Project Director - High-Speed Rail H/F - Aecom

AECOM is seeking an experienced Project Director to join AECOM a significant high-speed rail project in France. The successful candidate will join the AECOM France team and be based primarily at the project office in La Garenne-Colombes, with flexibility to be based in Paris, Bordeaux or Toulouse, subject to regular travel requirements.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced railway professional with a strong track record of leading complex design projects in the High-Speed Rail sector and a deep understanding of the French railway environment.

As Project Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the project, ensuring alignment between technical delivery, programme objectives, stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams. You will play a key role in creating an integrated delivery environment where teams can work collaboratively to deliver high-quality solutions.

You will be responsible for establishing clear priorities, managing complex interfaces, supporting effective decision-making and maintaining strong relationships with the client, partners and key stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the delivery of complex high-speed rail design projects, ensuring alignment with programme objectives, technical requirements and client expectations.
• Provide strategic leadership across multidisciplinary teams, promoting collaboration and breaking down organisational and technical silos.
• Translate programme objectives into clear design priorities and actionable delivery strategies.
• Balance technical excellence, programme, commercial, constructability, risk and delivery considerations.
• Promote an inclusive and resilient team environment where people are encouraged to contribute, challenge constructively and perform effectively under pressure.
• Support the successful delivery of the project in accordance with AECOM's quality, safety and project delivery standards.

We are looking for a senior railway professional who brings:

• Solid experience leading major design projects in the High-Speed Rail sector.
• Strong knowledge and experience of the French railway industry and project environment.
• Fluent French and strong English communication skills.
• Willingness to be based in France, ideally in Paris, or alternatively Bordeaux/Toulouse, with regular travel as required.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex project interfaces.
• Strong strategic thinking, decision-making and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to influence, align and motivate teams in complex project environments.
• A collaborative, inclusive and accountable leadership style