Mott MacDonald
Aviation Master Planning Director
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Location/s: London or Croydon; UK
Recruiter contact: Ainsley Anstess
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.
We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.
Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.
About the business unit
We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues - such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation - to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy.
Overview of the role
Our specialist aviation team is based in London, UK and Madrid, Spain and delivers major airport planning and development projects globally, working collaboratively with our regional offices.
We are seeking an Aviation Master Planning Director with a relevant qualification and significant professional aviation industry experience to join our aviation team, based in the UK.
The candidate will be part of a globally respected and diverse team of airport planners, airfield engineers and forecast, capacity and business analysts.
We are looking for a flexible and motivated person with a genuine passion for the aviation industry and a desire to make a difference in the world, with an appreciation for sustainability.
Key responsibilities and duties include:
- Be responsible for the leadership, management and delivery of a variety of projects including airport masterplans, airport facility planning, capacity and demand analysis and simulation modelling
- Lead on the delivery, coordination and management of airport planning & capacity tasks in all aspects of airports including airfield and apron, terminals and satellite buildings, landside transport, ancillary/support facilities and utilities
- Take on responsibilities of a Project Director for medium to large-sized projects and significant technical airport planning workstreams
- Continue to learn and develop people management skills including managing large planning project teams and nurturing and developing senior members of staff as a line manager
- Be able to pass on your technical knowledge to senior airport planning staff, training them up to undertake leading roles on projects that you are managing
- Nurture relationships with clients and key project stakeholders on the projects you manage, to ensure successful delivery and satisfied customers, while seeking to identify new opportunities
- Be responsible for the co-ordination, management, production and submission of quality proposals, winning work for the team
- Collaborate with and learn from other disciplines in our aviation team and wider aviation business, including airfield engineering, transaction advisory, forecasting, project & asset management, and business planning
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Candidate specification
We are looking for a flexible and motivated professional with world class airport master planning experience and a genuine passion for the aviation industry.
Mott MacDonald is an equal opportunity employer, and we do value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate, and we take positive steps to create an inclusive culture.
To apply for this position, you must have:
- A degree or post graduate qualification in aeronautical engineering, civil engineering, architecture, air transport management, or airport planning or similar discipline. Candidates with economics, sustainability, finance or business-related studies may also be considered
- Fluency in English – knowledge of other languages will be valued
- World class experience in the aviation industry, ideally with a chartership or fellowship qualification or the ability to demonstrate equivalent transferrable skills from another relevant industry
- Demonstrable professional experience in leading airport master planning projects at major international airports together with more than one deep technical field within airport planning (airfield & apron, operations, terminal, landside, airspace, etc.) is expected and required
- Chartership is not essential to apply for this role but is expected of a candidate who has qualifications aligned with a professional institution
We are looking for candidates with the following characteristics:
- Ability to lead strategic client facing projects representing Mott MacDonald and the supporting services
- Highly conversant with strategic and detailed aviation issues influencing near and long term with the ability to create resilient affordable, deliverable and approvable outcomes
- Fully familiar with IATA ADRM and ICAO Annex 14 and related documents. Familiarity with FAA documents a plus
- Ability to manage multi-company teams in delivery of major planning projects
- Stakeholder management skills
- Flexibility for frequent travel overseas for short and possibly longer term assignments (subject to separate agreement)
- Proactive and with a learning mindset
- Foster teamwork and collaboration in others as part of a multi-disciplinary team and a diverse range of projects
- Methodical approach to problem solving and with the ability to apply critical thinking
- Ability to organise, manage and supervise medium projects to large workstreams, including resources across various disciplines
- Expertise in project and programme management with contractual knowledge and the ability deliver commercially successful projects
- Ability to manage and supervise more junior staff members, including the ability to train them in developing new skills
- Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, which allow you to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients and the public
- Excellent written communication and attention to detail, being able to produce accurate technical drawings and professional reports
- Ability to build and nurture client relationships, to identify and secure opportunities for follow-on work and win new prospects
- Proficient in Word, PowerPoint and Excel (Power BI desirable)
- Ability to manage others to work efficiently in drawings platforms, such as AutoCAD Civil 3D, AviPlan, Infraworks, Navisworks, Revit, etc. to produce airfield and terminal spatial planning outputs
- Knowledge of simulation & modelling tools for airfield and terminal and the ability to manage others to use them to deliver capacity and demand analysis outputs
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#LI-AA1 UK Immigration
Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.
Agile working
At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.
AI Usage
At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.
Accessibility
We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.
Benefits
We offer some fantastic benefits including:
Financial wellbeing
- We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
- Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
- Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
- Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
- As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.
Employee Ownership
- Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
- Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
- As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
- Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
- For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.
Health and wellbeing
- Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
- Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
- Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
- A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
- Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to
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