Senior Program Manager

GHD • Dallas, TX

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

Bring your curiosity and determination to make a positive impact on the future of transport, and we’ll help you go all the way. Join our team of globally connected specialists to help solve complex transport challenges and experience groundbreaking projects from idea to delivery, and beyond. Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in office, three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment. Who are we looking for? GHD is looking for a Senior Program Manager – Aviation to join our growing Dallas team! The Senior Program Manager will lead complex airport development and capital improvement programs across Texas, with a focus on the Dallas/Fort Worth market and broader Central Region growth. This role provides senior-level direction across the full program lifecycle, including planning, design, procurement, construction, activation, commissioning, and closeout, while ensuring programs are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and with minimal disruption to airport operations. Serving as a key liaison among airport authorities, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, and internal GHD teams, this leader will guide technical strategy, governance, stakeholder coordination, risk management, and executive reporting for major airside, landside, and terminal initiatives. This position offers the opportunity to help strengthen and grow GHD’s aviation practice by building trusted client relationships, supporting strategic pursuits, mentoring multidisciplinary teams, and shaping delivery approaches for high-profile infrastructure programs. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience managing major airport capital programs, strong knowledge of FAA standards and airport operational requirements, and proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and engage clients at the executive level. A background in civil or mechanical engineering is required, with advanced education, PMP certification, commissioning/activation experience, and major hub airport program experience considered strong differentiators.

Requirements

• Minimum requirement of a Bachelor of Science in Civil or Mechanical Engineering.
• Proven experience delivering major airport development programs across airside, landside and/or terminal environments; major hub airport and capital program experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of FAA standards, airport planning principles, environmental processes, construction phasing, operational constraints and integrated delivery models.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large cross-functional teams and manage client relationships at the executive level.
• Strong communication, negotiation, organizational and issue-resolution skills.
• Experience with program controls systems, dashboards, risk registers, cost forecasts, schedule reporting and project performance metrics.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred in Engineering, Planning, Business Administration or related discipline.
• PMP certification or equivalent preferred.
• Commissioning/activation credentials are a differentiator for this role.

Responsibilities

• Manage key client and customer relationships. Likely to involve using account teams to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Contribute strongly on a strategically significant area to a community of practice in a defined area of expertise or consulting or lead on an area of expertise or consulting practice, to contribute to thought leadership and to develop innovative practice among colleagues.
• Design complex and/or innovative engineering solutions and the associated validation process to enable the realization of a design brief (for example, in terms of functionality, performance, aesthetics, and cost) that conform to organizational and/or regulatory standards.
• Provide leadership on the design and development of engineering standards and specifications for a business-critical area that must be adhered to by the organization and/or its suppliers, contractors, and consultants to ensure engineering work of the required quality is delivered and to manage the risks associated with engineering programs.
• Conduct the most-complex feasibility studies from a technological and organizational perspective and document findings to complete cost-benefit analysis on implementing changes to business processes, products, or business unit structure.
• Ensure that business activities and individuals (e.g., employees, contractors, and visitors) within the area of responsibility adhere to the organization's health, safety, and environment (HSE) policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions, to safeguard the environment, protect the well-being of individuals, and minimize business risk.
• Initiate, formulate, and implement new business practices within a specific discipline while managing the development and/or delivery of a significant element of the organization's change management program.
• Manage the development of policies and processes for knowledge management to ensure the creation of best practices and the setup of case studies and internal knowledge-sharing sessions; manage, capture, and share knowledge among colleagues on project/program outcomes and innovative practices across a large area to support the practice.
• Evaluate the capabilities of staff within the department to identify gaps and prioritize development activities. Implement the organization's formal development frameworks within the area of responsibility. Coach and mentor others to support the development of the organization's talent pool.
• Take responsibility for managing the definition, development, and delivery of a significant product or service within the product development and engineering program, ensuring alignment with customer requirements.
• Manage a portfolio of major projects in line with overall project management strategy.
• Gather information and resources and draft and complete proposals in response to the most-complex bid solicitations, request for proposal, and request for tender to create the best chance of being awarded the contract. May lead a team to develop tenders/proposals and fulfill all process requirements (in terms of deadlines, documentation, etc.) in response to bid solicitations, request for proposal, and request for tender.

Benefits

• 401K - Employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the month following 3 months of service
• Paid time off – Our PTO benefit is designed to provide eligible employees with a period of rest and relaxation, sick, and personal time throughout the year. PTO starts at 16 days per year and increases with years of service
• Holiday Pay - Holiday pay is provided for eligible employees. GHD observes 9 holidays per year. Holiday pay will be based on the regular set schedule for the employee
• Wellness Benefit- Regular full-term employees are eligible to participate in the wellness reimbursement program. GHD will reimburse 50% of the cost of the following to maximum of $250.00 reimbursement annually for such items as: Health club membership fees, home exercise equipment purchases, Bicycles, Race, run & marathon entrance fees, Smoking cessation programs, Weight loss programs (i.e.—Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig), Fitbits and Fitness Tracking devices

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior