Director – Aviation Program Manager

Overview

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. Working with clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. We partner to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes, turning challenge into opportunity and complexity into success. Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions. We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with premier programme, project and cost management offerings in markets worldwide.
Job Description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced

Director – Aviation Program Manager

to support the growth and delivery of our aviation portfolio across the Northeast, with a primary focus on the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). This role blends business development, strategic client advisory, and integrated program delivery leadership, leveraging the Turner & Townsend platform to support major aviation capital programs from planning through execution and operations. The candidate will strengthen client relationships, win new work, and ensure successful delivery of complex infrastructure programs in live operating environments.
Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Client Engagement
Lead business development and client engagement activities across the Northeast aviation market
Develop and maintain strong relationships with airport authorities, airlines, and key stakeholders, particularly within PANYNJ
Drive growth at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and across the broader regional aviation portfolio
Lead and support pursuits, including capture planning, win strategies, teaming, proposals, and interviews
Identify opportunities to expand Turner & Townsend’s service offerings across program/construction/asset management and advisory services
Represent the firm in client meetings, industry events, and aviation forums
Maintain a strong understanding of client priorities, capital programs, procurement pipelines, and funding strategies
Infrastructure Program Delivery
Provide senior leadership across the full lifecycle of aviation infrastructure programs, integrating program and cost management, construction management, asset management advisory, and capital planning expertise
Lead the successful delivery of complex airport programs, including terminals, airside/landside infrastructure, utilities, and enabling works from strategic planning through execution and operational readiness
Implement best-in-class program management and controls frameworks across scope, schedule, cost, risk, governance, and performance management
Oversee program controls and digital delivery, enabling data-driven decision-making and transparent reporting at the executive level
Integrate construction delivery capabilities to support constructability, phasing, sequencing, and execution within live airport environments
Align capital program strategies with driven asset lifecycle planning, ensuring investments deliver long-term operational performance and value
Support portfolio optimization aligning development, commercial, and investment considerations
Advise on and implement appropriate delivery models (Design-Bid-Build, CMAR, Design-Build, P3), aligned with client objectives and risk strategies
Ensure seamless integration of capital programs within active airport operations, including stakeholder coordination, operational continuity, and readiness planning
Champion innovation across digital delivery, sustainability, resilience, and asset performance
Provide oversight for safety, quality, compliance, and risk management, and serve as a senior escalation point for complex delivery challenges
Leadership and Team Development
Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing, multidisciplinary aviation team
Support recruitment, onboarding, and professional development aligned with growth objectives
Contribute to business planning, revenue forecasting, and aviation market strategy
Collaborate with U.S. and global leadership to drive consistency, innovation, and best practices across the aviation portfolio
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture aligned with Turner & Townsend values
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Qualifications
15+ years of experience in program management, PMO leadership, or program controls for major capital programs
Proven experience in aviation, transportation, or large infrastructure delivery
Strong expertise in governance, program controls, reporting, and risk/change management
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior stakeholders
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to present to executive audiences
Preferred Experience
Experience with airport authorities, FAA programs, or federal capital delivery
Background in design-build, CMAR, progressive design-build, or multi-prime delivery environments
Familiarity with enterprise PMO systems, cost management platforms, and scheduling tools
Professional certifications such as PMP, PgMP, CCP, PSP, or equivalent
Professional Engineering (PE) License in NY/NJ or able to get reciprocity within 60 days of employment
Reside in the NY Metro area
Per client requirements, only US citizens may be considered for this opportunity
Additional Information
The salary range for this full-time role is

$230K-$250K

per year. Ranges are determined by role and level and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range is a reflection of base salary only, not of a total compensation package. Turner & Townsend reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on candidate’s experience and qualifications.
On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client’s needs.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
Turner & Townsend does not accept any speculative or unsolicited CVs that have been sent to our internal recruitment team or hiring managers from agencies outside of our preferred supplier list. Any speculative or unsolicited CVs will be treated as a direct application.
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.

#J-18808-Ljbffr