Civil Infrastructure - Transportation Project Manager / Design Manager Highways

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Civil Infrastructure - Transportation Project Manager / Design Manager Highways

Company: AECOM

Location: Madrid, Spain

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Civil Infrastructure / Transportation Project Management & Design

Date Posted: April 27, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and management of complex civil infrastructure projects, with a specialized focus on highway development.

• Drive multidisciplinary design teams across various AECOM offices, ensuring seamless collaboration and efficient project delivery.

• Oversee the entire project lifecycle from conceptualization through to final execution, upholding stringent quality and compliance standards.

• Optimize project budgets and resource allocation to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within AECOM's "Enterprise Capabilities" (EC) team, which is fundamental to their "Think and Act Globally" strategy. This implies a significant focus on workshare across geographic boundaries and time zones, requiring strong coordination and communication skills with remote and international teams. The "PM/DM" designation suggests a dual responsibility for both project execution and the technical oversight of the design process itself.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Project & Design Leadership: Spearhead the design process for civil infrastructure projects, with a primary focus on Highways, Rail, and Bridges, from initial planning stages through to project closure.

• Multidisciplinary Team Coordination: Effectively manage and motivate multidisciplinary design teams, fostering a collaborative environment, and coordinating efforts across different AECOM Enterprise Capabilities (EC) offices for both regional and international projects.

• Design Process Management: Oversee all design stages, from concept development to final deliverables, ensuring strict adherence to project timelines, technical specifications, and AECOM's quality principles. This includes monitoring progress, conducting regular review meetings, identifying design-related risks, and implementing effective mitigation strategies.

• Budget and Resource Optimization: Manage design budgets meticulously, ensuring cost-effectiveness and identifying opportunities for resource savings. Optimize the allocation of design resources to enhance efficiency and contribute to overall project success.

• Project Documentation and Reporting: Maintain comprehensive and accurate project documentation throughout the entire project lifecycle. Prepare and present regular, insightful project reports to internal teams and stakeholders to support informed decision-making. Ensure all project activities align with AECOM's Project Delivery Procedures and established standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "coordinating with various EC offices for Multidisciplinary and/or Multicentre projects" indicates a strong requirement for managing distributed teams and understanding cross-border project dynamics, a key aspect of operations within a global firm. The responsibility for "implementing and maintaining high standards of design quality" points to a crucial role in quality assurance and compliance within the operations framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in civil infrastructure project management and design management.

• Extensive experience specifically within the Highways sector is essential.

Required Skills:

• Project Management: Proven track record in managing complex civil infrastructure projects from inception to completion, including scope, schedule, and budget control.

• Design Management: Expertise in overseeing and guiding multidisciplinary design processes, ensuring technical accuracy and adherence to standards.

• Highway Infrastructure Expertise: Deep understanding of highway design principles, standards, and best practices.

• Team Leadership & Coordination: Strong ability to lead, mentor, and inspire multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration and driving performance.

• Communication & Problem-Solving: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, coupled with robust analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Quality Assurance: Commitment to implementing and maintaining high standards of design quality and compliance.

• Risk Management: Proficiency in identifying potential project and design risks and developing effective mitigation strategies.

Preferred Skills:

• PMP Certification: Project Management Professional certification is highly desirable.

• International Project Experience: Familiarity with diverse regulatory environments and international project delivery models.

• Digital Tools Proficiency: Experience with advanced design and project management software relevant to civil engineering and infrastructure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "USA and Canada experience will be an added advantage" suggests that while the role is based in Madrid, exposure to North American engineering standards, regulations, and project management practices would be highly valued, potentially indicating a focus on international projects or workshare with North American AECOM teams. PMP certification is noted as an advantage, aligning with standard project management operations best practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing successful leadership of complex civil infrastructure projects, with a significant emphasis on highway design and delivery.

• Include case studies that highlight your ability to manage multidisciplinary design teams, detailing team structure, coordination challenges, and successful outcomes.

• Present examples of how you have effectively managed project budgets and optimized resource allocation to achieve cost efficiencies and project success.

Process Documentation:

• Exhibit experience in developing and implementing robust design process workflows, detailing phases from concept to final construction documentation.

