Project Director - Aviation Delivery

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons in Riyadh is seeking a Project Director - Aviation Delivery to lead the terminal and airfield packages within a major international airport development programme. You will provide strategic direction, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and manage live airport construction, Design and Build delivery, and EPC execution to achieve program milestones.

The ideal candidate has 20+ years in aviation and infrastructure, deep knowledge of airport constraints, regulatory standards, and experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or related discipline.
• Minimum 20 years of experience on major aviation, airport, infrastructure or complex capital development programmes.
• Proven track record delivering large airport projects from design coordination through construction and handover.
• Strong experience with Design and Build, EPC, modular delivery, or fast-track construction environments.
• Deep understanding of airport operational constraints and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Act as the single point of accountability for delivery of terminal and airfield packages.
• Provide strategic direction across the airport project and ensure high standards of service delivery by the multidisciplinary project team.
• Lead the project lifecycle from planning and design coordination through construction, commissioning, operational readiness, handover, and close-out.
• Ensure the client’s vision for an innovative, technology-enabled, future-proofed airport is delivered by consultants, contractors, and the construction supply chain.
• Oversee construction activity in live airport environments while minimizing disruption to existing operations, passengers, airlines, ground handlers, and airport stakeholders.
• Coordinate closely with design, commercial, project controls, ORAT, stakeholder, HSE, quality, and construction teams to support integrated airport delivery.

Skills

Aviation project delivery

Airport development

Project direction

Terminal construction

Airfield construction

ORAT coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management

Job description

Project Director - Aviation Delivery

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Industry: Airlines/Aviation
Function: Project Management
Experience: Minimum 20 years aviation and infrastructure experience
Job Type: Full-time

Overview

This senior project director role leads the delivery of terminal and airfield packages within a major international airport development programme in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The portfolio covers full‑scope project leadership, multidisciplinary coordination, live airport construction, Design and Build delivery, EPC execution, stakeholder management, aviation compliance, constructability review, and integrated delivery across airside, landside, terminal, utilities, and operational readiness interfaces. Estimated salary: 70 000–95 000.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the single point of accountability for delivery of terminal and airfield packages.
• Provide strategic direction across the airport project and ensure high standards of service delivery by the multidisciplinary project team.
• Lead the project lifecycle from planning and design coordination through construction, commissioning, operational readiness, handover, and close‑out.
• Ensure the client’s vision for an innovative, technology‑enabled, future‑proofed airport is delivered by consultants, contractors, and the construction supply chain.
• Manage overall project scope to ensure terminal, airfield, airside, landside, utilities, and supporting infrastructure works are delivered in line with agreed objectives.
• Drive high standards of design excellence, quality, sustainability, environmental compliance, aviation safety, and construction performance.
• Ensure all works comply with approved drawings, specifications, quality standards, aviation regulations, project procedures, and applicable codes.
• Provide leadership to third‑party consultants, Design and Build contractors, EPC partners, modular delivery teams, and specialist aviation suppliers.
• Oversee construction activity in live airport environments while minimizing disruption to existing operations, passengers, airlines, ground handlers, and airport stakeholders.
• Coordinate closely with design, commercial, project controls, ORAT, stakeholder, HSE, quality, and construction teams to support integrated airport delivery.
• Lead constructability reviews and ensure practical construction solutions are incorporated into execution strategies.
• Promote modular delivery, Design and Build efficiencies, and buildability improvements where they improve safety, schedule, quality, and cost certainty.
• Oversee interface management between terminal works, airside systems, utilities, landside infrastructure, airport operations, and enabling works.
• Monitor contractor performance against scope, schedule, quality, HSE, environmental, stakeholder, and commercial obligations.
• Support procurement and contract strategy for major aviation packages, specialist systems, construction services, and airport infrastructure works.
• Review key delivery risks, critical constraints, change impacts, recovery actions, and project priorities with senior leadership.
• Ensure aviation‑specific requirements are properly addressed across construction phasing, logistics, access, security, safety zones, permits, and operational coordination.
• Lead senior‑level project meetings, executive reviews, stakeholder workshops, progress sessions, and issue resolution forums.
• Maintain strong client relationships through clear communication, transparent reporting, timely escalation, and practical decision‑making.
• Support coordination with authorities, airport operators, airlines, aviation regulators, utility owners, and other key stakeholders.
• Drive performance reporting covering schedule, cost, risk, quality, HSE, sustainability, stakeholder actions, interface risks, and critical decisions.
• Promote a collaborative delivery culture across consultants, contractors, client teams, aviation specialists, and internal project teams.
• Ensure lessons learned from airport delivery, operational constraints, construction interfaces, and stakeholder coordination are captured and applied.
• Maintain focus on safe delivery, operational continuity, technical excellence, and successful handover of airport assets.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 20 years of experience on major aviation, airport, infrastructure, or complex capital development programmes.
• Proven record delivering large airport projects, including terminal and airfield packages, from design coordination through construction and handover.
• Strong experience with Design and Build, EPC, modular delivery, or fast‑track construction environments.
• Deep understanding of airport operational constraints, live airport logistics, construction phasing, airside access, landside interfaces, and operational continuity.
• Strong knowledge of aviation sector practices, airport construction standards, international codes, and aviation regulatory requirements.
• Working knowledge of international European and American codes and aviation‑specific standards, including those published by the International Civil Aviation Authority.
• Experience managing third‑party consultants, major contractors, specialist suppliers, project controls teams, commercial teams, and multidisciplinary delivery partners.
• Strong understanding of terminal buildings, airfield infrastructure, utilities, airside systems, landside infrastructure, ORAT requirements, and airport stakeholder interfaces.
• Ability to lead constructability reviews, modular construction planning, interface management, and execution strategy development.
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, communication, negotiation, and decision‑making skills.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders, resolve complex delivery issues, and maintain performance under time, operational, and contractual pressure.
• Strong commercial, technical, schedule, safety, environmental, and quality awareness in major aviation infrastructure settings.
• Confidence presenting project status, risks, mitigation plans, and strategic decisions to clients, executives, regulators, and senior project stakeholders.
• Practical, solution‑focused leadership style with the ability to align multiple parties around shared delivery outcomes.

Skills Set

• Aviation project delivery
• Airport development
• Project direction
• Terminal construction
• Airfield construction
• Airport infrastructure
• Live airport operations
• Design and Build delivery
• EPC delivery
• Modular construction
• Project lifecycle management
• Scope management
• Aviation regulations
• Airport operational constraints
• Construction phasing
• Airport logistics planning
• ORAT coordination
• Stakeholder management
• Multidisciplinary coordination
• Terminal interface management
• Airside systems
• Landside infrastructure
• Utilities coordination
• Constructability reviews
• Design coordination
• Contractor management
• Consultant management
• Construction supply chain
• Quality management
• HSE leadership
• Environmental compliance
• Sustainability delivery
• Project controls coordination
• Commercial coordination
• Risk management
• Executive reporting
• Client relationship management
• Authority coordination
• Airport operator coordination
• Aviation standards
• International codes
• Programme leadership

Why Join Us

This role offers senior exposure to complex airport infrastructure, live operational constraints, international aviation standards, Design and Build execution, modular delivery strategies, stakeholder leadership, and integrated project governance. It is a strong opportunity for an aviation delivery leader who wants to shape world‑class airport infrastructure and contribute to Saudi Arabia's expanding aviation and mobility ambitions.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation is a global engineering, infrastructure, construction management, and project delivery company supporting major aviation, transportation, utilities, urban development, public realm, and civil infrastructure programmes. In Saudi Arabia, Parsons contributes to large‑scale development through project leadership, aviation expertise, technical coordination, construction management, safety leadership, and practical delivery knowledge that help create reliable and future‑ready infrastructure.