Program Advisory Senior Manager

AECOM’s Water Business Line is seeking a Program Advisory Senior Manager to join our Water group in the Oakland, California office. This senior-level position will lead the planning, management, and delivery of coastal, riverine, and urban projects for a diverse portfolio of public and private sector clients with a focus on long-term system resilience. Resilience projects in the Water Business Line focus on comprehensive approaches to improve performance and hazard mitigation across watershed and coastal systems. These approaches require knowledge of traditional and nature-based solutions and should consider climate, social, and ecological factors.

The ideal candidate will bring broad technical expertise across coastal engineering, water resources, climate resilience, and sustainable infrastructure, with a demonstrated ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary projects from concept through construction. This role requires strong client relationship management skills and a proven ability to collaborate across internal service lines to deliver integrated solutions. The Resilience Program Manager will work closely with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as private sector partners, navigating regulatory frameworks and funding opportunities. In addition to technical leadership, this position carries meaningful business development responsibilities, including growing existing client relationships, identifying new opportunities, and contributing to the expansion of our water practice in California and beyond. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced consulting environment to deliver resilient, sustainable infrastructure solutions.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Supervise a team of planners, scientists, and engineers on regional planning initiatives, particularly those addressing sea level rise, climate change, and resilient community development.
• Serve as Project Manager on coastal, watershed, and water infrastructure projects, including facility master plans, sustainability management plans, and climate vulnerability assessments.
• Provide technical oversight and quality control on engineering reports, assessments, studies, and planning documents.
• Lead and contribute to climate resilience strategies for major infrastructure projects, across public and private sectors.
• Identify and promote the application of sustainable and nature-based engineering solutions across water, transportation, and coastal infrastructure projects.
• Translate complex climate science into actionable recommendations for clients, community stakeholders, and government partners.
• Engage and manage relationships with clients, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to advance climate and resilience initiatives.
• Contribute to the development and pursuit of grant funding opportunities and alternative project financing strategies on behalf of clients.
• Contribute to business development by identifying opportunities, preparing proposals, and growing the coastal resilience practice.
• Support and lead hazard mitigation, emergency management, and disaster recovery planning efforts for municipal and infrastructure clients.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences, public meetings, and agency forums to advance thought leadership and brand visibility.