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.

#LI-AW1 #LI-ONSITE

Compensation Range:

$204,440.66 - $227,156.28

STV offers the following 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

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.

Not sure this role is the perfect match? We encourage you to apply if STV’s work and values resonate with you. We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do. At STV, we believe strong talent comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and your skills and experience may align with this or another opportunity as we continue to grow.

About the company

STV provides professional services for the infrastructure that keeps society running. It designs, engineers, and manages projects in transportation systems, building design, water systems, and other essential infrastructure for public and private clients. Its work combines multidisciplinary expertise to plan and deliver infrastructure projects that meet local needs, using national knowledge to solve local challenges. Unlike firms that specialize in a single area, STV offers a full range of services across the project lifecycle—from planning and design to delivery and construction management—across multiple sectors. Its goal is to make communities better both now and in the future by delivering reliable, well-planned infrastructure.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Pennsylvania

Founded

1912

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

Dallas ISD's $6.2 billion bond program should drive multi-year PMO and controls demand.
Edmond's 40,000-connection lead-pipe program and MTA Hudson Line design win expand 2026 backlog.
Recent rail systems hires and the CHAMPS acquisition position STV for electrification and resilience spending.

What critics are saying

STV depends on public owners like MTA, Dallas ISD, and Edmond for 2026-2037 revenue.
Fixed-fee megaproject work will compress margins when scopes change, especially before 2029 construction starts.
CHAMPS integration can distract leadership while transit and education commissions stay politically and budgetarily fragile.

What makes STV unique

STV sells integrated rail, water, and program-controls execution, not standalone design.
Its 2026 hires deepen CBTC, signaling, and project-controls expertise for complex public megaprograms.
CHAMPS acquisition adds substation engineering, expanding STV beyond transportation into utility power.

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Benefits

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
401(k) Plan
Retirement Counseling
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
Back-Up Dependent Care

Company News

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Oct 15th, 2026

STV strengthens transportation leadership with three SVP promotions.

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Sep 28th, 2026

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Sep 24th, 2026

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STV

Program Manager - Aviation

About the job