Head of External Communications and Government Relations

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.

Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications Europe and India, the Head of External Communications and Government Relations is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and executing the company's external communications strategy, with a particular focus on building and maintaining relationships with government entities, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders across Europe and India.

The role will support the company's regional business objectives by ensuring consistent, clear, and impact messaging across all external channels and fostering positive relationships with government and industry partners. This individual will function as a key spokesperson and advisor to senior leadership on matters related to public policy, regulatory affairs, and external communications.

This is a critical and fast-paced position that will require an individual with outstanding 
leadership, organisational, planning and time management skills and experience working under pressure and to tight deadlines. Strong contacts across trade and national media and central and local government are essential.

The role requires exceptional communication and writing skills, a strategic mindset and confidence to challenge and influence senior colleagues where required. Any candidate must be able to think creatively, guiding the team in developing new ways and channels of telling AECOM’s stories.

The role is expected to manage, mentor, and motivate a team of press officers in London, while overseeing AECOM’s external communications across continental Europe and India in addition to external agencies providing media and government relations services. In partnership with senior leaders across the business you will develop profile-raising opportunities with stakeholders in media, local and central government.

The role is based at our London office, where you’ll be part of a vibrant and diverse workforce.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic Communications and leadership:

• Direct, develop and implement a comprehensive external communications strategy aligned with our regional priorities and brand.
• Ensure consistent and effective messaging across all external channels, including media relations, digital platforms, and public statements.
• Manage crisis communications as needed.
• Maintain a broad and deep knowledge of AECOM’s complex business and establish strong relationships internally.
• Give counsel and guidance to colleagues and senior executives in the company on media and public affairs-related communications matters in Europe and India.
• Be accountable for the performance and results of the external  communications team.

Government Relations:

• Develop the AECOM Europe and India government relations strategy, in support of the business strategy and in collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Communication EUR+I and the Europe and India executive leadership team.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with central and local government stakeholders and devolved administrations, regulatory bodies, and industry associations to influence policy and regulatory developments.
• Engage with key political stakeholders to deliver intelligence back into the business and to influence and advocate AECOM priorities in alignment with government.
• Monitor and analyse legislative and regulatory changes that could impact the company, providing strategic advice to senior leadership.
• Support and coordinate planning around major industry conferences and political events, such as party conferences and roundtables, ensuring AECOM’s voice is heard in government.
• Coordinate meetings between AECOM and relevant government ministers, departments, local government, and locally devolved administrations.
• Attend networking and other events in Westminster relevant to AECOM.
• Ensure AECOM contributes to relevant government whitepapers and other industry consultations, positioning AECOM as thought leaders across our core markets. 
• Manage external government relations agency and/advisers.

Media Relations:

• Develop the media relations strategy for the Europe and India business working in partnership with the Director of Marketing and Communications and to reflect and support the strategic business objectives.
• Manage media relations activities, including press releases, interviews, crisis communications and media inquiries ensuing that storytelling is strategically aligned with business objectives.
• Develop relationships with key media outlets and journalists across national, broadcast and trade to promote AECOM’s brand across the region.
• Oversee the preparation of media materials and ensure alignment with the company’s strategic messaging.
• Function as a media spokesperson for AECOM when necessary and handle media inquiries.
• Coordinate with internal communications and social media leads so that these activities are aligned with external communications.
• Crisis communications, including planning and preparedness, response, message development and dissemination, internal and external stakeholder management, post crisis management and recovery.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:

• Lead engagement with relevant external stakeholders, including industry partners, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders in consultation with the Director of Marketing and Communications and the EUR+I executive team.
• Ensure AECOM is represented at key industry events, conferences, and public forums to enhance visibility and influence.
• Develop and execute stakeholder management plans to ensure positive and productive relationships with key external partners.
• Work closely with the internal communications team to ensure alignment between internal and external messaging.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, legal, HR and business development, to support business objectives through effective communications.
• Provide communications training and support to senior leaders and other company representatives.

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in corporate media relations and government affairs through agency or in-house roles; ideally you will have worked in a newsroom.
• Deep market knowledge and contacts across the media, political and economic landscapes affecting the infrastructure, construction, and engineering markets.
• Experience managing a team.
• Possess a good understanding of storytelling and the mainstream media agenda.
• Experience of workings of government and parliamentary procedure.
• Experience of developing public affairs strategies that influence political stakeholders.
• Proven experience working in communications during major incidents or crisis situations.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills.
• A strategic mindset and the gravitas needed to present to senior executives, speak to national journalists and network with politicians.
• Strong networker and ability to advocate on behalf of AECOM to key political stakeholders.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Initiative-taker with the ability to work as a positive, energised, and adaptable team member.
• Experience preparing and briefing the senior leadership team for media interviews and client meetings.
• Ability to work collaboratively and make autonomous decisions in line with business strategy.

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 $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com 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.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.