Lead Aviation Project Manager

WSP; Farmers Branch (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is expanding its Aviation PM/CM Team, seeking a Lead Aviation Project Manager to guide future airport and airline projects in Texas, Louisiana, and beyond. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, manage scopes, budgets, and schedules, and nurture critical client relationships across the U.S.

The role requires extensive travel, strong leadership, and a proven track record in delivering complex infrastructure and aviation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Aviation Management, or a related field.
• 15+ years of professional experience managing complex infrastructure, transportation, aviation, airport development, or capital improvement projects.
• Demonstrated lead project management experience on significant capital projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary projects and project teams.
• Experience managing projects through design and/or construction.
• Experience managing scope, schedule, budget, contracts, risk, staffing, change, and client relationships.
• Strong understanding of project controls, risk management, change management, and stakeholder coordination.
• Ability to manage technical and project delivery requirements across multiple disciplines.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and client-facing communication skills.
• Ability to travel extensively across the United States.

Responsibilities

• Serve in lead project management roles on future airport and airline assignments with initial focus on TX and LA.
• Establish delivery strategies and lead multidisciplinary teams through planning, design, construction, commissioning, closeout.
• Lead owner-side program management, project management, and construction management assignments as required.
• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, staffing, risk strategies, and delivery plans.
• Monitor performance and report on schedule, budget, quality, risk, and milestones.
• Coordinate with airport authorities, airlines, contractors, consultants, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Facilitate meetings and maintain communication with clients, teams, and leadership.
• Manage project financial performance, resource utilization, contracts, change management, and controls.
• Coordinate technical activities and support quality of deliverables.
• Identify risks and lead resolution of technical, operational, commercial, and stakeholder issues.
• Support aviation pursuits, proposals, interviews, staffing, and delivery approaches.
• Build and maintain client relationships and grow WSP Aviation practice.
• Mentor project managers and staff to develop high-performing teams.

Skills

Lead project management

Multidisciplinary teams

Client relationships

Project controls

Risk management

Communication with clients

Travel extensive

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction Management/Architecture/Aviation Management

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP is proactively building its Aviation PM/CM team to support anticipated airport and airline opportunities, with an initial focus on Texas and Louisiana. We are seeking an experienced Lead Aviation Project Manager who can serve in key project leadership roles as future assignments develop.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience leading complex capital projects, multidisciplinary teams, and client relationships, along with the flexibility and mobility to support assignments in different locations across the United States. This individual will help establish project delivery strategies, organize and lead teams, manage project performance, and support pursuits for future airport and airline assignments.

Aviation experience is strongly preferred; however, candidates with significant transportation or complex infrastructure experience and demonstrated transferable project leadership skills will also be considered.

Your Impact

• Serve in lead project management roles on future airport and airline assignments, with an initial focus on opportunities in Texas and Louisiana.
• Establish project delivery strategies and lead multidisciplinary teams through planning, design, construction, commissioning, closeout, or other phases based on assignment requirements.
• Lead owner-side program management, project management, and construction management assignments as required by future opportunities.
• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, risk strategies, and delivery plans.
• Monitor project performance and provide clear reporting on schedule, budget, quality, risk, changes, and key delivery milestones.
• Coordinate with airport authorities, airlines, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and other project stakeholders.
• Facilitate project meetings and maintain effective communication with clients, project teams, and senior leadership.
• Manage project financial performance, resource utilization, contracts, change management, and project controls.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary technical activities and support quality management of project deliverables.
• Identify project risks and lead resolution of technical, operational, commercial, and stakeholder issues.
• Support aviation pursuits, proposals, interviews, staffing strategies, and development of project delivery approaches.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and contribute to the growth of WSP's Aviation practice.
• Mentor project managers and other staff and support development of high-performing project teams.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Aviation Management, or a related field.
• 15+ years of professional experience managing complex infrastructure, transportation, aviation, airport development, or capital improvement projects.
• Demonstrated experience serving in lead project management roles on significant capital projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary projects and project teams.
• Experience managing projects through design and/or construction.
• Experience managing scope, schedule, budget, contracts, risk, staffing, change, and client relationships.
• Strong understanding of project controls, risk management, change management, and stakeholder coordination.
• Ability to understand and manage technical and project delivery requirements across multiple disciplines.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and client-facing communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively with clients, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and internal teams.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively and support project assignments in different locations across the United States, including temporary or longer-term assignments based on project needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Aviation or airport capital project experience.
• Experience with airport program management, project management, and/or construction management.
• Knowledge of FAA requirements, airport design standards, and aviation project delivery processes.
• Experience supporting Airport Capital Improvement Programs (ACIP).
• Experience with airfield, terminal, landside, roadway, utility, facilities, or other complex airport infrastructure.
• Experience working with major hub, medium-hub, or commercial service airports.
• Familiarity with FAA grant processes and airport funding programs.
• Established professional relationships within the Texas and/or Louisiana aviation market.
• Active participation in AAAE, ACC, ASCE, SAME, or other relevant aviation and infrastructure industry organizations.