Principal Airfield Planner

Mott Macdonald; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering consultancy is seeking a Principal Airfield Planner to oversee airport planning assignments worldwide. The role includes technical delivery, client relationship management, and team leadership. Candidates should possess a degree in aeronautical or civil engineering and significant experience in aviation. Responsibilities also include nurturing junior staff and managing project proposals. This position offers an inclusive work environment and a well-rounded benefits package, emphasizing health, financial well-being, and professional development.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Pension contribution matching

Bonus schemes

Minimum of 33 days holiday

Qualifications

• Significant experience in the aviation industry.
• Demonstrable experience in technical fields within airport planning.
• Proficient in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; Power-BI desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead airport planning assignments globally.
• Train and develop junior team members.
• Manage delivery of airport planning & capacity projects.

Skills

Airfield planning expertise

Project management

Team management

Problem solving

Client relationship management

Education

Degree in aeronautical engineering or relevant field

Chartership qualification

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

AviPlan

InfraWorks

Navisworks

Revit

Simulation & modelling tools

Job description

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Principal Airfield Planner to lead airport planning assignments globally. The role will own technical delivery, client relationships, and team management, ensuring high‑quality masterplans, capacity analysis, and sustainable aviation solutions.

We are recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Train and develop junior team members in airfield planning expertise.
• Manage the delivery of projects including airport masterplans, facility planning, capacity and demand analysis, and simulation modelling.
• Coordinate, manage and deliver airport planning & capacity tasks for airfield and apron, terminals, satellite buildings, landside transport, ancillary/support facilities and utilities.
• Act as Project Manager for medium‑to‑large sized projects and significant technical airport planning workstreams.
• Develop and apply new people‑management skills, growing project teams and nurturing junior staff as a line manager.
• Nurture relationships with clients and key project stakeholders to ensure successful delivery and satisfied customers, while identifying new opportunities.
• Coordinate, manage, produce and submit quality proposals to win work for the team.
• Collaborate with other disciplines in our aviation team, including airfield engineering, transaction advisory, forecasting, project & asset management, and business planning.

Qualifications

• A degree in aeronautical engineering, civil engineering, air transport management or airport planning (or another relevant qualification).
• Significant experience in the aviation industry with a chartership qualification or equivalent transferable skills.
• Demonstrable professional experience in multiple technical fields within airport planning (airfield & apron, operations, terminal, landside, utilities, airspace, etc.).
• Chartership not essential, but preferred if aligned with a professional institution.
• Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint and Excel (Power‑BI desirable).
• Experience managing platforms such as AutoCAD Civil 3D, AviPlan, InfraWorks, Navisworks, Revit and simulation & modelling tools for airfield.

Candidate Characteristics

• Proactive with a learning mindset.
• Fosters teamwork and collaboration in a multidisciplinary team.
• Methodical problem solver with critical thinking and the ability to find and prove the best solutions.
• Organises, manages and supervises medium‑to‑large workstreams, including resources across various disciplines.
• Expertise in project and programme management with contractual knowledge and commercial delivery success.
• Manages and supervises project teams, including training junior staff.
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills to clients at all levels.
• Builds and nurtures client relationships, identifying and securing opportunities for follow‑on work and new prospects.
• Excellent written communication and attention to detail, producing accurate technical drawings and professional reports.

Benefits

Health and Well‑being

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme available for you and your family.
• Flexibility to adjust salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family.

Financial Well‑being

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5 % and 7 %.
• Life assurance up to 4 × your basic salary, with an option to increase to 6 ×.
• Income protection scheme providing financial benefit and support for long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will‑writing.
• Annual bonus schemes as part of an independently owned business’s profit sharing.

Holiday & Family Leave

• Minimum of 33‑35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays, with the ability to buy or sell leave through the flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increases to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years of service.
• Enhanced family leave: 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, two weeks paid paternity/partner leave, and up to five additional days for significant caring responsibilities (with two days paid).
• Shared parental leave matches maternity leave, paying up to 24 weeks at full pay.

Learning and Development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• Broad opportunities to enhance technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training and self‑development options.

Networks & Community Engagement

• Opportunities to join advanced employee networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parent/carer communities.
• Make a difference through community social outcomes.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis. No expiry indication is present in the description.