Application Guide

How to Apply for Climate Adaptation and Resilience Senior Consultant

at AECOM

🏢 About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm that stands out for its commitment to 'building sustainable legacies' through innovative environmental solutions. Working here means contributing to large-scale projects that address climate challenges while collaborating with experts across engineering, planning, and environmental disciplines. Their focus on practical, implementable resilience strategies makes them a leader in turning climate adaptation concepts into real-world infrastructure improvements.

About This Role

This senior consultant role focuses on translating climate vulnerability assessments into actionable adaptation plans for communities and infrastructure systems. You'll be directly involved in developing decision-support tools, creating GIS-based mapping products, and guiding policy initiatives that help clients build resilience against climate impacts. The position is impactful because it bridges technical analysis with community engagement to create practical solutions for sea-level rise and climate vulnerabilities.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve analyzing GIS data to map flood vulnerability for a coastal community project, then developing adaptation recommendations for critical infrastructure. You could spend the afternoon mentoring junior staff on resilience strategy development while preparing client presentations that translate technical findings into actionable policy recommendations. The role balances hands-on technical work with client communication and team leadership across multiple adaptation projects.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For

  • Has hands-on experience conducting climate vulnerability assessments specifically for sea-level rise scenarios, not just general climate knowledge
  • Demonstrates proven ability to develop resilience strategies that address infrastructure systems, governance frameworks, AND policy implementation
  • Shows experience managing junior staff while balancing multiple client projects with competing deadlines
  • Possesses strong GIS skills specifically applied to climate vulnerability mapping and spatial analysis

📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM

1

Highlight specific projects where you've conducted sea-level rise vulnerability assessments - quantify impacts if possible (e.g., 'assessed vulnerability for 50 miles of coastline')

2

Include examples of resilience strategies you've developed that address at least two of: infrastructure, governance, AND policy - AECOM values this integrated approach

3

Mention any experience with AECOM's core sectors (transportation, water, energy) in your climate adaptation work

4

Showcase GIS proficiency with specific software (ArcGIS, QGIS) and describe mapping products you've created for climate vulnerability

5

Demonstrate your capacity-building experience by describing tools or frameworks you've developed to help communities make resilience decisions

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your direct experience with sea-level rise vulnerability assessments and how they informed adaptation planning', "Examples of resilience strategies you've developed that integrate infrastructure solutions with governance/policy components", 'Your ability to manage multiple projects while mentoring junior staff in climate adaptation work', 'How your technical GIS skills have produced actionable mapping products for climate vulnerability analysis']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → AECOM's recent climate resilience projects (check their website's project portfolio for adaptation work)
  • → Their 'Sustainable Legacies' strategy and how climate adaptation fits into their broader sustainability framework
  • → Specific AECOM tools or methodologies like their climate risk assessment frameworks
  • → Recent AECOM thought leadership on climate adaptation (white papers, conference presentations, blog posts)

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through a specific sea-level rise vulnerability assessment you conducted and how it led to adaptation recommendations
2 Describe a resilience strategy you developed that successfully addressed both infrastructure and policy challenges
3 How do you prioritize and delegate tasks when managing multiple climate adaptation projects with tight deadlines?
4 What GIS methodologies have you used to analyze climate vulnerability and communicate findings to non-technical stakeholders?
5 How have you engaged communities in climate adaptation planning while ensuring technical rigor in your assessments?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Only discussing general climate change knowledge without specific sea-level rise assessment experience
  • Focusing solely on policy OR infrastructure without demonstrating integrated resilience strategy development
  • Claiming GIS experience without being able to describe specific climate vulnerability mapping products you've created

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to AECOM!

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