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Construction Program Manager – Aviation Projects
Company | PMA Consultants Careers |
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Location | Palm Springs, CA, USA |
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Salary | $175000 – $228000 |
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Type | Full-Time |
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Degrees | Bachelor’s, Master’s |
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Experience Level | Senior, Expert or higher |
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Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, architecture, business administration, or a related field is required; a master’s degree is preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience managing large-scale capital programs, with a strong preference for 20+ years in airport development or aviation-related infrastructure.
- Demonstrated experience advising executive-level teams and coordinating with municipal, state, and regulatory agencies.
- Proven track record of leading complex, multi-disciplinary programs from strategic planning through execution, with emphasis on capital improvement planning, stakeholder engagement, and organizational change management.
- PMP (Project Management Professional) or PgMP (Program Management Professional) certification is preferred.
- Proficient in Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and Microsoft Excel, with advanced skills in schedule development, critical path analysis, cost control, and financial forecasting.
- Strong background in performance metrics, risk management, reporting dashboards, and operational readiness (ORAT) programs.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present to executive teams, public officials, and community stakeholders.
- Experience in contract negotiation, vendor management, compliance oversight, and program governance.
- Demonstrated leadership in team development, cross-functional coordination, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered in lieu of stated minimum qualifications.
Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate program-wide strategies aligned with the airport’s Master Plan and long-term strategic vision.
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive capital program plan, including project delivery strategies, executive governance models, and success criteria.
- Embed with executive leadership teams to provide advisory services on modernization, expansion, and infrastructure planning.
- Identify revenue-generating opportunities and support development of project funding strategies.
- Assist with legislative briefings, public updates, and leadership presentations.
- Support the implementation of Operational Readiness, Activation, and Transfer (ORAT) planning and execution.
- Assess organizational structures, staffing needs, compensation structures, and performance benchmarks as the airport evolves.
- Advise on the formation and optimization of the CIP (Capital Improvement Program) delivery team, including project delivery models.
- Support change management across major program elements, ensuring engagement with internal stakeholders and alignment with program goals.
- Provide program oversight by developing and implementing project performance metrics across cost, schedule, scope, document control, and procurement functions.
- Oversee development and management of master program schedules, identifying conflicts, delays, and risks while implementing corrective action plans.
- Generate near real-time reports and dashboards to support executive-level decision-making.
- Support plan and design reviews, procurement facilitation, and integration of preconstruction services.
- Ensure continuous improvement, quality assurance, and compliance with project goals and performance standards.
- Act as a liaison between executive leadership, regulatory bodies, airlines, design teams, and community stakeholders.
- Facilitate workshops, meetings, and public forums to align all program participants and stakeholders.
- Provide leadership in conflict resolution, issue management, and communication planning.
- Lead compliance efforts related to contract administration, invoice reviews, change orders, and documentation protocols.
- Ensure adherence to funding requirements and assist in developing financial programming strategies.
- Allocate and manage internal and external resources across program portfolios.
- Identify and mitigate program risks through structured risk management planning and contingency development.
- Maintain program documentation and ensure document control across systems.
- Support procurement efforts and vendor contract negotiations.
- Drive team building and personnel development efforts.
- Other duties as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree is preferred.
- PMP (Project Management Professional) or PgMP (Program Management Professional) certification is preferred.