Job Description

AECOM is hosting an exclusive, invitation-only hiring event in Chicago, IL November 20-21. This is a great opportunity to learn and connect with AECOM for career opportunities starting Spring/Summer 2026.

The event kicks off on Thursday evening with a networking mixer from 6-8 pm , where you can hear from AECOM staff about various projects, career paths, and the company itself. You’ll also have the chance to meet other students, recent graduates, and AECOM professionals from across our business lines.

On Friday, interviews will take place at our Chicago office. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about and connect with AECOM for early career opportunities.

If you're a college student majoring in a field indicated below and graduating in December 2025 or Spring 2026 , we'd love to hear from you!

AECOM is seeking a Graduate Strategy Analyst to be based in Chicago, IL.

This position is expected to begin in May 2026.

Building off AECOM’s considerable expertise in infrastructure design and implementation, AECOM Advisory is a trusted adviser to senior level clients and executive teams on their most pressing enterprise and strategic needs. Projects range from supporting the City of LA adopt their Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) Ordinance, developing SCAG’s Regional Resilience Toolkit, and conducting an Integrated Human Resources Plan for LADWP’s Power System.

We serve the full value chain of clients active in infrastructure, the built environment, and community vibrancy, including: national governments, regulatory entities, city agencies, utilities, transit agencies, infrastructure operators and investors. Our team of 400 staff globally comprises business and policy analysts, economists, commercial strategists, technology architects, as well as human capital and change management practitioners. We help our clients develop their strategy, improve their operational performance, and integrate digital systems to generate value for their stakeholders and impact for their communities.

We are a new category of consulting firm; one that builds off true operational and technical expertise of our broader platform to bring industry depth and capability-driven insight to the clients we serve.

You will join a fast-paced and supportive team of diverse consulting professionals. We pride ourselves on our strong culture of mentorship and collaborative problem-solving, our mission of addressing our client’s most complex and impactful problems, paired with career pathways that nurture professional development and personal growth.

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Apply existing and identify new solution frameworks to analyze client problems.
• Conduct business modelling (market sizing, segmentation, penetration, adoption) and investment analysis by building custom discounted cash flow (DCF) Excel models to calculate revenue, cost-benefit analyses (CBA), EBITDA, NPV, IRR, CAGR for client’s policies, projects, and programs.
• Leverage analytical and data visualization tools (e.g., ArcGIS, Costar, IMPLAN, Python, Tableau) to derive patterns, trends and insights from client and third-party datasets to inform client recommendations.
• May draft and prepare reports based on project outcomes.
• Has strong academic record, reflecting strong technical skills and high quality/standards of work; staffed on a wide range of projects and tasks.
• Works under the direction of more experienced staff and managers.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, Management, Public Policy, Finance, Business, Real Estate, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA, or other master’s degree in Operational Research, Management, Management Science, Finance, Economics, Systems Engineering and/or related fields

• Experience conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses related to business development and operations, economic and community development, governance, equity, housing, public health, public finance, and/or resilience

• Experience leading discrete technical tasks, presenting and developing content for client deliverables and proposals, interviewing project stakeholders, and presenting professional work at meetings.

• Experience building cashflow models in Excel

• Ability to think critically, analyze policy and regulations, and write effectively

• Fluency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel

• Industry/topic area expertise (from academic coursework, internships and/or professional experience) in at least one of the following areas:

• * Corporate or enterprise/organizational assessment.
  

  • Project finance and/or infrastructure investment appraisal.
  • Sustainability, climate change, net zero and ESG strategies and frameworks incl. non-financial valuation methodologies.
  • Economic development, industrial policy and market transformation.
  • Cities and urbanization issues around demographics, social development, economics and governance.

• Strong technical skills, including experience with one or more of the following software packages:

• * ArcGIS and other spatial analysis tools
  

  • Quantitative/statistical programs such as R, Python
  • Data and analysis visualization
  • Data sources such as Costar, EMSI, ESRI Business Analyst, BLS
  • Economic impact modeling tools such as RIMS II, IMPLAN, REMI

Additional Information

• Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
• Sponsorship for US work authorization is not available for this position now or in the future

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options , well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.