Airport Planner

Mott MacDonald; Croydon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Mott MacDonald in the UK is seeking a project professional to join the aviation team, delivering airport masterplans and capacity analyses on diverse projects globally, from London to other regions. You will learn project management on small workstreams and support senior principals.

The role requires a degree in aeronautical or civil engineering or airport planning, fluent English, and a proactive, collaborative mindset to work with multi-disciplinary teams across airfield, terminals, and

Qualifications

• Degree in aeronautical or civil engineering or airport planning.
• Fluency in English; other languages valued.
• Experience in aviation or transferable skills from related industries.
• Some aviation experience in airport planning disciplines (airfield, terminals, landside).
• Proactive with a learning mindset and ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to train junior staff and share knowledge.
• Proficient with MS Office; CAD/design tools familiarity advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Deliver airport masterplans, capacity analyses, and simulation modelling.
• Support airport planning tasks across airfield, terminals, landside, and utilities.
• Learn project management on small projects/workstreams.
• Collaborate with colleagues and pass knowledge to graduates and junior staff.
• Liaise with clients and key stakeholders, supporting proposals and bids.
• Work with aviation disciplines such as airfield engineering, forecasting, and asset management.

Education

Aeronautical or Civil Engineering degree or Airport Planning qualification

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

AviPlan

InfraWorks

Navisworks

Revit

Job description

Location/s: Croydon, UK. Recruiter contact: Alice Roostan.

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.

Key responsibilities and duties

• Be responsible for delivery on a variety of projects including airport masterplans, airport facility planning, capacity and demand analysis and simulation modelling
• Deliver airport planning & capacity tasks in all aspects of airports including airfield and apron, terminals and satellite buildings, landside transport, ancillary/support facilities and utilities
• Learn the responsibilities of a Project Manager on small projects and/or as a workstream lead involving airport planning activities
• Have the opportunity to learn new technical, project management and people management skills from experienced project principals and technical principals with extensive experience
• Be able to pass on your technical knowledge to new graduates, training them up on tasks and workstreams that you are managing
• Get involved in the liaison with client and key project stakeholders
• Assist in the production and submission of proposals, supporting Bid Managers/Directors
• Collaborate with and learn from other disciplines in our aviation team, including airfield engineering, transaction advisory, forecasting, project & asset management, and business planning

Candidate specification

• A degree in aeronautical engineering, civil engineering, air transport management, or airport planning. Candidates with other relevant qualifications may be considered
• Fluency in English – knowledge of other languages will be valued
• Relevant experience in the aviation industry, preferably working towards a chartership qualification or the ability to demonstrate equivalent transferrable skills from another relevant industry
• Some previous aviation experience in one (or more) technical fields within airport planning (airfield & apron, operations, terminal, landside, utilities, airspace, etc.) is expected
• Proactive and with a learning mindset
• Embrace and support 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 use your initiative to undertake tasks efficiently and independently, while demonstrating the maturity to know when to ask for advice and support from senior team members
• The ability to organise yourself to undertake a series of tasks and to start to be able to organise other colleagues
• Ability to work with 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 and clients
• Excellent written communication and attention to detail, being able to produce accurate technical drawings and professional reports
• Proficient in Word, PowerPoint and Excel (Power BI desirable)
• Competent in the use of drawings platforms, such as AutoCAD Civil 3D, AviPlan, Infraworks, Navisworks, Revit, etc. to produce airfield and terminal spatial planning outputs
• Working knowledge of simulation & modelling tools for airfield and terminal facilities will be favourably considered

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.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

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 everyday 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 your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33‑35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.