Project Director – Planning & Front-End Development - Aviation
$150,000–$200,000 year
On-siteDublin, Leinster, Ireland
Job Summary
Lead planning and front-end development strategy for major aviation infrastructure projects, including MRO facilities, Hangar Demolition, Cargo developments, CBP, and HV Substation initiatives. Direct feasibility studies, option assessments, business case development, and project definition while managing planning applications from concept through determination. Coordinate Environmental Impact Assessments, Appropriate Assessments, transport studies, and utilities strategies to ensure compliance with statutory planning and airport operational requirements. Oversee multidisciplinary consultant teams, establish governance frameworks, and manage development budgets and procurement activities. Build relationships with planning authorities, statutory agencies, and airport stakeholders to drive timely approvals and seamless transitions into detailed design.
Required Qualifications
- 15+ years' experience leading the planning and front-end development of major infrastructure or aviation projects
- Extensive experience managing planning applications and statutory approval processes for complex infrastructure developments
- Strong understanding of Irish planning legislation, environmental assessment, and consenting processes
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary consultant teams across planning, engineering, environmental, and commercial disciplines
- Proven ability to engage with planning authorities, statutory bodies, airport stakeholders, and government agencies
- Strong leadership, commercial, programme management, and stakeholder engagement skills
- A minimum of 15 years' experience in the planning, development, and delivery of major infrastructure projects, including aviation or other projects of comparable scale, complexity, and strategic importance
- Proven experience leading the planning and statutory approval process for major infrastructure developments, including the successful delivery of planning applications from concept through consent
- Demonstrated understanding of planning within live operational airport environments, with a strong appreciation of operational constraints, regulatory requirements, safety, security, and stakeholder management
- Extensive experience managing front-end project development, including feasibility studies, option assessments, business case development, environmental assessment, and procurement readiness
- Strong knowledge of Irish planning legislation, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Appropriate Assessment (AA), and statutory consenting processes
- Proven experience coordinating multidisciplinary consultant teams across planning, engineering, environmental, commercial, and technical disciplines to achieve planning and development milestones
- Experience leading the planning and development of major aviation infrastructure projects, including MRO facilities, Hangar Demolition, Cargo developments, CBP, HV Substation projects, and other strategic capital investments
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement project governance frameworks, development programmes, risk management processes, and front-end delivery strategies
- Experience acting in a client-side project leadership role, representing the Contracting Entity throughout project inception, planning, stakeholder engagement, and approvals
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with planning authorities, statutory agencies, airport operators, government bodies, utility providers, consultants, and executive leadership teams
- Proven ability to influence decision-making, manage competing priorities, and drive collaborative outcomes across complex stakeholder environments
- Commercially aware, with experience managing consultant appointments, development budgets, procurement strategies, and programme governance
- All newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment
Desired Qualifications
- Previous experience working under the NEC Suite of Contracts or similar collaborative contract models would be an advantage
- Previous experience within the aviation sector or other highly regulated, operationally constrained infrastructure environments is highly desirable
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