Head of Combined Authorities & Devolved Government Relations

AECOM is seeking a senior, externally facing leader to establish and grow strategic relationships with the UK's Combined Authorities, Mayoral Authorities and devolved regional bodies. This is a market-shaping role focused on helping AECOM understand and respond to the rapidly changing devolved governance landscape, where funding, decision-making and investment responsibility are increasingly moving from central government to regional authorities.

The successful candidate will be a recognised industry figure with deep experience working with Combined Authorities and a strong understanding of how these organisations operate, collaborate and compete. They will act as the bridge between authority priorities and AECOM's capabilities, translating regional ambitions into programmes, partnerships and opportunities.

• Develop and lead AECOM's engagement strategy across UK Combined Authorities and Mayoral Combined Authorities.
• Build trusted relationships with Mayors, Chief Executives, Directors, programme leaders and key influencers across devolved government.
• Provide insight into authority priorities, funding mechanisms, political drivers and investment plans.
• Identify opportunities where AECOM can support economic development, transport, energy, housing, skills, regeneration and infrastructure objectives.
• Facilitate collaboration across authorities while recognising their individual ambitions and competition for funding.
• Influence AECOM's strategy by bringing client insight, market intelligence and future policy direction into the business.
• Champion a "voice of the authority" approach, ensuring AECOM solutions are aligned with client needs and outcomes.

• Lead AECOM's wider engagement with strategic authorities across England.
• Responsible for growing revenues and pipeline across different authorities and services.
• Collaborate with regional leaders to develop and execute growth plans in the strategic authority market
• Provide leadership to local teams as they develop relationships with the devolved authorities in their region.

• Build and maintain a diversified pipeline of qualified opportunities in the devolved authority market; leveraging both your own insights and those of the wider AECOM team.
• Contribute to capture and pursuit activities to convert pipeline into revenue.

• Lead, support, and mentor AECOM's strategic authority leads across England to combine national and industry best practice with deep local knowledge and relationships. To ensure revenue growth across a diverse client portfolio.

• Responsible for growing AECOM's revenues in the strategic authority market
• Maximise the value from growth enabler functions (e.g. Pursuit Teams, Client Listening, AI4
  
  Engineering, Strategic Marcomms) by influencing their activity focus as appropriate to the devolved authority market.

• Extensive experience working within, or alongside, UK Combined Authorities, local government or devolved public sector organisations.
• Well-networked and credible at executive and operating levels.
• Recognised and trusted by authority leadership teams.
• Strong understanding of regional funding, governance and investment decision-making.
• Commercially astute, politically aware and highly collaborative.
• Able to translate complex client challenges into practical opportunities for AECOM and its clients
• Experience in working with, developing relationships, and building delivery portfolios with local government and devolved authorities in the UK.
• Strong existing relationships with devolved authorities and their constituent organisations.
• Excellent network with key stakeholders and decision makers within the Mayoral authorities and Combined authorities
• Demonstrable experience of growing revenues and pipeline in the devolved authority market

Become AECOM's most trusted adviser and connector within the UK's devolved authority landscape, positioning the business as a partner of choice for regional growth and transformation.

• Degree level relevant qualification (preferable)
• Sector experience in Transportation would be highly advantageous
• Member of recognised professional body and/or professional qualifications relative to core markets

At AECOM, we provide the flexibility to work in hybrid environments, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits tailored to support you and your family. We champion career growth through…