improvement, and performance excellence.
• Leadership & Capability Development: Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing senior leadership team across all program disciplines. Develop leadership capability, succession planning, and rail program management maturity within the organization. Contribute to broader rail market growth, capability building, and thought leadership.

Benefits

• AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits 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 absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options , well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees