Aviation Planner - Team Lead

Ardurra; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ardurra is seeking an Aviation Planner Team Lead to guide multidisciplinary teams on airport master plans, ALPs, and airfield development studies. You will manage scope, schedule, budget, and client relationships while applying FAA regulations and industry best practices to drive project delivery.

The role emphasizes leadership of planning staff, coordination with FAA representatives and airport sponsors, and ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements across

Qualifications

• 5+ years of project management, task management, or supervisory experience leading aviation planning teams.
• 8+ years of relevant aviation planning experience including commercial airport planning and airfield development projects.
• Demonstrated experience preparing FAA-funded airport planning projects, airport master plans, ALPs, and airfield development studies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage aviation planning teams in the delivery of airport planning projects.
• Serve as project manager and technical lead for airport master plans, aviation system plans, ALPs, airfield development studies, and CIP.
• Direct planning efforts for runways, taxiways, aprons, safety areas, terminal area development, and airport support facilities.
• Oversee airfield geometry analyses, aircraft accommodation studies, capacity evaluations, airfield operational assessments, and FAA design standard compliance reviews.

Skills

Project management

Aviation planning

Team leadership

FAA regulations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aviation Planning, Urban and Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Airport Management, or related field

Job description

Overview

Under general direction, the Aviation Planner Team Lead manages and leads aviation planning projects and planning staff in support of commercial service and general aviation clients, with a strong emphasis on airfield planning and advisory services. This role is responsible for overseeing the planning and evaluation of airside and landside facilities, including runways, taxiways, apron areas, terminals, support facilities, and airport access infrastructure while ensuring alignment with operational, safety, capacity, environmental, and regulatory requirements. The Aviation Planner Team Lead serves as a technical leader and project manager, applying advanced aviation planning principles, FAA regulations, and industry best practices to guide multidisciplinary teams through complex airport planning initiatives. The position is responsible for managing project scope, schedules, budgets, quality control, client relationships, and staff development while providing strategic guidance on airport development programs. This role works closely with airport sponsors, FAA representatives, engineers, environmental specialists, and other stakeholders on airport master plans, airport layout plans (ALPs), airfield development plans, airfield geometry studies, capacity and demand analyses, environmental documentation, land use compatibility studies, and capital improvement programs (CIPs). The Aviation Planner Team Lead plays a critical role in advancing safe, efficient, sustainable, and future-focused airport infrastructure solutions while driving successful project delivery and team performance.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Aviation Planning, Urban and Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Airport Management, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of relevant aviation planning experience, including commercial airport planning and airfield development projects.
• 5+ years of project management, task management, or supervisory experience leading aviation planning teams.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing FAA-funded airport planning projects, airport master plans, ALPs, and airfield development studies.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage aviation planning teams in the delivery of airport planning projects.
• Serve as project manager and technical lead for airport master plans, aviation system plans, airport layout plans (ALPs), airfield development studies, and capital improvement programs.
• Direct planning efforts for runways, taxiways, aprons, safety areas, terminal area development, and airport support facilities.
• Oversee airfield geometry analyses, aircraft accommodation studies, capacity evaluations, airfield operational assessments, and FAA design standard compliance reviews.
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