Aviation Program Leader / Design Director

The Aviation Major Program Lead / Design Director is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering complex aviation infrastructure programs from pursuit through execution. Acting as the Design Authority, you will lead the planning, integration, governance and delivery of multidisciplinary design services, coordinating architecture, engineering, airport systems, specialist consultants and contractor partners to achieve safe, efficient and commercially successful outcomes that meet client, contractual, operational and construction requirements.. 

Key activities and responsibilities include: 

• Leading the planning, mobilization, and delivery of major aviation programs with clear vision, governance, and integrated delivery.
• Serving as a trusted senior advisor to client executives, airport authorities, delivery partners, and key stakeholders.
• Translating client priorities, operational needs, investment objectives, and capital plans into coordinated program and design outcomes.
• Strengthening strategic client relationships, expanding partnerships, and supporting positioning, capture planning, and major pursuits.
• Developing program delivery strategies covering scope, governance, organization, commercial approach, resources, schedule, risk, and assurance.
• Serving as senior design authority, accountable for the integrity, integration, suitability, and performance of multidisciplinary solutions.
• Directing design solutions that balance safety, operations, passenger experience, constructability, sustainability, resilience, cost, schedule, and whole-life value.
• Aligning design delivery with program objectives, contracts, business cases, benefits, and client decisions.
• Partnering with program, project, and commercial leaders to oversee performance, anticipate issues, and drive timely executive decisions.
• Establishing clear governance, reporting, accountability, and escalation across disciplines, workstreams, consultants, contractors, and partners.
• Leading senior forums, design meetings, executive reviews, and decision workshops to maintain alignment and resolve complex issues.
• Overseeing design budgets, schedules, resources, interfaces, changes, risks, opportunities, and performance indicators.
• Guiding integrated work, cost, and organizational breakdown structures for coordinated delivery and transparent performance management.
• Championing technical excellence, innovation, digital delivery, sustainability, quality, and assurance across the program.
• Overseeing program-level technical requirements, standards, criteria, departures, certifications, reviews, approvals, and records.
• Integrating architecture, engineering, airport systems, planning, operations, construction, specialist advice, and supply chain inputs.
• Engaging construction teams and delivery partners early to improve constructability, phasing, operational readiness, and delivery certainty.
• Managing strategic design and program risks, directing mitigation, and escalating material issues with clear recommendations.
• Leading Design Managers, Discipline Leads, Package Managers, and specialists with clear accountability and a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Supporting workforce planning, succession, capability development, and effective deployment of expertise.
• Representing the organization with clients, industry partners, and professional networks to strengthen market credibility and aviation profile.
• Supporting aviation business growth through thought leadership, strategic accounts, client feedback, and lessons learned. 

The successful candidate will bring the following skills, qualifications, and experience: 
 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline; an advanced degree in engineering, business, program management, or a related field is an asset.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation or eligibility for registration in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Typically 20+ years of progressive experience leading the pursuit, design, and delivery of complex multidisciplinary infrastructure or major capital programs.
• Significant aviation-sector experience, with a strong understanding of airport environments, operational interfaces, stakeholder complexity, and capital program priorities.
• A proven record in senior roles such as Program Director, Major Project Lead, Design Director, Engineering Director, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated success building trusted relationships with executive-level clients and influencing complex decisions across owners, authorities, contractors, partners, and communities of interest.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience with major pursuits, fee development, contract strategy, change management, financial performance, and risk-informed decision-making.
• Deep knowledge of program governance, integrated design management, technical assurance, quality management, interface management, and delivery risk.
• Experience leading large, geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary teams and coordinating multiple projects, packages, consultants, and delivery partners.
• Expertise in major project delivery models such as Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, P3, Alliance, Construction Manager at Risk, or other collaborative contracting approaches.
• Ability to connect strategic objectives with practical execution and to provide clear direction in complex, high-profile, and rapidly evolving program environments.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and facilitation skills, with the presence and credibility to operate effectively at executive and board-facing levels.
• A strong commitment to safety, ethics, inclusion, technical excellence, sustainability, and positive client and community outcomes.