Position

Senior Regional Counsel, United Kingdom

Location

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Company Description

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.

Job Summary

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Regional Counsel to join our UK&I Legal and Risk Management Team. The role sits within the UK&I legal team, a group of 10 people pivotal to the success of AECOM in terms of delivery and growth. The legal team is an integral part of the decision‑making process, ensuring compliance and seamless contracting arrangements with both clients and partners. The team also supports strategic decisions on growth opportunities and the direction of travel in project management. As an experienced Solicitor, you will report to the Chief Counsel for the UK&I. You’ll work in the Buildings + Places business line, which focuses on creating sustainable and innovative architectural solutions that enhance communities and public spaces. The role requires good influencing skills, sound commercial judgment and a proactive approach, confident in engaging senior level executives and stakeholders across the business.

Responsibilities

• Project Legal Support
  • Direct involvement with project teams to provide advice in relation to projects of national importance, including the pursuit, negotiation, and delivery phases of contracts and complex building projects.
  • Providing project support on complex and major projects, including advice on variations, payment disputes, suspension, alleged defects, and more.
• Governance & Compliance
  • Significant involvement in corporate governance and as a key stakeholder in bidding decisions.
  • Ensuring compliance with AECOM’s governance processes, corporate policies, best practices, and information requirements, and assisting in implementing them where required.
• Contracting and Negotiation
  • Advising, supporting, and collaborating with commercial and other relevant functions during drafting and negotiation of complex, high‑value national and international consultancy agreements.
  • Drafting and negotiating bespoke and standard form contracts, master service agreements, joint ventures, consultant appointments, warranties, third‑party rights, and other construction documentation on both UK and international projects.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Opportunities to provide training and present to management and senior executives on key risk areas.
• Claims and Dispute Management
  • Oversight of claims, including managing, instructing, and overseeing external legal counsel and acting as the primary interface between external lawyers and internal project managers.
  • Assisting with the management of legal budgets on claims.

Minimum Requirements

• UK‑qualified solicitor with a minimum of 10‑15 years PQE
• Demonstrable experience in contracts, negotiation, dispute management
• Strong working knowledge of intricate contractual arrangements, particularly within the construction or infrastructure sectors
• Proven ability to negotiate and effectively manage sensitive matters with diplomacy and professionalism
• Background in managing contentious claims effectively
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal clients (commercial, operations, finance, risk) and act as a trusted advisor within the business

Skills & Attributes

• Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to translate legal advice into clear, actionable business guidance.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and commercial acumen.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• In‑house experience gained in engineering, construction, or infrastructure.

Additional Information

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. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. For more, see aecom.com.

Growth & Benefits

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. AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well‑being programs to meet the diverse needs of employees and their families.

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours. We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address ReasonableAccommodations@aecom.com if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

ReqID: J10139755

Business Line: Geography OH

Business Group: DCS

Strategic Business Unit: Europe & India

Career Area: Legal

Work Location Model: On‑Site