Water Capture Lead / Bid Director

About the Role

The Water business in the UK and Ireland is looking for a Capture Lead / Bid Director to join the Strategy and Growth team. The role is accountable for capturing, positioning and winning major contracts—typically worth £35 million or more—within regulated water, strategic resource options and climate‑resilience sectors. The successful candidate will lead large, strategic bids from early capture through to post‑bid debriefs. In this position you will drive growth by shaping and pursuing new business and renewal opportunities in priority accounts. You will lead a holistic capture approach that includes client listening, win‑strategy development, solution shaping, marketing, answer planning and continuous learning from wins and losses. You will also develop robust Capture Plans, maintain a data‑driven pipeline and own pursuit strategies across the full sales lifecycle. You will shape opportunities early by influencing scope, delivery models and commercial structures through proactive market engagement. Coordination with strategic marketing will deliver positioning campaigns that raise client engagement and brand awareness. Maintaining an external presence, you will build relationships with clients, regulators and partners to stay ahead of market drivers. The role involves identifying, selecting and leading strategic partnerships, joint ventures and consortiums, defining partner roles and value contribution, and representing AECOM at the senior level in negotiations. You will also build and sustain senior‑level client relationships across water utilities, regulators and public‑sector bodies, and own the narrative that explains why AECOM is the partner of choice. Commercially, you will set the strategic direction for major pursuits, including delivery models, risk appetite, pricing and value proposition, while providing senior challenge and assurance that solutions are differentiated and commercially sound. Accountability for overall commercial outcomes, not just bid mechanics, rests with you. Leadership responsibilities include giving clear strategic direction to bid team members, influencing senior internal stakeholders to align resources, partners and priorities, and acting as a visible leader for growth, collaboration and external engagement within the water business. You will also guide technical writers to produce dynamic and persuasive content. • Drive growth by capturing new business and renewals in priority water accounts. • Lead a holistic capture process: client listening, win strategy, solution shaping, marketing, answer planning, reviews and debriefs. • Develop and maintain Capture Plans and a diversified, data‑driven opportunity pipeline. • Shape early opportunity scope, delivery models and commercial structures through market engagement. • Coordinate pursuit‑based positioning campaigns with strategic marketing. • Build and sustain senior‑level relationships with water utilities, regulators and public‑sector bodies. • Define and lead strategic partnerships, joint ventures and consortiums, setting partner roles and value contribution. • Set strategic commercial direction for major bids, including pricing, risk appetite and value proposition. • Provide senior challenge and assurance to ensure solutions are deliverable, differentiated and commercially sound. • Lead and influence bid teams and internal stakeholders to align resources and priorities behind key pursuits. • Guide technical writers to produce dynamic, compliant and persuasive content.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸capture planning
• ▸bid leadership
• ▸strategic partnerships
• ▸commercial strategy
• ▸client relationships
• ▸technical writing

What You Bring

The ideal candidate has a proven track record of winning large‑scale water contracts, strong technical and delivery expertise, and experience leading multi‑disciplinary, multi‑location teams. Excellent communication and executive‑level presentation skills, deep knowledge of the UK water regulatory environment, and experience with partner‑led delivery models are essential. Experience operating in matrix organisations with separate bid management and delivery functions is also required. • Own pursuit strategies across the full sales lifecycle (PQQ, ITT, BAFO, interviews, debriefs). • Demonstrated track record of winning £35 million+ water contracts and managing multi‑disciplinary teams. • Strong technical delivery background and deep understanding of the UK water regulatory environment. • Excellent communication and executive‑level presentation skills. • Experience with partner‑led delivery models, alliances and joint ventures. • Ability to operate in matrix organisations with separate bid management and delivery functions.

Requirements

• ▸water contracts
• ▸technical delivery
• ▸regulatory knowledge
• ▸executive presentation
• ▸partner delivery
• ▸matrix org

Benefits

AECOM values diversity, including neurodiversity, and offers a hybrid work model with flexibility to work from office, remote or client sites. Employees receive competitive compensation, a wide range of benefits and well‑being programs, and the company is a Disability Confident employer that provides interview accommodations. The firm’s culture emphasizes equity, inclusion and environmental, social and governance priorities. • Hybrid work flexibility with competitive compensation, benefits and well‑being programs.

Work Environment

Hybrid