Application Guide

How to Apply for Technical Director, Capture Management Lead - Water

at AECOM

🏢 About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure firm committed to delivering a better world through innovative solutions in water, environment, energy, and more. With a focus on sustainability, digitalisation, and equity, the company offers a collaborative and forward-thinking culture where employees can work on high-impact projects that shape communities for generations.

About This Role

As Technical Director and Capture Management Lead for Water, you will own the end-to-end pursuit strategy for enterprise-critical water sector opportunities, driving growth and innovation. This role is pivotal in shaping AECOM's water business by leading cross-functional teams to develop winning client strategies that integrate sustainability, digitalisation, and equity-focused initiatives.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with your pursuit team to review progress on a live bid, followed by a strategy session with regional leaders to refine client positioning. Afternoon could involve analysing competitor intelligence, crafting win themes for a proposal, or meeting with a key client to understand their upcoming water infrastructure needs.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For

  • A seasoned capture management professional with at least 10-15 years of experience in the water or infrastructure sector, demonstrating a track record of winning large-scale, complex bids.
  • A strategic thinker who can assess competitive landscapes, identify key differentiators, and craft compelling value propositions that align with client transformation agendas.
  • A collaborative leader skilled in influencing without authority, capable of mobilising global and regional teams across business lines to deliver cohesive pursuit strategies.
  • An excellent communicator and relationship builder, comfortable engaging with C-suite clients and internal stakeholders to foster trust and drive cultural change towards capture excellence.

📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM

1

Tailor your CV to highlight specific water sector wins where you led capture strategy from identification to submission, quantifying outcomes (e.g., contract value, win rate).

2

Emphasise experience with sustainability, digitalisation (e.g., smart water, IoT), and equity-focused initiatives in your application, as these are key themes in AECOM's approach.

3

Showcase your ability to work in a remote, matrixed environment by providing examples of leading cross-functional teams across different geographies and time zones.

4

Include a brief case study or example of how you developed and implemented a winning client positioning strategy that differentiated your organisation from competitors.

5

Demonstrate familiarity with AECOM's portfolio and recent water projects by referencing specific initiatives or client names in your cover letter or supporting statement.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your proven capture management leadership in the water sector, with specific examples of leading successful bids from opportunity identification to contract award.', 'Your ability to drive strategic innovation, particularly in integrating sustainability, digitalisation, and equity into client solutions to meet their transformation goals.', 'Your experience in building and maintaining strong client relationships at a senior level, and how you have used these to influence pursuit strategies.', 'Your collaborative leadership style and success in fostering cross-functional and cross-regional teamwork to achieve shared objectives.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review AECOM's recent water sector projects and press releases, particularly those highlighting digital twins, net-zero water, or community resilience.
  • → Study AECOM's sustainability and ESG commitments, especially their 'Sustainable Legacies' strategy, to understand how they position themselves in the market.
  • → Familiarise yourself with AECOM's organisational structure for the water business in the UK and globally, including key leaders and business lines.
  • → Research the competitive landscape in the UK water sector, including major players like Jacobs, Mott MacDonald, and Stantec, to identify AECOM's differentiators.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you led a capture team for a major water infrastructure bid. What was your strategy and how did you ensure alignment across global teams?
2 How do you stay current with trends in water sector digitalisation and sustainability? Provide an example of how you incorporated these into a winning proposal.
3 AECOM emphasises equity-focused initiatives. Can you give an example of how you have integrated social equity or community benefit into a water project pursuit?
4 Tell us about a challenging competitive situation where you had to pivot your capture strategy mid-cycle. What was the outcome?
5 How would you approach developing a client relationship from scratch in a remote working environment? What tools or techniques would you use?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without referencing AECOM's specific focus on sustainability, digitalisation, and equity – these are core to their brand and this role.
  • Failing to provide concrete examples of capture management wins in the water sector; vague claims of 'leading bids' without details will weaken your candidacy.
  • Ignoring the remote working aspect – demonstrate your ability to work independently and manage virtual teams effectively, as this role is fully remote.

📅 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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