Head of Airport Multi-Disciplinary Design

Job Description

This is a senior, client-facing role for a well-rounded airport design leader with broad experience across airfield, civil, structural, terminal, building services, utilities, drainage, pavements, systems and specialist aviation disciplines. The successful candidate may bring deep expertise in one field, but must demonstrate the breadth, judgement and leadership required to coordinate more broadly across airports as. 

The role will set high standards for technical delivery, design management and assurance; lead multidisciplinary teams and interfaces; support successful project and programme delivery; and help develop a collaborative, commercially sustainable airport design practice. 

Key responsibilities:

Client leadership 

• Provide senior technical and design leadership for Egis  

• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders, delivery partners, contractors and the wider supply chain. 

• Represent Egis at senior design reviews, client workshops, governance forums and technical discussions. 

• Translate client, passenger, operational and programme requirements into clear multidisciplinary design strategies. 

• Support framework mobilisation, delivery planning, resource forecasting and continuous improvement. 

Multidisciplinary design leadership 

• Provide technical direction to multidisciplinary airport design teams, promoting accountability, collaboration and high performance. 

• Lead integration across airport masterplanning, operational interfaces, multidisciplinary engineering and specialist aviation disciplines. 

• Support Project Directors and Design Managers in establishing scopes, delivery structures, programmes, resource plans and design execution arrangements. 

• Define and manage technical interfaces, responsibilities, deliverables and dependencies across internal teams, partners and suppliers. 

Technical governance and assurance 

• Lead design reviews, making recommendations and escalating material decisions to the Business Director at key project gateways, providing constructive challenge and clear technical decisions. 

• Ensure designs comply with applicable legislation, client requirements, standards, codes and airport-specific governance. 

• Maintain effective oversight of design risks, assumptions, decisions, interfaces, reviews, actions, RFIs and technical queries. 

• Champion safe-by-design principles and ensure construction, operational, maintenance and transition risks are considered and reduced through design. 

Project, programme and commercial delivery 

• Provide senior design oversight for defined complex airport projects and programmes in live, safety-critical operational environments. 

• Work with project and commercial teams to manage scope, change, risk, opportunities and project communications. 

People, capability and practice development 

• Support recruitment, succession planning, professional development and the growth of future technical and design leaders. 

• Mentor and develop airport design and engineering professionals across disciplines. 

Business development and market growth 

• Support the growth of Egis airport design services through technical inputs into bids, proposals and strategic opportunities. 

• Provide senior technical input to major tenders, including delivery strategy, team structure, methodologies, assurance and programme. 

• Develop relationships with airport operators, architects, contractors, partners and specialist suppliers. 

• Share good practice and support capability improvement within Egis’s design community.

Qualifications

Essential 

• A relevant degree, or equivalent professional experience, in engineering, architecture, airport design or a related discipline. 

• Demonstrable senior-level experience within planning, design and delivery of airport infrastructure. 

• Proven capability leading multidisciplinary design teams on complex airport projects, programmes or frameworks. 

• Strong practical knowledge of design management, technical governance, design assurance, risk, quality and interface management. 

• Experience managing coordinated design deliverables across multiple disciplines and throughout relevant project and design stages. 

• Ability to lead technical reviews, solve complex engineering and design problems and make balanced, evidence-based decisions. 

• Experience managing internal teams, partners and supply-chain resources to programme, budget and quality requirements. 

Desirable 

• Chartered status or equivalent professional recognition with an appropriate institution. 

• Experience of working for or with major, complex airports in the UK and Ireland or internationally. 

• Working knowledge of relevant UK and international aviation requirements and standards, including UK CAA, ICAO and EASA environments. 

• Knowledge of CDM duties and the management of health, safety and design risk within complex infrastructure projects. 

• Experience with digital engineering, BIM, information management and multidisciplinary coordination in a common data environment. 

Please note that unfortunately we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. 

Additional Information

We are committed to our planet 

In each project we design, engineer and operate we care deeply about the legacy we're leaving behind. As part of our team, you'll have a unique opportunity to use your skills and expertise to shape a better future for communities in the UK and around the globe. 

Our commitment is translated through the work of the Egis Foundation, which funds concrete actions to address the climate crisis and supports educational and social initiatives that contribute to a responsible and sustainable future

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

At Egis, we are an Equal Opportunities employer and we recognise the value of a diverse organisation. Egis appreciates all job applications. If you decide to apply for an opportunity at Egis, your application will be assessed based purely on your experience, the essential and desirable criteria, and your suitability for the role. We value each and everyone’s contribution as this builds our culture and means, if you work for Egis, you will be included, listened to and respected.