Program Management Director, Aviation

AECOM • Atlanta, GA

5d

About The Position

Role Purpose / Summary The Aviation Program Director provides senior leadership and strategic oversight for the successful delivery of large and very large aviation programmes of significant strategic value. These programmes may include airport development, terminal expansion or revitalisation, 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 programme, establishing the governance structures, delivery environment, and management systems required to achieve client, passenger, and operational outcomes. Acting as the primary leader for programme-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 organisational knowledge sharing within the aviation sector.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, project management, construction management, aviation, or a related discipline (or equivalent professional experience).
• Minimum of 15 years’ professional experience delivering major aviation projects and programmes, with significant leadership responsibility for large, complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Proven experience delivering programmes 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.

Nice To Haves

• Professional programme or project management certification (e.g. PgMP, APM, PMI, CCM or equivalent) preferred.
• Leadership of complex airport programmes involving terminal expansion or revitalisation, airside infrastructure, utilities, systems upgrades, or airport-wide transformation initiatives.
• Track record of establishing and leading programme 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 programme leadership teams.
• Engagement with aviation industry bodies, professional associations, or internal centres of excellence and thought-leadership initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership and strategic direction across the full aviation programme lifecycle, ensuring alignment with airport operator objectives, airline and passenger needs, regulatory requirements, and organisational priorities.
• Establish and maintain robust programme 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 programme.
• Lead programme initiation and mobilisation activities, including delivery strategy development, staging and phasing planning, and the implementation of programme systems, controls, and tools.
• Oversee programme-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 programme.
• Ensure robust management of programme 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 programme leadership and delivery teams, supporting high performance, capability development, succession planning, and knowledge transfer.
• Contribute to work winning activities by providing aviation programme expertise, supporting bids and client engagements, and strengthening strategic client relationships.
• Represent the organisation within aviation industry forums, client advisory roles, and professional networks, supporting broader aviation programme management capability-building initiatives.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees