Director - Corporate Real Estate Planning & Development

United Airlines•Chicago, IL

8d•$159,790 - $207,998•Hybrid

About The Position

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network. Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together. Get your hard hat ready. We’re not just renovating the travel experience – we’re renovating our physical spaces too. And our Corporate Real Estate team is on the front lines of procuring, designing and developing spaces at all our hubs, stations and city locations across the world. From airport affairs and business services to planning and development, this team is responsible for all our leases and major construction and renovation projects, system wide.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree plus relevant work experience required
8+ years Planning, Design and Construction Experience
Meets project metrics within approved business case cost and scope
Long term capital improvement planning of major assets, facilities, and infrastructure within assigned region/program
Lead effective teams by combining strategic thinking, business acumen and development of team members
Experience in Aviation
Experience managing a team of direct reports
Conversant in design and engineering techniques, airport airfield designations, understand design and construction management process and vernacular, understanding of best practices of Portfolio, Program and Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK)
Background in construction safety, capital improvement planning for facilities, Facility Management
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Aviation Management and Planning
12+ years Planning, Design and Construction Experience or related work experience
8+ years experience in aviation planning, design, construction project management
Knowledge of FAA, ICAO, IATA standards, guidelines and requirements that relate to planning and design of airport infrastructure and facilities.
Aviation Master Planning, possess understanding of bond financing process and requirements.
Demonstrates an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and effectively leverages them to support research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving.
Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to organizational policies for responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.

Responsibilities

Oversee a team of staff resources while directly leading large scale airport development projects.
Plan, design and execute airport facility modification projects to ensure they are completed on time, on budget, and in compliance with airport operational needs, corporate guidelines, jurisdictional code, airport lease requirements, and other agreements, obligations, and regulations.
Collaborate with airport authorities and staff on facilities or other airport infrastructure projects to ensure the airline's interests are accounted for and addressed.
Establish and maintain strong business relationships with airport leaders.
Manage the current state of ongoing or planned projects by the airport to develop master plans that benefit the long success of United.
Provide input on airline impacts and collaborate on revisions to the planning, design, or construction approach to satisfy the airline’s interests.
Develop long-term capital improvement plans within their assigned portfolio, which can include condition assessments and collaborating with Facilities Maintenance on maintenance plans that align with deferred maintenance capital projects.
Implement initiatives and manage the team to plan, design, and execute airport and commercial property facility and infrastructure construction projects.
Manage development, programming, planning, design, construction, schedule, and budget related issues that pose challenges to the success of the project by drawing on knowledge of the planning, design, and construction process.
Ensure compliance with budget, schedule, and scope of the projects within the regional portfolio per the approved business case requirements, including benefits realized.
Ensure governance of the PMLC (UA and CRE), artifacts, and guidelines.
Utilize any PMLC process and standards.
Manage and audit PMLC deliverables.
Utilize Project Database, PM Artifacts, workflows, forms, Project Management Guidelines, etc., by self and team.
Use and ensure utilization of CRE Project tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Project, Oracle, and others as defined by need.
Ensure that projects meet defined metrics.
Provide transparent, accurate, consistent project reporting (weekly, monthly, and quarterly).
Serve on the governance board of all projects within the team’s portfolio.
Effectively lead teams by establishing department and individual goals.
Oversee department and individual performance and improvement plans.
Coach, counsel, and assist employees to develop individual career development and training plans.
Use technical knowledge and experience combined with business acumen to provide thoughtful decision-making and guidance in strategic implementation of United’s objectives and initiatives.
Be solution-oriented and committed to creating and sustaining a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
Model integrity, possess self-awareness, and foster an environment of accountability.
Provide constant and transparent communication to their Team, Leadership, Stakeholders, and Customers.
Mentor and develop a team that is empowered and engaged.