AECOM is seeking an Associate Director, GIS to lead complex, multi-project geospatial programs, set technical standards, and grow geospatial capability. The role balances hands-on technical leadership with team development, operational oversight, and client engagement, particularly within UK-based environmental programs.
What You'll Do
- Contribute to the geospatial technical strategy, standards, and patterns for enterprise-scale delivery.
- Implement solutions spanning data models, analytics workflows, ArcGIS Enterprise patterns, and automation—optimizing for accuracy, performance, scalability, and security.
- Drive automation and quality using Python/ArcPy, FME (Form & Flow), ModelBuilder, and reproducible workflows; apply Arcade where appropriate.
- Deliver modern visualization and UX via ArcGIS Experience Builder (Web Experience) and Dashboards and enable field operations with Survey123 and Field Maps.
- Ensure robust enterprise/file geodatabase stewardship (schema design, standards, metadata, versioning) and integration with CAD/BIM, databases (SQL), and APIs.
- Apply advanced analytics patterns (e.g., multi-criteria decision analysis for site selection) and support emerging digital-twin use cases.
- Oversee delivery across large/complex or multi-disciplinary programs; assure scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
- Govern consistent workflows, documentation, metadata, and QA/QC, including internal/client Technical Quality Review (TQR) and senior technical reviews.
- Proactively manage risks, dependencies, and interfaces with engineering, environmental, and digital teams; continuously improve workflows and delivery efficiency.
- Act as a senior technical advisor, translating complex needs into practical geospatial solutions that deliver measurable value.
- Lead/shape proposals, cost estimates, solution design, and pricing in alignment with approved business governance; contribute to market strategy and strategic pursuits.
- Build, maintain and grow long-term client relationships, with emphasis on Environment sector needs and value.
- Proactively enhance the profile and market presence of the Geospatial business by leading client development workshops, producing and presenting thought leadership, and contributing to industry award submissions.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team; mentor and line-manage staff, set expectations, and support clear development pathways.
- Contribute to the wider strategic leadership of the Geospatial team, ensuring that your team is collaborative while balancing resources across portfolios; monitor utilization, margin, and delivery health; intervene early on risks.
- Champion a culture of standards, governance, reusability, and continuous automation across regions/offices.
- Participate in SHE (Safety, Health & Environment) activities and ensure personal and team responsibilities are met.
What We're Looking For
- Experience leading complex, multi-project geospatial programs.
- Ability to set technical standards and architect scalable geospatial solutions.
- Proven ability in team development, operational oversight, and client engagement.
- Strong skills in geospatial technical strategy, standards, and enterprise-scale delivery.
- Implementation experience with data models, analytics workflows, ArcGIS Enterprise patterns, and automation.
- Proficiency in Python/ArcPy, FME (Form & Flow), ModelBuilder, and reproducible workflows.
- Experience with ArcGIS Experience Builder (Web Experience), Dashboards, Survey123, and Field Maps.
- Robust experience in enterprise/file geodatabase stewardship including schema design, standards, metadata, and versioning.
- Integration experience with CAD/BIM, databases (SQL), and APIs.
- Application of advanced analytics patterns such as multi-criteria decision analysis.
- Experience supporting digital-twin use cases.
- Overseeing delivery across large/complex or multi-disciplinary programs with control over scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
- Governance of workflows, documentation, metadata, QA/QC, and Technical Quality Reviews (TQR).
- Proactive risk, dependency, and interface management with engineering, environmental, and digital teams.
- Ability to act as a senior technical advisor and translate complex needs into practical geospatial solutions.
- Experience leading or shaping proposals, cost estimates, solution design, and pricing.
- Ability to build and grow long-term client relationships, particularly in the Environment sector.
- Leadership in client development workshops, thought leadership production, and industry award submissions.
- Experience leading and developing teams, mentoring staff, and setting development pathways.
- Strategic leadership contribution to geospatial teams, including resource balancing and monitoring utilization, margin, and delivery health.
- Championing standards, governance, reusability, and automation across regions/offices.
- Participation in SHE (Safety, Health & Environment) activities and fulfillment of related responsibilities.
Nice to Have
- Strong preference for experience supporting UK-based environmental programs (e.g. linear infrastructure, offshore/onshore wind, solar, carbon capture & storage, master planning, permitting & Environmental Impact Assessments).
Technical Stack
- ArcGIS Enterprise
- Python
- ArcPy
- FME (Form & Flow)
- ModelBuilder
- ArCADE
- ArcGIS Experience Builder
- Web Experience
- Dashboards
- Survey123
- Field Maps
- Enterprise Geodatabase
- File Geodatabase
- CAD/BIM
- SQL
- APIs
- Multi-criteria decision analysis
- Digital twin
Benefits & Compensation
- Hybrid work schedule including both office and remote work opportunities.
Work Mode
Hybrid work schedule to include both office and remote work opportunities. Locations: Centurion (Pretoria), Durban, Bellville (Cape Town).
AECOM is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.
