Associate or Associate Director Airport Planning

slihrms; Epsom; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis's Design & Advanced Technology practice in the UK is seeking an Associate or Associate Director Airport Planner to lead major aviation commissions, directing technical excellence and client leadership across a diverse portfolio of projects.

You will mentor teams, build relationships with airports and regulators, and shape masterplans, aviation strategies and airfield, terminal and landside planning while collaborating across our global aviation network.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in airport planning and development, with expertise across airfield, terminal, surface access and landside planning.
• Strong knowledge of aviation industry standards and guidance, including CAA, EASA, ICAO and IATA requirements.
• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline; postgraduate qualification in air transport desirable; professional membership with a relevant institution.
• Strong understanding of airport strategy, operational interfaces, and development drivers, including passenger and baggage flows, retail and commercial planning, and surface access integration.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, complex, multi-disciplinary projects, delivering high-quality outputs on time.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex airport planning projects and multidisciplinary teams across the UK and internationally.
• Build trusted relationships with airport operators, investors, regulators and government stakeholders.
• Lead airport masterplans, aviation strategies, and airfield, terminal and landside planning studies.
• Direct demand forecasting, capacity assessments and operational analyses to inform strategic decisions.
• Provide technical leadership and quality assurance across project deliverables.
• Lead client workshops, stakeholder engagement activities and multidisciplinary reviews.
• Support business development through client engagement, opportunity identification and bid leadership.
• Drive innovation, best practice and continuous improvement within the Airport Planning team.
• Mentor and develop colleagues, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Collaborate across our global aviation network to share expertise and deliver integrated solutions.

Skills

Airport planning

Leadership

Client engagement

Forecasting

Education

Degree in a relevant discipline

Postgraduate qualification in air transport

Professional membership

Job description

Job Description

Overview

Apply Your Expertise and Shape the Future of our Airports. At AtkinsRéalis, our Design & Advanced Technology practice brings together some of the UK's most diverse engineering and design expertise to tackle the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities. We are seeking an Associate or Associate Director Airport Planner to join our internationally respected Airport Planning team and play a leading role in shaping the future of aviation infrastructure. This is an opportunity for an experienced airport planning professional to provide technical leadership, strategic direction and project oversight across a diverse portfolio of major aviation programmes, whilst helping to drive the continued growth of our airport planning capability. Our Airport Planning team combines deep technical expertise, operational understanding and a collaborative, solutions-focused culture. We are trusted advisors to many of the UK's leading airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, and continue to grow our international portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, North America and Australia. Our work spans airport masterplanning, capacity enhancement programmes, terminal and airfield planning, aviation strategy, airport development programmes and emerging aviation technologies. As an Associate or Associate Director, you will play a key role in leading major commissions, developing and strengthening client relationships, supporting business growth, and mentoring the next generation of airport planning professionals. Working alongside a highly respected team of aviation specialists, you will help shape the future direction of our airport planning services while delivering innovative solutions for some of the industry's most complex and nationally significant projects.

You'll benefit from:

• Working on high-profile airport projects across the UK and internationally.
• Accelerating your career through technical leadership, client engagement, thought leadership and business development opportunities.
• Working alongside recognised aviation specialists within one of the industry's leading airport planning teams.
• Playing a key role in the growth of our aviation business, helping to shape future services, capabilities and market opportunities.
• A culture that encourages innovation, technical excellence and professional growth.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements that support work-life balance.
• Clear career progression pathways and professional development opportunities

We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week being office/site based. This position can be based from any of our major offices of London Nova, Epsom, Birmingham, Bristol, or Manchester.

Your role

At Associate or Associate Director level, you will have accountability for technical excellence, client leadership, and commercial performance, alongside line management and mentorship responsibilities.

• Lead complex airport planning projects and multidisciplinary teams across the UK and internationally.
• Build trusted relationships with airport operators, investors, regulators and government stakeholders.
• Lead airport masterplans, aviation strategies, and airfield, terminal and landside planning studies.
• Direct demand forecasting, capacity assessments and operational analyses to inform strategic decisions.
• Provide technical leadership and quality assurance across project deliverables.
• Lead client workshops, stakeholder engagement activities and multidisciplinary reviews.
• Support business development through client engagement, opportunity identification and bid leadership.
• Drive innovation, best practice and continuous improvement within the Airport Planning team.
• Mentor and develop colleagues, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Collaborate across our global aviation network to share expertise and deliver integrated solutions.

About you

We're seeking technically strong, commercially aware engineers who enjoy collaborative working and take a proactive approach to solving complex challenges. You will be confident leading multidisciplinary teams, developing client relationships, and delivering high-quality solutions while supporting and mentoring less experienced engineers.

Significant experience in airport planning and development, with expertise across airfield, terminal, surface access and landside planning.

Strong knowledge of aviation industry standards and guidance, including CAA, EASA, ICAO and IATA requirements.

Degree qualified in a relevant discipline, with a postgraduate qualification in air transport or a related field desirable, and professional membership with a relevant institution.

Strong understanding of airport strategy, operational interfaces, and development drivers, including passenger and baggage flows, retail and commercial planning, and surface access integration.

Demonstrated experience leading large, complex, multi‑disciplinary projects, delivering high‑quality outputs on time and