Application Guide

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

at AECOM

🏢 About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm that delivers innovative solutions to complex challenges in water, environment, energy, and transportation. With a strong focus on sustainability and digital transformation, AECOM offers a collaborative culture where you can lead high-impact projects that shape communities and build legacies. The company's commitment to technical excellence and client-centric approach makes it an ideal place for professionals seeking to drive meaningful change in the water sector.

About This Role

As the Technical Director and Capture Management Lead for Water, you will own the end-to-end pursuit strategy for enterprise-critical water projects (typically £25m+), from opportunity identification to submission. This role is pivotal in driving AECOM's growth in the UK water market, requiring you to blend technical expertise with strategic capture leadership, client relationship management, and cross-functional team orchestration. Your success will directly contribute to AECOM's reputation as a leader in water infrastructure and sustainability.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual stand-up with your capture team to review progress on a £30m water framework bid. Mid-morning, you'd meet with the UK Water business lead to align on pipeline priorities and discuss a new opportunity with a regional water company. After lunch, you'd analyze competitor intelligence and refine the win strategy for a critical pursuit, then host a training session on the capture playbook for junior staff. The day ends with a client call to nurture a relationship for a future bid.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For

  • A seasoned capture management professional with 10+ years in the water or infrastructure sector, specifically with experience leading multi-million pound (£25m+) bids in the UK water market (e.g., AMP cycles, Thames Tideway, or similar).
  • A strategic thinker who can develop and execute win strategies, including competitive positioning, pricing, and teaming, while navigating complex stakeholder landscapes (e.g., water utilities, regulators, and government bodies).
  • A relationship builder with a proven track record of nurturing long-term client partnerships and influencing key decision-makers in the UK water industry, such as at Anglian Water, Severn Trent, or Yorkshire Water.
  • A change agent who can drive adoption of capture management playbooks and foster a culture of pursuit excellence across global and regional teams, ideally with experience in leading training or process improvement initiatives.

📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM

1

Tailor your CV to highlight specific water sector capture wins: include the project name, value, your role, and the strategic actions that led to success (e.g., 'Led capture for £40m water treatment plant, resulting in 3-year framework agreement').

2

Quantify your impact: use metrics like win rate improvement, pipeline growth (e.g., 'Increased qualified pipeline by 30%'), or revenue generated from captured opportunities.

3

Demonstrate your understanding of AECOM's water portfolio: reference their recent projects (e.g., 'I admire AECOM's work on the Thames Water AMP7 programme') and explain how your experience aligns with their focus on sustainability and digital innovation.

4

Showcase your ability to work remotely and lead distributed teams: mention specific tools (e.g., Salesforce, SharePoint, Teams) and processes you've used to manage virtual capture teams across time zones.

5

Prepare a one-page 'capture plan' for a hypothetical water opportunity (e.g., a £30m wastewater treatment upgrade) and include it as a supplement to your application to demonstrate strategic thinking.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for the water sector and AECOM's mission: articulate why you want to contribute to building sustainable legacies through water infrastructure.", 'Your proven ability to lead enterprise-level captures: describe a specific £25m+ win, detailing your strategy, team leadership, and client engagement.', 'Your collaborative leadership style: emphasize how you foster cross-functional teamwork and drive cultural change within bid teams.', 'Your understanding of the UK water market: mention key trends (e.g., AMP8, Net Zero, digital twins) and how you can help AECOM stay ahead.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review AECOM's recent water project case studies on their website, especially those highlighting innovation (e.g., smart water networks, sustainable drainage).
  • → Read AECOM's annual report and sustainability strategy to understand their focus areas (e.g., Net Zero 2040, ESG commitments) and how water fits in.
  • → Research the UK water regulatory environment (Ofwat, Environment Agency) and current AMP8 preparation priorities to speak knowledgeably about market drivers.
  • → Look into AECOM's competitors in the UK water market (e.g., Jacobs, Mott MacDonald, Stantec) to understand their positioning and how you can differentiate.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through your approach to a recent major capture you led in the water sector. How did you identify the opportunity, develop the win strategy, and secure the deal?
2 How would you build a pipeline of qualified opportunities for AECOM's water business in the UK? What data sources and relationships would you leverage?
3 Describe a time you had to influence a client's perception or decision. How did you build trust and position AECOM as the preferred partner?
4 How do you balance the need for governance and compliance (e.g., bid budgets, stage gates) with the agility required to win in a competitive market?
5 What is your experience with digital tools in capture management? How could AECOM leverage technology to improve win rates in the water sector?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying without tailoring your CV to the water sector: generic infrastructure experience won't stand out; specifically highlight water capture wins and UK market knowledge.
  • Focusing only on technical skills: this role is about strategy and leadership, not just engineering; emphasize your capture management, client relationship, and team-building abilities.
  • Underestimating the remote work aspect: don't just say you're 'comfortable' with remote work; provide concrete examples of leading virtual teams and managing remote stakeholder relationships.

📅 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!

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Good luck with your application to AECOM!

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