NSW and ACT Environmental Approvals, Heritage and Ecology Manager

Job description

Come and grow with us. AECOM's Impact Assessment and Permitting practice helps clients navigate some of the most complex environmental, planning and permitting challenges facing Australia. We work at the intersection of development, infrastructure, policy and the environment, supporting clients to unlock projects that are critical to communities, economic growth and the energy transition. Our NSW & ACT team partners with clients across sectors including transport, energy, water, defence, resources and urban development. From early strategic advice and environmental assessment through to approvals, permitting, stakeholder engagement and delivery support, we bring together specialists in environmental planning, impact assessment, ecology, heritage, social performance, engagement and sustainability to deliver integrated solutions. Supported by AECOM's global capability and local market leadership, our team combines deep technical expertise with strong client relationships and a culture of collaboration, innovation and accountability. Together, we are helping clients respond to some of the biggest challenges of our time while creating a more sustainable and resilient future. What you’ll be doing Director level leadership opportunity as Sector Manager with AECOM's established NSW & ACT Impact Assessment and Permitting team. In this role, you will lead AECOM's Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra environmental and approvals business, bringing together specialists across environmental planning, impact assessment, ecology, heritage and social impact. You will have significant scope and autonomy to shape the future direction of the business, providing leadership, guidance and direction to a diverse team of technical specialists and people leaders. You will also have flexibility to continue leveraging your strengths, whether that is client leadership, business development, project sponsorship, technical excellence or strategic advisory services. You will be part of AECOM's ANZ Impact Assessment and Permitting leadership team, working closely with peers across Australia and New Zealand to drive collaboration, work-sharing, capability development and growth. Through AECOM's multidisciplinary and global network, you will help clients navigate complex environmental, social and regulatory challenges associated with major infrastructure, energy, water, defence and development projects. Our Sector Manager roles are broad, dynamic and commercially focused, with accountability for business growth, client relationships, workforce planning, talent development, project delivery, technical quality and financial performance. A key part of the role is aligning the needs of our people, clients, projects and business to deliver strong, sustainable outcomes. As Sector Manager, you will play a critical role in shaping team culture and developing future leaders across Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra. You will foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion and technical excellence while ensuring the team is positioned to respond to evolving market opportunities and client needs. Developing, mentoring and attracting great talent will be a core focus, alongside driving strong commercial outcomes and sustainable business growth. Reporting to the Sydney based ANZ Sector Director this presents an opportunity to lead a market-leading team delivering some of the region's most significant environmental and approvals projects. The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply, all applications will be considered. Tertiary qualifications in Environmental Planning, Environmental Science, Ecology, Geography, Environmental Engineering, Social Impact, Heritage, Natural Resource Management or a related discipline, with eligibility for (or current) professional accreditation where applicable. Significant experience leading multidisciplinary environmental, impact assessment, approvals or related consulting teams, ideally within a professional services environment delivering complex projects across infrastructure, energy, water, defence, resources or development sectors. Demonstrated people leadership capability, with a track record of building engaged, high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, talent development and fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture. Proven market-facing experience, including developing trusted client relationships, leading strategic pursuits, identifying growth opportunities and winning work across government and private sector clients. Strong commercial and business leadership capability, with experience overseeing financial performance, resource planning, project governance, risk management and the successful delivery of business objectives. Demonstrated ability to lead through change, bringing teams together around evolving client, market and business needs while maintaining engagement, accountability and delivery excellence. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate and build credibility with clients, team members and executive leaders. Strategic thinker with sound judgement, an outcomes-focused mindset and the ability to align the needs of people, clients, projects and the business to achieve sustainable success. Experience working across geographically dispersed teams and leveraging multidisciplinary capability to deliver integrated solutions for clients will be highly regarded. Why you’ll love working with us We believe great people do their best work when they have the flexibility, support and opportunities to grow. You’ll have access to: Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work, alternative start and finish times and job sharing options. Up to 6 weeks of additional annual leave each year through our purchased leave program. Flex public holidays - swap Easter or other public holidays for days that better suit you. Continuous learning and development, including lunch-and-learns and professional development courses. Financial assistance for further study, plus 5 days of paid study leave. Global career opportunities and the chance to work on major projects with talented teams across Australia and around the world. Ready to take your career further? Apply today and join a team where your expertise can make a real difference. At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment. AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: . At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment. AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: . About AECOM AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at and @AECOM. Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed. You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients. AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too. Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours. Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world. We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.