• Showcase your approach to ensuring quality assurance and compliance with industry regulations and client specifications, including documentation of review processes and standards implementation.

• Provide examples of project reporting mechanisms and documentation practices used to keep stakeholders informed and facilitate decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

• Demonstrate familiarity with standard project delivery procedures, such as those AECOM employs, and how you adapt to and implement them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a Project Manager/Design Manager role, the portfolio should not only showcase completed projects but also the candidate's strategic approach to managing design processes, team dynamics, and project financials. The emphasis on AECOM's "Project Delivery Procedures" implies a need to demonstrate adaptability to structured operational frameworks.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Life & Disability Protection: Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, along with Disability benefits.

• Time Off & Leave: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and various Leaves of Absences.

• Voluntary Benefits: Access to a range of voluntary benefits to supplement core offerings.

• Flexibility & Well-being: Flexible work options, Well-being resources, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Professional Development: Business travel insurance, Service recognition awards, Retirement savings plan, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. The role is designated as Hybrid, allowing for a combination of in-office and remote work, providing flexibility in managing work schedules and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on typical compensation for senior-level Project and Design Managers in Spain's engineering and construction sector, adjusted for the specific expertise in highways and the international context of AECOM's Enterprise Capabilities team. The listed benefits are directly extracted from the provided "Additional Information" section, ensuring accuracy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Civil Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering. AECOM operates globally, providing professional services for water, environment, energy, transportation, and buildings. The company is a Fortune 500 firm with significant infrastructure investment opportunities worldwide.

Company Size: Over 50,000 employees globally. The "Enterprise Capabilities" (EC) team itself comprises over 3000 technical professionals across nine countries, indicating a large, distributed, and specialized operational unit.

Founded: AECOM's history dates back to the 1930s, with significant growth through acquisitions and mergers, establishing it as a long-standing leader in the infrastructure sector.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Enterprise Capabilities" (EC) team, a global unit designed for workshare and providing technical expertise across regions. This team is fundamental to AECOM's "Think and Act Globally" strategy.

• The EC team operates across geographic boundaries and time zones, partnering with regional and Global Business Line project teams.

Methodology:

• AECOM emphasizes a data-driven approach and digital innovation, integral to their EC strategy.

• Workflow planning and optimization are key, especially within the EC team, which focuses on efficiency and capability filling.

• Automation and efficiency practices are core to how EC operates, enabling competitive delivery of services across projects of varying scopes and sizes.

Company Website: https://www.aecom.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of AECOM's Enterprise Capabilities team as a primary vehicle for workshare and its role in supporting the "Think and Act Globally" strategy highlights a unique operational model. This suggests a culture that values collaboration across borders, efficiency in service delivery, and adaptability to diverse project needs and global resourcing.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, aligning with an experienced Project Manager or Design Manager. It requires a significant depth of technical expertise in highway infrastructure and proven leadership capabilities in managing complex design processes and multidisciplinary teams. The scope extends to managing project budgets and ensuring compliance with AECOM's rigorous delivery standards.

Reporting Structure: The role resides within the global Enterprise Capabilities (EC) team. Direct reporting is likely to a senior manager or director within EC, with extensive cross-functional reporting and collaboration with project stakeholders, regional leads, and potentially client representatives.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts project success by ensuring high-quality, cost-effective, and timely delivery of critical highway infrastructure designs. By optimizing design processes and managing resources efficiently, the role contributes to AECOM's competitiveness and client satisfaction, ultimately driving revenue and supporting the company's mission to "deliver a better world."

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into more senior management roles within the Enterprise Capabilities team, overseeing larger programs or multiple project portfolios, or transitioning into regional leadership positions.

• Specialization & Expertise: Deepen expertise in specific areas of highway design or transportation infrastructure, becoming a recognized subject matter expert within AECOM's global network.

• Global Project Exposure: Opportunity to lead and contribute to high-profile international infrastructure projects, expanding professional horizons and cross-cultural competency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The dual "Project Manager / Design Manager" title suggests a pathway for individuals to grow in either project execution oversight or technical design leadership, or a hybrid of both. The EC team structure implies that growth might involve managing distributed operational workflows and teams globally.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "Hybrid," meaning a blend of working from AECOM's Madrid office and remote work. This suggests a modern office environment designed to support collaboration and provide necessary resources, while also offering flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Madrid, Spain, specifically at C/Alfonso XII. AECOM has a global presence, and the Enterprise Capabilities team operates across multiple countries, implying that collaboration will extend beyond the Madrid office.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model encourages a balance between in-person collaboration for team meetings, design reviews, and strategic discussions, and focused work from a remote setting.

• Access to AECOM's suite of design and project management software, digital tools, and potentially advanced visualization or modeling technologies will be available.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours/week) are expected. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility in structuring the workweek, balancing office-based tasks with remote productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role, combined with the global reach of the EC team, means the work environment is dynamic. Candidates should be comfortable with a mix of in-office collaboration and independent remote work, as well as engaging with colleagues across different time zones.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application to assess qualifications and experience against the core requirements, with a focus on highway infrastructure and project/design management.

• Technical Interview(s): In-depth discussions with hiring managers and senior technical staff to evaluate your expertise in civil engineering, highway design, project lifecycle management, and team leadership. Expect questions on technical challenges and solutions.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: You may be asked to present a selected project from your portfolio, detailing your role, the project's scope, challenges faced, design solutions implemented, team coordination, and the ultimate outcomes. This is a crucial step to demonstrate practical application of your skills.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Evaluation of your leadership style, problem-solving approach, collaboration skills, and how you align with AECOM's values and the EC team's operational dynamics, particularly in a global, work-sharing environment.

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion with senior leadership to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Highway Specialization: Clearly showcase your most impactful highway infrastructure projects, detailing your specific contributions as PM/DM.

• Demonstrate Team Leadership: Use case studies to illustrate how you managed multidisciplinary teams, especially across different locations or EC offices, emphasizing coordination and conflict resolution.

• Quantify Achievements: Present metrics for budget management, schedule adherence, and quality improvements. Quantify the impact of your design decisions and project management strategies.

• Process & Problem-Solving: Detail your approach to design process management, risk mitigation, and quality assurance. Explain how you adapted AECOM's procedures or implemented best practices.

• Global Collaboration Examples: If possible, include examples of working on international projects or with distributed teams, highlighting communication strategies and cultural adaptability.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for scenario-based questions related to managing challenging projects, resolving design conflicts, handling budget overruns, or motivating underperforming team members.

• Practice articulating your project management philosophy and design leadership approach concisely and effectively.

• Research AECOM's recent projects and its "Think and Act Globally" strategy to demonstrate your understanding of the company's operational context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Enterprise Capabilities" context implies that interviewers will be keen to assess your ability to manage projects and design processes remotely and across different cultures and time zones. Your portfolio should ideally reflect this experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Project Management Software: Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or similar platforms for project scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking.

• Design Software: Familiarity with or understanding of the outputs from CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Civil 3D), BIM (Building Information Modeling) platforms, and potentially GIS tools relevant to infrastructure planning and design.

• Collaboration Platforms: Experience with tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, or similar for seamless communication and collaboration with distributed teams.

• Document Management Systems: Familiarity with systems for organizing, sharing, and versioning project documentation (e.g., SharePoint, Aconex).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Ability to interpret project performance data and generate reports from project management software.

• Reporting Tools: Experience in creating clear and concise project status reports, potentially using tools like Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, or specialized project reporting dashboards.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how project pipelines are managed and how client relationships are maintained within AECOM's broader business development context would be beneficial.

• Familiarity with workflow automation principles as applied to project management and design processes to enhance efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Project Manager/Design Manager, the emphasis will be on tools that facilitate project execution, design oversight, and team coordination. While direct use of advanced BIM or GIS might be by specialized teams, understanding their outputs and integrating them into project plans is crucial. The EC team's operational nature suggests a need for proficiency in digital collaboration and remote work tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Deliver a Better World: A core AECOM value that drives a commitment to creating sustainable, resilient, and impactful infrastructure solutions. For operations, this translates to a focus on quality and long-term project success.

• Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards in all business dealings, project execution, and team interactions.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies, processes, and ideas to improve project delivery and solve complex challenges. This is particularly relevant for the EC team's global strategy.

• Collaboration: Fostering strong teamwork and partnerships, both internally across AECOM's diverse teams and externally with clients and stakeholders. The EC team embodies this through its workshare model.

• Accountability: Taking ownership of responsibilities, project outcomes, and commitments, ensuring punctuality and quality in all deliverables.

Collaboration Style:

• Global & Cross-functional: The EC team thrives on collaboration across geographical boundaries and business lines, requiring proactive communication and adaptability.

• Process-Oriented: A structured approach to project delivery, with clear processes for design, review, and reporting, supported by digital tools.

• Feedback-Driven: An environment where constructive feedback is valued to drive continuous improvement in project execution and team performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Think and Act Globally" strategy and the nature of the EC team suggest a culture that is highly collaborative, adaptable, and focused on efficient, high-quality delivery across diverse geographical and cultural contexts.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Distributed Teams: Effectively leading and coordinating multidisciplinary design teams across different time zones and cultural backgrounds presents a significant operational challenge.

• Bridging Capability Gaps: The EC team's purpose is to fill capability gaps, which may involve working on projects with unique technical requirements or in regions with specific regulatory landscapes.

• Maintaining Project Momentum: Ensuring consistent progress and communication across dispersed teams and various project milestones requires strong organizational and motivational skills.

• Adapting to New Processes: Continuously adapting to AECOM's evolving project delivery procedures and digital tools across a global network.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Project Management: Opportunities to lead larger, more complex international projects, enhancing skills in global project governance and risk management.

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific aspects of highway design or transportation engineering through exposure to diverse project types and AECOM's internal knowledge networks.

• Leadership Development: Participate in AECOM's leadership training programs, focusing on managing global teams, strategic planning, and operational excellence.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to engage with industry conferences, professional bodies, and foster relationships within the global civil infrastructure community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be operational: managing a globally distributed workforce and ensuring seamless project execution across different operational contexts. Growth opportunities are directly tied to mastering these operational complexities and expanding leadership scope.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you managed a complex highway design project involving multiple disciplines across different geographic locations. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure successful coordination and delivery?" (Focus on your PM/DM skills, global coordination, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure design quality and compliance with international standards when working with teams in different regions?" (Assess your understanding of quality assurance processes and adaptability.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you align with AECOM's 'Think and Act Globally' strategy and the role of Enterprise Capabilities in achieving this?" (Demonstrate understanding of the EC team's purpose and your place within it.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote team environment. What strategies do you use to maintain team cohesion and productivity?" (Assess your adaptability to the work environment and collaboration style.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Clearly define the project's context, your role, the challenges, your strategic approach, the solutions implemented, and the quantifiable results.

• Highlight Global Coordination: If applicable, specifically detail how you managed communication, workflows, and collaboration across different AECOM offices or with international stakeholders.

• Emphasize Design Oversight: For the Design Manager aspect, articulate your technical review process, how you ensured design integrity, and your role in problem-solving design issues.

• Quantify Impact: Use data to demonstrate project success – budget savings, schedule adherence, quality improvements, risk mitigation effectiveness, and client satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on the Enterprise Capabilities team, interviewers will likely probe your ability to manage projects and teams remotely, across borders, and within a structure designed for global workshare. Your preparation should highlight these competencies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the AECOM careers portal link provided.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your extensive experience in highway infrastructure project and design management, emphasizing your 10+ years of experience and any relevant international project exposure. Quantify achievements in budget management, team leadership, and design quality.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key highway infrastructure projects that best demonstrate your capabilities as both a Project Manager and a Design Manager. Prepare to discuss your specific role, the project's complexity, your team coordination strategies (especially if distributed), and the successful outcomes.

• Research AECOM & EC: Familiarize yourself with AECOM's global operations, its "Think and Act Globally" strategy, and the specific function of the Enterprise Capabilities team. Understand how this role contributes to AECOM's overall mission.

• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare answers to common project management, design leadership, and behavioral questions, focusing on examples that showcase your experience with complex infrastructure, multidisciplinary teams, and potentially cross-border collaboration.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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