Senior Program Manager

GHD; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K

PTO

Holiday Pay

Wellness Benefit

Job summary

GHD in Dallas seeks a Senior Program Manager – Aviation to lead complex airport development and capital programs across Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth market. You will guide planning, design, procurement, construction, activation, commissioning, and closeout while ensuring safety, on-schedule delivery, and budget adherence.

Strong client leadership and FAA knowledge are essential. The role requires a Civil/Mechanical engineering background, PMP certification, and experience with major

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil or Mechanical Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
• PMP certification or equivalent preferred.
• Proven experience delivering major airport development programs across airside, landside, and/or terminal environments.
• Strong understanding of FAA standards, airport planning principles, environmental processes, and construction phasing.
• Ability to lead large cross-functional teams and manage client relationships at the executive level.
• Experience with program controls systems, dashboards, risk registers, cost forecasts, schedule reporting.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major airport development projects in line with PM strategy.
• Lead client relationships and coordinate with authorities, consultants, and contractors.
• Develop and implement engineering solutions and standards for critical programs.
• Conduct feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses for business changes.
• Ensure HSE policy adherence and risk mitigation across programs.
• Drive knowledge sharing, practice development, and organizational capability building.
• Oversee RFIs/RFPs and tender responses to secure contracts.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Program management

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil or Mechanical Engineering

PMP certification

Master’s degree preferred in Engineering/Planning/Business

Tools

FAA standards knowledge

Job description

Job Description

Bring your curiosity and determination to make a positive impact on the future of transport, and we’ll help you go all the way.

Join our team of globally connected specialists to help solve complex transport challenges and experience groundbreaking projects from idea to delivery, and beyond.

Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in office, three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Who are we looking for?

GHD is looking for a Senior Program Manager – Aviation to join our growing Dallas team! The Senior Program Manager will lead complex airport development and capital improvement programs across Texas, with a focus on the Dallas/Fort Worth market and broader Central Region growth. This role provides senior-level direction across the full program lifecycle, including planning, design, procurement, construction, activation, commissioning, and closeout, while ensuring programs are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and with minimal disruption to airport operations. Serving as a key liaison among airport authorities, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, and internal GHD teams, this leader will guide technical strategy, governance, stakeholder coordination, risk management, and executive reporting for major airside, landside, and terminal initiatives.

This position offers the opportunity to help strengthen and grow GHD’s aviation practice by building trusted client relationships, supporting strategic pursuits, mentoring multidisciplinary teams, and shaping delivery approaches for high-profile infrastructure programs. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience managing major airport capital programs, strong knowledge of FAA standards and airport operational requirements, and proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and engage clients at the executive level. A background in civil or mechanical engineering is required, with advanced education, PMP certification, commissioning/activation experience, and major hub airport program experience considered strong differentiators.

Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you involved in:

• Client & Customer Management (External): Manage key client and customer relationships. Likely to involve using account teams to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Community of Practice Management: Contribute strongly on a strategically significant area to a community of practice in a defined area of expertise or consulting or lead on an area of expertise or consulting practice, to contribute to thought leadership and to develop innovative practice among colleagues.
• Engineering Solutions Design: Design complex and/or innovative engineering solutions and the associated validation process to enable the realization of a design brief (for example, in terms of functionality, performance, aesthetics, and cost) that conform to organizational and/or regulatory standards.
• Engineering Standards Specification: Provide leadership on the design and development of engineering standards and specifications for a business-critical area that must be adhered to by the organization and/or its suppliers, contractors, and consultants to ensure engineering work of the required quality is delivered and to manage the risks associated with engineering programs.
• Feasibility Studies: Conduct the most–complex feasibility studies from a technological and organizational perspective and document findings to complete cost-benefit analysis on implementing changes to business processes, products, or business unit structure.
• Health, Safety, and Environment: Ensure that business activities and individuals (e.g., employees, contractors, and visitors) within the area of responsibility adhere to the organization's health, safety, and environment (HSE) policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions, to safeguard the environment, protect the well-being of individuals, and minimize business risk.
• Improvement/Innovation: Initiate, formulate, and implement new business practices within a specific discipline while managing the development and/or delivery of a significant element of the organization's change management program.
• Knowledge Management: Manage the development of policies and processes for knowledge management to ensure the creation of best practices and the setup of case studies and internal knowledge-sharing sessions; manage, capture, and share knowledge among colleagues on project/program outcomes and innovative practices across a large area to support the practice.
• Organizational Capability Building: Evaluate the capabilities of staff within the department to identify gaps and prioritize development activities. Implement the organization's formal development frameworks within the area of responsibility. Coach and mentor others to support the development of the organization's talent pool.
• Product and Solution Development: Take responsibility for managing the definition, development, and delivery of a significant product or service within the product development and engineering program, ensuring alignment with customer requirements.
• Project Management: Manage a portfolio of major projects in line with overall project management strategy.
• Request for Bid Solicitation/Proposal/Tender Response: Gather information and resources and draft and complete proposals in response to the most–complex bid solicitations, request for proposal, and request for tender to create the best chance of being awarded the contract. May lead a team to develop tenders/proposals and fulfill all process requirements (in terms of deadlines, documentation, etc.) in response to bid solicitations, request for proposal, and request for tender.

What you will bring to the Team:

• Minimum requirement of a Bachelor of Science in Civil or Mechanical Engineering. Master’s degree preferred in Engineering, Planning, Business Administration or related discipline.
• PMP certification or equivalent preferred. Commissioning/activation credentials are a differentiator for this role.
• Proven experience delivering major airport development programs across airside, landside and/or terminal environments; major hub airport and capital program experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of FAA standards, airport planning principles, environmental processes, construction phasing, operational constraints and integrated delivery models.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large cross-functional teams and manage client relationships at the executive level. Strong communication, negotiation, organizational and issue-resolution skills.
• Experience with program controls systems, dashboards, risk registers, cost forecasts, schedule reporting and project performance metrics.

Benefits

• 401K - Employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the month following 3 months of service
• Paid time off – Our PTO benefit is designed to provide eligible employees with a period of rest and relaxation, sick, and personal time throughout the year. PTO starts at 16 days per year and increases with years of service
• Holiday Pay - Holiday pay is provided for eligible employees. GHD observes 9 holidays per year. Holiday pay will be based on the regular set schedule for the employee
• Wellness Benefit- Regular full-term employees are eligible to participate in the wellness reimbursement program. GHD will reimburse 50% of the cost of the following to maximum of $250.00 reimbursement annually for such items as: Health club membership fees, home exercise equipment purchases, Bicycles, Race, run & marathon entrance fees, Smoking cessation programs, Weight loss programs (i.e.—Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig), Fitbits and Fitness Tracking devices

Our Hybrid Work Model:

Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex (including same sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability or handicap, citizenship status, service member status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.