Aviation Buildings Regional Leader

The Opportunity

Do you know the airports, clients, and opportunities shaping Southern California aviation architecture?

RS&H is seeking a Regional Aviation Buildings Leader / Project Director to grow our Aviation Buildings practice across Southern California, with a primary focus on Los Angeles and the broader region. This strategic role offers the chance to build from existing RS&H aviation relationships and on-call contracts at LAX, Ontario, Palm Springs, Long Beach, and other area airports while shaping long-term growth in one of the country's most active aviation markets.

Why this opportunity stands out

This is not a maintenance role or a standard project delivery assignment. It is a chance to help define RS&H's Aviation Buildings growth story in Southern California. You will focus on client relationships, market intelligence, and business development while staying close enough to delivery to ensure clients receive the technical quality and responsiveness they expect. As the market grows, this leader will also have the opportunity to help build and shape the regional team around the work.

LAX remains a priority market, with Los Angeles World Airports advancing a multi-billion-dollar transformation that includes terminal modernization, roadway improvements, passenger experience upgrades, and long-term capital investment. For a senior aviation professional who understands how airport work is won, nurtured, and delivered, this role offers a meaningful opportunity to influence RS&H's strategy in a market that matters.

What you will do

In this role, you will develop and execute a regional aviation growth strategy, deepen relationships with airport executives and key stakeholders, identify opportunities before formal procurements are released, leverage existing contracts into additional work, and lead multidisciplinary pursuits as opportunities emerge. You will also serve as a trusted client contact, align internal teams around client needs, support successful project delivery, and help create a sustainable book of business across Southern California.

• Develop and execute a regional aviation market growth strategy.
• Expand RS&H's Aviation Buildings presence across LAX, Ontario, Palm Springs, Long Beach, and the broader Southern California airport market.
• Build and deepen relationships with airport leaders, stakeholders, partners, and clients.
• Identify future opportunities before formal procurements are released.
• Lead and support multidisciplinary pursuits that align with client needs and market priorities.
• Partner with internal architecture, engineering, planning, program management, and advisory professionals to deliver strong client outcomes.
• Help grow and shape the regional Aviation Buildings team as the market expands.

RS&H continues to be recognized among the nation's leading design firms by Engineering News-Record. ENR's Top 500 Design Firms issue reflects RS&H's continued presence among nationally ranked architecture, engineering, and consulting firms, reinforcing the scale, credibility, and market reputation candidates can build from here.

For candidates who want the reach of a nationally recognized firm without feeling like a number, RS&H offers a strong platform: meaningful aviation work, direct client impact, experienced technical teams, and the ability to influence growth in a region where the opportunity is real.

Why work at RS&H

RS&H's culture is built around ownership, collaboration, and long-term relationships. Our teams are encouraged to think like trusted advisors, support one another across disciplines, and bring practical solutions to complex client challenges. You will find the reach of a national firm, the connection of a relationship-driven culture, and the opportunity to have a visible voice in how the market grows.

• Accessible leadership invested in team success.
• A culture built on trust, accountability, and follow-through.
• Collaboration across aviation, architecture, engineering, planning, and advisory teams.
• A visible voice in strategy, client relationships, and market growth.
• Long-term investment in people, clients, and sustainable growth.
• Opportunity to shape a priority aviation growth market.
• Established national aviation platform with Southern California relationships.
• Direct exposure to senior leaders and airport stakeholders.
• Opportunity to help grow the regional Aviation Buildings team.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, retirement support, paid time off, and professional development.

What we are looking for

This role is well suited for someone with deep aviation buildings experience, strong client-development instincts, and established relationships in the Southern California airport market. Existing influence at LAX is highly valued, and we are also interested in leaders with strong relationships at nearby airports who have the credibility, presence, and entrepreneurial drive to expand RS&H's reach into LAX and the broader region.

• Degree in architecture from an NAAB-accredited program or equivalent experience.
• 15 years of relevant experience, including leadership across multiple disciplines and recognition as a thought leader.
• Active license in good standing, with knowledge of state and local building codes, zoning laws, fire regulations, and applicable ordinances.
• Proven ability to make decisions with significant organizational impact and recommend strategies that influence outcomes.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with senior leadership on matters of strategic importance.
• Strong project management capability, with PMP certification preferred.
• Attention to detail, strong follow-through, and the ability to work independently with general direction from leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, build strong client and stakeholder relationships, demonstrate professional courage, and effectively guide and influence others.

Ready to help shape the future of aviation in Southern California? If you are a connected aviation leader who knows how to build trust, open doors, and turn market insight into long-term client partnerships, we invite you to apply and explore what you can build with RS&H.

The salary range for this position in California is $175,000–$250,000 per year, representing the employer’s good‑faith estimate at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be based on job‑related skills, experience, internal equity, and geographic location, where applicable.This role may also be eligible for additional compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, an employee assistance program, retirement and financial protection programs (401(k), short‑ and long‑term disability), paid time off (including holidays and paid parental leave), and HSA funding up to $1,200 annually.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

Please note: no agency representation or submissions will be recognized for this vacancy. Candidates should apply directly to this role to be considered. It is the responsibility of all third-party recruiting and employment agencies to know and adhere to our recruiting policy.

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The Team

RS&H prides itself as a full-service firm. This opportunity is specific to the Buildings team with a focus on Aviation related building types.  As a trusted advisor you will use a diverse skillset to serve the large and small airports of the aviation industry with the support of a collaborative and team-oriented environment among other driven professionals.  Join RS&H to define and master challenges, advance professionally, and build strong and lasting relationships.  Dedicated to advancing airport and aviation design and infrastructure through innovative design and exceptional project management, we are looking for driven and talented individuals to join our team in an integrated role of Architect and Project Manager, focusing on aviation-related projects.

The Company

Employee-owned, RS&H is one of the nation’s leading architecture, engineering, and consulting firms, with associates who work hard every day to create tomorrow together. We offer an exceptional journey from start to future. Our integrated teams translate experience into insight, turn challenges into opportunities, and build relationships that are as strong as the buildings and infrastructure we deliver together. We attribute our success to our unwavering commitment to our core values: integrity, accountability, curiosity, and teamwork.