Principal GIS Specialist

Job Description

AECOM is seeking a Principal GIS Specialist. This is a hands‑on technical lead responsible for architecting and delivering advanced GIS solutions, guiding standards and automation, and coordinating delivery across teams. Emphasis is on technical depth and delivery excellence, with proportionate responsibilities in consultative client engagement, team mentorship/line management, and measurable business growth.

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).

This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule to include both office and remote work opportunities and can be based in one of the following South Africa centers:
Centurion (Pretoria), Durban or Bellville (Cape Town).

• Design and implement robust spatial data models, analytics pipelines, and application patterns (ArcGIS Enterprise/Online, Experience Builder/Web Experience, dashboards), including Survey
  123 and Field Maps for field operations.
• Drive automation and quality using Python/Arc Py, FME (Form & Flow), Model Builder, and reproducible workflows; apply Arcade where appropriate.
• Steward enterprise/file geodatabases (schema, standards, metadata, versioning, security) and perform technical reviews to assure accuracy, scalability, and maintainability.
• Apply advanced analytics (e.g., multi‑criteria decision analysis for site selection) and support emerging digital twin use cases.

• Integrate GIS with engineering and environmental workflows, CAD/BIM, databases (SQL), APIs, and digital data capture.
• Work with project managers and discipline leads to align GIS scope, interfaces, resources, and deliverables to broader program objectives; act as GIS/Data Lead on larger or more complex programs.

• Govern consistent workflows, documentation, metadata, and QA/QC, including adherence to internal/client Technical Quality Review (TQR) or equivalent processes.
• Support planning, budgeting, resourcing, and risk management, coordinating geospatial inputs across disciplines and locations.

• Serve as the technical point of contact on assigned projects; shape solutions, scopes, and cost estimates; contribute to method statements and pursuit materials.
• Help to build, maintain and grow long‑term client relationships, with emphasis on Environment sector needs and value.
• Support growth of the Geospatial business by proactively increasing market visibility through client workshops, technical publications and presentations, and participation in award submissions.

• Lead, mentor, and line‑manage team members; support capability growth, and career pathways.
• Develop and share patterns, templates, and best practices; contribute to technical communities, strategy, and continuous improvement.
• Champion a culture of standards, governance, reusability, and Health, Safety, Environment and Information Management compliance.

• Degree in GIS/geospatial science, environmental/data science, computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• Typically a minimum of 8 years of applied geospatial delivery within consultancy or multidisciplinary environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading geospatial delivery within environmental, planning, and/or infrastructure programs.
• Strong communication skills and ability to translate complex requirements into actionable technical plans.
• Demonstrable experience with quality, metadata, governance, and security practices within enterprise geospatial environments.
• Proficiency in English, verbal and written, with emphasis on technical GIS communication.

• Chartered or professionally registered status (or local equivalent, e.g., SAGC, ECSA, or nationally recognized licensing/accreditation).
• Substantial Environment sector experience spanning linear infrastructure, offshore/onshore wind, solar, CCS, hydrogen, nuclear, airports, marine, master planning, permitting &…