Associate - Aviation Planning

WSP; Dubai; On-site; AED 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking an Associate Consultant to shape airport planning at the concept level and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams across major aviation projects in the Middle East. You will lead analytics, demand forecasting and masterplanning efforts to deliver design-focused solutions that improve efficiency and sustainability.

The role emphasizes client engagement, technical rigor and the delivery of robust planning outputs that inform decisions and project delivery while aligning with

Qualifications

• Degree required in aviation planning, transport/civil engineering, architecture, or aviation management.
• 8–12 years of experience in airport planning, capacity assessment, forecasting, or masterplanning.
• Proficiency in analytical modelling, scenario development and data interpretation.
• Strong Excel skills and familiarity with AutoCAD/GIS.
• Excellent communication when presenting to clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead analytical assessments of airport operations including traffic profiles, flight schedules, dwell times and operational KPIs.
• Develop multi-scenario demand forecasts for passengers, aircraft, cargo and GA operations.
• Build and operate simulation models to evaluate flow performance and system efficiency.
• Translate model outputs into actionable recommendations for planning decisions.
• Contribute to airport masterplans and long-term strategic frameworks.
• Define functional and spatial requirements for terminals and facilities.
• Develop planning options, phasing strategies and expansion triggers.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure aligned outputs.
• Present capacity results and planning insights in workshops with stakeholders.
• Facilitate technical discussions and integrate feedback into forecasts and scenarios.
• Coordinate with terminal designers, engineers, operations and digital specialists.
• Collaborate with other Business Units to offer a OneWSP aviation service.

Skills

Analytical modelling

Data interpretation

Excel proficiency

Stakeholder engagement

Project leadership

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Aviation Planning / Transport/Civil Eng / Architecture / Aviation Management

Tools

AutoCAD

GIS

AviPLAN

CAST

Revit

BIM

Job description

We are seeking an Associate Consultant to contribute to concept-level airport planning, functional spatial design, multidisciplinary coordination, stakeholder engagement, and design-focused project support across major aviation projects.

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the future of airport design, delivering world-class facilities that enhance operational efficiency, passenger experience, and environmental sustainability.

The Associate Consultant will be an integral member of the Middle East Aviation Business responsible for winning prospects and projects, ensuring the successful delivery of
innovative and efficient design solutions.

Responsibilities

Airport Planning & Analytics

• Supporting project delivery of various scopes of work with an initial focus for the delivery of the Concept of Operations for DWC phase 2.
• Lead analytical assessments of airport operations, including traffic profiles, flight schedules, dwell times and operational KPIs.
• Deliver and interpret capacity and Level of Service (LoS) assessments across terminal, airside, apron, landside and support facilities.
• Develop robust multi-scenario demand forecasts for passengers, aircraft, cargo and GA operations.
• Build and operate simulation models (CAST, AirTOP, AviPlan analytics or equivalent) to evaluate flow performance, system efficiency and operational resilience.
• Translate model outputs into clear, actionable recommendations that guide planning decisions and infrastructure priorities.
• Ensure data, assumptions and modelling workflows remain validated, traceable and auditable.
• Contribute to the development of airport masterplans and long-term strategic frameworks, providing evidence-based planning inputs.
• Define functional and spatial requirements for terminals, airside, landside and support facilities based on demand, ConOps principles and regulatory standards.
• Develop and evaluate planning options, phasing strategies, expansion triggers and performance trade-offs.
• Consider sustainability, resilience, airspace constraints and operational innovation in all planning scenarios.
• Provide structured planning guidance to downstream design teams to maintain alignment with the agreed masterplanning vision.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Work closely with airport operators, airlines, regulators and internal WSP teams to align planning criteria, analytical assumptions and study methodologies.
• Present capacity results, modelling outputs and planning insights in workshops and multi-stakeholder meetings, ensuring complex concepts are communicated clearly and accurately.
• Facilitate technical discussions, address stakeholder queries, and integrate feedback into updated forecasts, simulation scenarios and planning deliverables.
• Coordinate proactively with multidisciplinary teams—including terminal designers, airside engineers, operations and digital specialists—to ensure planning outputs are consistent, integrated and technically robust.
• Collaborate with other Business Units to develop and deliver a ‘OneWSP’ service offering to aviation clients.

Design-Focused Project Support & Tender Preparation

• Support proposal preparation by contributing planning methodologies, scopes, level-of-effort estimates, case studies and modelling insights that strengthen aviation bids.
• Contribute to enhancing WSP’s internal planning practice by refining templates, improving analytical workflows and sharing practical lessons learned from projects.
• Provide informal technical guidance to junior planners, helping them understand planning frameworks, modelling approaches and project requirements while supporting overall team capability building.

Qualifications

• A degree in Aviation Planning, Transport/Civil Engineering, Architecture, Aviation Management or a related discipline.
• 8–12 years of experience in airport planning, capacity assessment, forecasting, simulation modelling or airport masterplanning.
• Proficiency in analytical modelling, scenario development and data interpretation, supported by strong Excel skills and familiarity with AutoCAD/GIS.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings to clients, multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
• Experience working with airport operators, airlines, regulators and cross-disciplinary design teams, demonstrating balanced professional judgment.
• A proactive, organised and accountable mindset—comfortable leading workstreams and managing multiple tasks independently.
• A collaborative approach and a genuine passion for aviation, airport performance and data-driven planning.

Technical & Industry Knowledge

• Strong understanding of ICAO, FAA, IATA, and aviation regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with terminal planning concepts, passenger flow optimization, and airport simulation modelling.
• Strong understanding of digital tools including AutoCAD, BIM, Revit, GIS, AviPLAN, CAST, and other airport design tools.
• Hands-on experience with airport simulation and analytical tools (e.g., CAST, AirTOP, AviPlan) and the ability to convert model outputs into clear planning insights.
• In-depth knowledge of airport sustainability initiatives, net-zero strategies, and smart airport technologies.
• Strong capability in conducting and interpreting capacity and Level of Service (LoS) assessments for terminal, airside, apron, landside and support facilities.

Regional & Sector Expertise

• Familiarity with the Middle East aviation sector and regional regulatory requirements.

Experience engaging with key stakeholders, including government agencies, contractors, and subcontractors, to drive project success.

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