Expanding Heathrow Programme Director - Expanded Airfield

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Job Description

The Expanded Airfield Programme Director will lead the planning and execution of all associated expanded airfield major works to establish the new runway, terminals, supporting infrastructure and airspace change. Reporting to the Major Programme Director, it ensures the successful execution of all Expanded Airfield related activities including delivering the third runway, taxiways and aprons, new terminals, future airfield infrastructure, future Surface Access schemes, and critically, leading the airspace change programme.

The Director will also lead the Systems Integration activity on the ground and in the air to ready the airport for future growth and will provide key components to the DCO submission, whilst also progressing substantial activity ahead of consent.

Adopting a delivery led approach, the Expanded Airfield Programme Director will be the figurehead of integration and will be the receiver from the Built Environment Programme Director who will create the space to build the future infrastructure, requiring a high level of integration. The role requires exceptional leadership capability to manage risk, maintain programme integrity, and deliver outcomes that enable Heathrow's future growth.

Responsibilities

• Leading the delivery of the Expanded Airfield activity including planning and execution of the third runway, taxiways and aprons, new terminals, future airfield infrastructure, future Surface Access schemes, and critically leading the airspace change programme.
• Providing strong leadership and integration across all multidisciplinary programme functions, maintaining coherence and compliance with corporate standards.
• Drive high performance across all delivery teams to achieve programme outcomes and benefits.
• Ensuring seamless coordination across the programme directorates of DCO, Built Environment, Expanded Airfield and Delivery planning, construction and logistics, ensuring we arrive at a consentable programme and an executable baseline.
• Coordinating delivery across multiple interfaces, ensuring alignment with Heathrow's operational and strategic requirements and minimising disruption to core operations.
• Leading the airspace change programme required to unlock third runway capacity.
• Overseeing early works to enable main construction activities, including displaced uses, environmental mitigation, surface access improvements, and utility diversions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading large-scale, complex infrastructure programmes.
• Strong background in airfield, civil engineering, or transport infrastructure delivery.
• Expertise in programme management methodologies, governance, and business case delivery.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder environments and drive strategic outcomes.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and integrating complex programme components.
• Deep understanding of health, safety, and wellbeing obligations in major programmes.
• Chartered status in a relevant discipline (e.g., CEng, MAPM, MCIOB, MBA, MSP).
• Familiarity with regulatory and environmental frameworks relevant to aviation infrastructure.

Ideally you will also have:

• Experience in aviation or regulated infrastructure environments.
• Knowledge of modern construction methodologies and digital delivery tools.
• Evidence of continued professional development in leadership and programme delivery.

#LI-RH1

About Us

There's something so special about working at the world's most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement. Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities.

Every day, you'll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and end the day buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.

It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we're working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.

Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there's no place like Heathrow.

Our rewards

We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance-based annual bonuses and our longer-term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market-leading pensions. With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we'll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we'll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you'll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.

Working Location

Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of Heathrow. Working arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You'll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.

Sustainable Travel to work

Heathrow's Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger - not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.

About the Team

Together, we're working to welcome millions more passengers, while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability. At Heathrow, you can be part of this - providing solutions that make every journey better for millions each year. That means ensuring we meet the changing needs of the passengers, colleagues and partners who use our airport to work, travel, trade, shop, eat, explore and connect. Our Solutions team covers project management, process improvement, business change, technology, cyber defence, masterplanning, infrastructure and procurement. It brings together people with the skills to deliver prestigious and often large-scale projects, from transforming terminals to making big reductions in our carbon emissions.

Every day will test your skills and give you the opportunity to make your mark. You might be working with the technology and data that power our city within a city, driving vital commercial agreements with everyone from retailers to airlines, or improving the unique infrastructure that includes everything from 200 buildings to 250 HV substations. It's a collaborative environment, where you can rely on the support of the experts around you as you take on projects you'll both take pride in and feel passionate about.