Program Manager - Aviation

STV is seeking a Program Manager to join our national Aviation group. This position will be onsite at our client location in Chicago, IL. This position plays a critical leadership role in the successful planning, delivery, and operational execution of large-scale aviation and terminal development programs. This position serves as a senior member of the program leadership team, supporting the Terminal Delivery Director in overseeing complex capital improvement projects from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and closeout. The role is responsible for driving strategic project delivery initiatives, managing multidisciplinary teams, coordinating with airport stakeholders, and ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with operational and client objectives. The successful candidate will provide executive-level leadership across multiple concurrent projects and interfaces, while fostering collaboration among clients, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and internal teams. This individual will help lead transformational aviation infrastructure programs, including terminal modernization, expansions, airside/landside improvements, passenger experience enhancements, and operational readiness initiatives within one of the nation’s busiest aviation markets.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Delivery Support the Terminal Delivery Director in providing strategic direction for aviation and terminal development programs, ensuring alignment with client objectives, operational priorities, and organizational business goals. Lead and oversee multiple concurrent aviation projects and integrated workstreams across planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover phases. Develop and implement program and project delivery strategies that drive operational excellence, schedule adherence, cost control, and risk mitigation. Evaluate and prioritize projects and initiatives based on strategic importance, operational impact, funding availability, stakeholder priorities, and resource capacity. Establish governance frameworks, reporting structures, and performance metrics to monitor program health and delivery outcomes. Ensure project execution aligns with contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, airport standards, sustainability goals, and safety protocols. Participate in executive-level decision-making related to project phasing, operational impacts, procurement strategies, and capital planning initiatives.

Project Planning & Execution

Oversee development and implementation of comprehensive project management plans, including scope, budget, schedule, quality, risk, procurement, and stakeholder engagement strategies. Ensure effective execution of projects by monitoring progress against approved plans and proactively implementing corrective actions when necessary. Lead coordination of complex interfaces between terminal operations, construction activities, airlines, tenants, security agencies, and airport stakeholders. Manage project controls functions including scheduling, forecasting, cost management, earned value analysis, and change management. Guide project teams in identifying and resolving critical project issues, conflicts, and constraints to maintain delivery objectives. Support procurement and contract administration activities including RFQs/RFPs, consultant selection, contractor negotiations, and claims resolution. Ensure all projects maintain compliance with applicable FAA regulations, airport authority requirements, environmental standards, and local/state/federal codes.

Client & Stakeholder Management

Serve as a senior client-facing representative, maintaining strong relationships with airport authorities, airlines, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, and executive stakeholders. Facilitate executive meetings, steering committees, and stakeholder workshops to communicate project status, risks, milestones, and strategic recommendations. Anticipate client needs and provide proactive solutions that enhance project delivery and strengthen long-term partnerships. Support business development efforts, including client engagement, proposal development, interviews, and strategic pursuits within the aviation market sector. Represent the organization in industry forums, public meetings, and professional associations related to aviation infrastructure and capital program delivery.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing multidisciplinary project teams including project managers, engineers, architects, construction managers, planners, and consultants. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and performance-driven culture focused on accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Provide guidance and oversight to project leadership staff regarding project execution strategies, resource allocation, and operational priorities. Support recruitment, staff development, succession planning, and performance management initiatives within the aviation delivery group. Promote knowledge sharing, lessons learned, and implementation of industry best practices across projects and teams.

Financial & Operational Oversight

Monitor program and project financial performance, including budgets, forecasts, staffing plans, cash flow, and profitability objectives. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, delivery methodologies, and cost management practices. Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project performance metrics to executive leadership and clients. Support development and management of annual business plans, resource forecasts, and strategic growth initiatives for the aviation practice. Oversee risk management processes, contingency planning, and issue resolution to minimize project impacts and protect organizational interests.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

Champion a strong culture of safety, quality assurance, and operational excellence across all project activities. Ensure implementation of quality management procedures and adherence to company and client standards. Monitor compliance with environmental, health, safety, security, and regulatory requirements. Support implementation of sustainability, resilience, and innovation initiatives within aviation infrastructure programs.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Aviation Management, or related field. Minimum 15+ years of progressive experience managing large-scale aviation, infrastructure, transportation, or terminal development projects. Demonstrated experience leading complex airport terminal projects, capital improvement programs, or aviation infrastructure initiatives exceeding significant construction values. Proven success managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering projects within highly operational environments. Strong knowledge of project delivery methodologies including Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, CMAR, Progressive Design-Build, and alternative delivery models. Experience with project controls, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and construction administration. Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to work effectively with executive leadership, public agencies, airlines, contractors, and technical teams. Strong understanding of aviation industry regulations, operational constraints, and airport stakeholder coordination. Proficiency with project management and reporting tools such as Primavera P6, MS Project, Procore, Bluebeam, or similar systems.

Preferred Qualifications

Professional Engineer (PE), Registered Architect (RA), CCM, PMP, or other relevant professional certification preferred. Experience working on large hub airport programs or major terminal modernization initiatives. Familiarity with FAA funding programs, airport operational readiness and transfer (ORAT), and aviation phasing strategies. Experience with public sector clients and complex stakeholder environments. Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or related discipline preferred.

Compensation Range:

$204,440.66 - $227,156.28

Benefits

• Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable)
• Disability insurance
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• 401(k) Plan
• Retirement Counseling
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Back-Up Dependent Care
• Parental Leave
• Continuing Education Program
• Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

Our Culture

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good‑faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.

STV is one of the top infrastructure-focused professional services firms in North America. Founded in 1912, STV advises, plans, designs, engineers and delivers the infrastructure that powers local economies, including transportation systems, buildings, water and other facilities. Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 65 offices and 3,400 employees who reimagine the solutions and structures that connect our communities. The firm is ranked 32nd in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms survey and is 10th in its transportation category. STV is deeply committed to investing in its people and creating a world-class employee experience. We are passionate about mentoring, coaching and cultivating our talent because we know they are destined to become the next generation of industry leaders. We’re also committed to delivering formative career experiences – and we do that by providing challenging and unique work experiences, by mapping multiple ways to advance (beyond the traditional career ladder!) and by recognizing those who successfully chart new and exciting paths for the firm. We value a wide range of perspectives and experiences, without regard to any factor or characteristic, regardless of whether it is a category protected by federal, state and/or local law, making them an integral part of how we work. Our approach ensures that every individual is respected, heard, and given opportunities to contribute meaningfully. We remove barriers and create pathways for growth, embedding fairness into our daily operations. Learn more atstvinc.com.

Equal Employment Opportunities

STV provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

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