Application Guide

How to Apply for Program Manager

at AECOM

🏢 About AECOM

AECOM stands out as a global leader in sustainable infrastructure and environmental solutions, focusing on creating lasting positive impacts through innovative projects. Their commitment to building sustainable legacies means employees work on transformative projects that address critical challenges like climate resilience and community development. This mission-driven approach makes AECOM particularly appealing for professionals who want their work to have meaningful, long-term societal benefits.

About This Role

This Program Manager role involves overseeing complex, high-budget construction projects with significant scope, where you'll act as the independent IE representative to ensure deliverables align with original requirements. You'll provide leadership to direct reports while managing multiple projects simultaneously, balancing budget, schedule, and quality across diverse stakeholder groups. The impact comes from steering large-scale infrastructure projects that contribute to AECOM's sustainable legacy mission.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing progress on multiple construction projects, conducting stakeholder workshops to align diverse groups, and analyzing change order impacts on budget and schedule. You'd spend significant time coordinating with consulting firms as the independent IE representative, ensuring deliverables match original requirements while providing leadership and guidance to your direct reports on complex project challenges.

🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For

  • Has extensive experience managing workshops with multiple consultants and diverse stakeholders in large construction or infrastructure projects
  • Demonstrates proven ability to handle multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining strict budget and schedule adherence
  • Possesses strong proposal development skills and experience with project management software relevant to construction/infrastructure
  • Exhibits exceptional leadership capabilities for managing direct reports in a technical, project-driven environment

📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM

1

Quantify your experience with specific examples of managing construction projects with 'larger scope and budget' - mention dollar amounts and project complexities

2

Highlight specific experience with 'change orders and error consequences' in construction projects, showing how you've managed these challenges

3

Emphasize your experience as an 'independent IE representative' working with consulting firms to ensure scope/budget alignment

4

Demonstrate your workshop facilitation skills with diverse stakeholder groups in the infrastructure sector

5

Showcase your proposal development experience specifically for construction or infrastructure projects

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience managing complex construction projects with significant budgets and scope, specifically mentioning change order management', 'Examples of acting as an independent representative ensuring project deliverables match original requirements', 'Leadership experience with direct reports in project management contexts', "Alignment with AECOM's sustainability mission and how your experience contributes to building sustainable legacies"]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • AECOM's recent major infrastructure projects in the USA and their sustainability components
  • The company's 'Sustainable Legacies' strategy and how it applies to construction projects
  • AECOM's approach to stakeholder engagement in complex projects
  • Specific project management methodologies or software AECOM commonly uses in their construction division

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you managed a complex construction project with significant change orders and how you handled the consequences
2 How have you acted as an independent representative to ensure consulting firms delivered according to original scope and budget?
3 Walk us through your experience facilitating workshops with multiple consultants and diverse stakeholders
4 How do you prioritize and manage multiple high-complexity projects simultaneously while maintaining quality?
5 What project management software are you proficient with, and how have you used it in construction project management?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Failing to provide specific examples of managing construction projects with 'larger scope and budget' as specified in the job description
  • Not demonstrating experience with the independent IE representative role or workshop facilitation with diverse stakeholders
  • Presenting generic project management experience without construction/infrastructure context

📅 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!