Airfield Operations Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Ardurra is seeking an Aviation Planner - Team Lead to join our Aviation Group!

Overview

Aviation Planner Team Lead manages and leads aviation planning projects and planning staff in support of commercial service and general aviation clients, with a strong emphasis on airfield planning and advisory services. This role is responsible for overseeing the planning and evaluation of airside and landside facilities, ensuring alignment with development, operational, safety, capacity, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

The Aviation Planner Team Lead serves as a technical leader and project manager, applying advanced aviation planning principles, FAA regulations, and industry best practices to guide multidisciplinary teams through complex airport planning initiatives. The position is responsible for leading a team of project managers and managing project scope, schedules, budgets, quality control, client relationships, and staff development while providing strategic guidance on airport development programs.

This role works closely with airport sponsors, FAA representatives, engineers, environmental specialists, and other stakeholders on airport master plans, airport layout plans (ALPs), airfield development plans, airfield geometry studies, capacity and demand analyses, environmental documentation, land use compatibility studies, and capital improvement programs (CIPs). The Aviation Planner Team Lead plays a critical role in advancing safe, efficient, sustainable, and future-focused airport infrastructure solutions while driving successful project delivery and team performance.

The role will lead planning efforts for complex airport expansion programs by defining facility requirements, shaping development strategies, and ensuring capital investments support the airport's long-term operational and growth objectives. Including:

• Leading Program Definition: Develop and oversee Program Definition Documents (PDDs), establishing operational, capacity, and facility requirements for major airport expansion and modernization programs.
• Driving Strategic Planning: Aviation forecasting, capacity analyses, facility programming, and long-range planning to support airport growth and capital investment decisions.
• Managing Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary planning liaison with airport leadership, airlines, regulatory agencies, tenants, and project teams to align program objectives and operational needs.
• Guiding Development Alternatives and Phasing: Evaluate expansion concepts, identify risks and constraints, and develop phased implementation strategies that maintain airport operations during construction.
• Providing Technical Leadership: Direct multidisciplinary planning efforts, mentor junior staff, and ensure airport development programs align with master plans, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (Master’s Preferred) in Aviation Planning, Urban and Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Airport Management, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of relevant aviation planning experience, including commercial airport planning and airfield development projects.
• 8+ years of project management, task management, or supervisory experience leading aviation planning teams.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing FAA-funded airport planning projects, airport master plans, ALPs, and airfield development studies.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate with leaders in other regions within Ardurra for collective advancement of the group.
• Lead and manage aviation planning teams in the delivery of airport planning projects.
• Serve as project manager and technical lead for airport master plans, aviation system plans, airport layout plans (ALPs), airfield development studies, and capital improvement programs.
• Direct planning efforts for runways, taxiways, aprons, safety areas, terminal area development, and airport support facilities.
• Oversee airfield geometry analyses, aircraft accommodation studies, capacity evaluations, airfield operational assessments, and FAA design standard compliance reviews.
• Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, staffing, quality assurance, and client communications.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including planners, engineers, environmental specialists, GIS professionals, and subconsultants.
• Develop and review technical reports, planning documents, presentations, exhibits, and FAA coordination materials.
• Lead stakeholder engagement efforts including workshops, public meetings, advisory committees, and agency coordination.
• Mentor and develop junior aviation planners and support staff through technical guidance, coaching, and professional development opportunities.
• Support business development activities, including proposal preparation, client relationship management, strategic planning initiatives, and pursuit efforts.
• Monitor emerging aviation trends, FAA policy updates, airport funding opportunities, and industry best practices to support innovative planning solutions.
• that support operational, financial, and regulatory objectives.

Preferred Tools & Software

• AutoCAD / Civil 3D – Preparation and review of airport layout plans, airfield geometry evaluations, and development concepts.
• *Strong Plus is experience in AviPLAN, AeroTURN, REDIM-V4, and other FAA-approved planning tools – Aircraft accommodation, taxiway analyses, gate planning, and airfield geometry assessments.
• GIS Platforms (ArcGIS, QGIS) – Spatial analysis, airport land use planning, obstacle evaluation support, and mapping.
• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) – Reporting, presentations, project management, and analytical tools.
• Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator) – Development of planning documents, public outreach materials, and graphics.
• Project Management Software (MS Project, Smartsheet, Deltek, or similar) – Project scheduling, resource planning, and budget management.
• FAA Airport GIS (AGIS) and airport planning databases – Airport inventory management, planning support, and FAA coordination.

Preferred Qualifications

• AICP certification or ability to obtain certification.
• Accredited Airport Executive (AAE), CM, or other aviation industry credentials.
• Experience in commercial service terminal, gate, and associated modeling planning.
• Experience managing FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP)-funded planning projects and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) development.
• Experience leading airport master plans, ALPs, environmental planning studies, and airfield development programs for commercial service airports.
• Established relationships with FAA personnel, airport sponsors, and aviation industry stakeholders.
• Proven success in business development, client growth, and proposal pursuit activities.

Salary

$160,000 - $200,000 (DOE)

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:

Ardurra does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agency Agreement, Ardurra will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. If a resume or candidate is submitted to any hiring manager without a previously signed agreement, Ardurra reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. These candidates will be considered property of Ardurra. We’re not currently looking to add any more agencies to our list of approved vendors, so please do not contact any of our managers or recruitment team with sales calls or details of your candidates.

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