Director - Corporate Real Estate Planning & Development

United Airlines; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 208,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life

Parental leave

Commuter

401(k)

Flight privileges

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Job summary

United Airlines is seeking a Regional Project Director for Corporate Real Estate Planning and Development in Chicago. You will lead a team, oversee airport and commercial property projects, and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery across a broad portfolio.

You will collaborate with airport authorities, apply PMBoK standards, and drive governance and reporting. The role combines strategic planning with hands-on leadership in a dynamic, global network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree plus relevant work experience required.
• Experience in planning, design and construction in aviation.
• Lead effective teams with strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Knowledge of PMBoK principles and construction management processes.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain relationships with airport leaders to support master plans.
• Oversee development of long-term capital improvement plans within the portfolio.
• Lead initiatives to plan, design and execute airport and commercial property construction projects.
• Ensure governance, reporting and adherence to budget, scope and schedule.

Skills

Aviation Planning

Team Leadership

PMBoK Knowledge

Budget & Schedule Management

Education

BS in Engineering/Architecture/Construction

Aviation Management background

Tools

SharePoint

Microsoft Project

Oracle

Job description

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network.

Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together.

Description

Get your hard hat ready. We’re not just renovating the travel experience – we’re renovating our physical spaces too. And our Corporate Real Estate team is on the front lines of procuring, designing and developing spaces at all our hubs, stations and city locations across the world. From airport affairs and business services to planning and development, this team is responsible for all our leases and major construction and renovation projects, system wide.

Job Overview and Responsibilities

The Regional Project Director of Corporate Real Estate Planning and Development will oversee a team of staff resources while directly leading large scale airport development projects. This includes the completion of initiatives to plan, design and execute airport facility modification projects to make certain they are completed on time, on budget, in compliance with the following: airport operational need, corporate guidelines, jurisdictional code, airport lease requirements, other agreements, obligations and regulations to which the airline is bound. The leader in this role will collaborate with airport authorities to ascertain, understand, and collaborate with the airport staff on facilities or other airport infrastructure projects to ensure the airline interests are accounted for and addressed.

Portfolio Planning, Development and Management:

• Establish and maintain strong business relationships with airport leaders.
• Manage the current state of ongoing or planned projects by the airport to develop master plans that benefit the long success of United.
• Provide input on airline impacts and collaborate on revisions to the planning design or construction approach to satisfy the airline’s interests.
• Responsible for the development of long-term capital improvement plans within their assigned portfolio which can include condition assessments, collaborating with Facilities Maintenance on maintenance plans that align with deferred maintenance capital projects.

Project Delivery:

• Implement initiatives and manages team to plan, design and execute airport and commercial property facility and infrastructure construction projects.
• Manage development, programming, planning, design, construction, schedule, and budget related issues that pose challenges to the success of the project by drawing on knowledge of the planning, design, construction process knowledge and experience.
• Accountable for the compliance with budget, schedule, and scope of the projects within regional portfolio per the approved business case requirements including benefits realized.
• Ensure governance of the PMLC (UA & CUR), artifacts, and guidelines.
• Responsible for the utilization of any PMLC process and standards.
• Manages and audits PMLC deliverables.
• Responsible for the utilization of Project Database, PM Artifacts, workflows, forms, Project Management Guidelines etc. by self and team.
• Use and ensure utilization of CRE Project tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Project, Oracle, and others as defined by need.
• Ensure that projects meet defined metrics.
• Responsible and accountable for transparent, accurate, consistent project reporting (weekly, monthly, and quarterly).
• Serve on governance board of all projects within team’s portfolio.

Leadership:

• Effectively lead teams by establishing department and individual goals.
• Oversee the department and individual performance and improvement plans.
• Responsible for coaching, counseling, assisting employees to develop individual career development and training plans.
• Use technical knowledge experience combined with business acumen to provide thoughtful decision making and guidance in strategic implementation of United’s objectives and initiatives.
• Is solution oriented and committed to a creating and sustaining a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Models integrity possesses self-awareness and fosters an environment of accountability.
• Will be held accountable for providing constant and transparent communication to their Team, Leadership, Stakeholders and Customers.
• Mentor and develop a team that is empowered and engaged.

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s Degree plus relevant work experience required
• 8+ years Planning, Design and Construction Experience
• Meets project metrics within approved business case cost and scope
• Long term capital improvement planning of major assets, facilities, and infrastructure within assigned region/program
• Lead effective teams by combining strategic thinking, business acumen and development of team members
• Experience in Aviation
• Experience managing a team of direct reports
• Conversant in design and engineering techniques, airport airfield designations, understand design and construction management process and vernacular, understanding of best practices of Portfolio, Program and Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK)
• Background in construction safety, capital improvement planning for facilities, Facility Management
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position
• Position is based in Chicago and follows a hybrid schedule

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Aviation Management and Planning
• 12+ years Planning, Design and Construction Experience or related work experience
• 8+ experience in aviation planning, design, construction project management
• Knowledge of FAA, ICAO, IATA standards, guidelines and requirements that relate to planning and design of airport infrastructure and facilities.
• Aviation Master Planning, possess understanding of bond financing process and requirements.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and effectively leverages them to support research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving.
• Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to organizational policies for responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.

The base pay range for this role is $159,790.00 to $207,998.00.

The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits:

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life
• accident & disability
• parental leave
• employee assistance program
• commuter
• paid holidays
• paid time off
• 401(k)
• flight privileges

United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact [e-mail]