Aviation Program Director

AECOM•Orlando, FL

6h•$225,000 - $285,000•Hybrid

About The Position

AECOM is seeking an Aviation Program Director who provides senior leadership and strategic oversight for the successful delivery of large and very large aviation programs of significant strategic value. These programs may include airport development, terminal expansion or revitalization, airside and landside infrastructure, aviation systems, and enabling utilities delivered within live operational environments. The role has been established to strengthen leadership readiness for critical Aviation pursuits and to support long-term succession planning for our active programs, ensuring experienced program leadership is in place to transition seamlessly from pursuit through delivery. The role sets the overall direction for the program, establishing the governance structures, delivery environment, and management systems required to achieve client, passenger, and operational outcomes. Acting as the primary leader for program-wide integration and performance, the Aviation Program Director oversees functional leads across all aspects of delivery to ensure coordinated, safe, compliant, and efficient execution. The role promotes innovation, digital integration, and sustainability while fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and safety-led culture. The Director also contributes to talent development, capability building, and organizational knowledge sharing within the aviation sector.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, project management, construction management, aviation, or a related discipline + 12 years of professional experience delivering major aviation projects and programs, with 4 years leadership responsibility for large, complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Proven experience delivering programs within live operational airport environments, managing complex staging, operational interfaces, and regulatory constraints.
Demonstrated capability integrating multidisciplinary teams across technical, commercial, operational readiness, and stakeholder management functions.
Strong understanding of aviation safety culture, regulatory compliance, assurance, and governance expectations.
Professional program or project management certification. (e.g. PgMP, APM, PMI, CCM or equivalent)

Nice To Haves

25 year's experience delivering large complex Airport Projects.
Leadership of complex airport programs involving terminal expansion or revitalization, airside infrastructure, utilities, systems upgrades, or airport-wide transformation initiatives.
Track record of establishing and leading program governance and assurance frameworks in highly regulated, safety-critical environments.
Strong relationship management and influencing skills across airport owners, airlines, regulators, joint venture partners, designers, and contractors.
Experience working within collaborative or progressive delivery models (e.g. progressive design-build, alliances, integrated delivery models).
Demonstrated ability to build, mentor, and retain high-performing aviation program leadership teams.
Engagement with aviation industry bodies, professional associations, or internal centers of excellence and thought-leadership initiatives.

Responsibilities

Provide senior leadership and strategic direction across the full aviation program lifecycle, ensuring alignment with airport operator objectives, airline and passenger needs, regulatory requirements, and organizational priorities.
Establish and maintain robust program governance frameworks to enable effective decision-making, assurance, and executive oversight in safety-critical aviation environments.
Direct and integrate senior delivery leaders accountable for technical, commercial, operational readiness, stakeholder, and systems delivery across the program.
Lead program initiation and mobilization activities, including delivery strategy development, staging and phasing planning, and the implementation of program systems, controls, and tools.
Oversee program-wide compliance with aviation safety, security, quality, environmental, and technical standards, including applicable national and international aviation regulations.
Manage key relationships with airport authorities, airlines, regulators, operators, delivery partners, suppliers, and internal business leaders, acting as the principal point of contact for the program.
Ensure robust management of program risk, change, interfaces, dependencies, and operational impacts, particularly within live airport operating environments.
Provide senior commercial leadership, including contract strategy, supplier and alliance management, financial governance, performance reporting, and cost control.
Champion innovation, digital aviation systems, smart construction techniques, and sustainability initiatives to enhance delivery efficiency, resilience, and long-term asset performance.
Lead, coach, and develop program leadership and delivery teams, supporting high performance, capability development, succession planning, and knowledge transfer.
Contribute to work winning activities by providing aviation program expertise, supporting bids and client engagements, and strengthening strategic client relationships.
Represent the organization within aviation industry forums, client advisory roles, and professional networks, supporting broader aviation program management capability-building initiatives.