Senior Aviation Program Manager – Texas

Freese and Nichols is seeking Senior Aviation Program Manager – Texas in Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, or Harlingen, Texas. As Senior Aviation Program Manager, you will lead and grow our aviation program management practice, deliver complex airport capital improvement programs, and strengthen client relationships across the aviation market.

What You’ll Do

• Lead airport capital improvement programs (CIPs) from program setup through closeout, aligning scope, schedule, budget, and stakeholder expectations
• Serve as an extension of airport client staff by providing strategic leadership, program oversight, and technical guidance for complex aviation programs
• Oversee development and implementation of program management plans, including schedules, budgets, procurement strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, and construction management approaches
• Guide multiple concurrent projects within a program using program controls and performance tracking tools to support successful delivery
• Direct coordination across internal teams, subconsultants, contractors, and stakeholders to maintain consistency, quality, and continuity across program elements
• Lead public-sector procurement efforts, including RFQs, RFPs, contract packaging strategies, design criteria coordination, and selection processes
• Oversee construction-phase services, including contract administration, inspection, materials testing coordination, and constructability or value engineering reviews
• Build aviation client relationships, support pursuits and presentations, monitor industry and FAA trends, and mentor program management staff to grow the practice
  
  

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, aviation management, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 15 years of aviation-specific experience, including leadership of airport capital improvement programs or aviation infrastructure projects
• Demonstrated experience managing large, complex, multi-project programs for airports or aviation clients
• Strong understanding of FAA regulations, airport operations, and aviation design/construction practices
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and serve as a trusted advisor to public-sector clients
• Experience with program controls, including budgeting, scheduling, and performance tracking
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage technical teams, executives, and public stakeholders
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed and work in active airport and construction environments
  
  

Preferred

• PMP or CCM certification
• Experience working directly with airport authorities, municipalities, or aviation agencies
• Strong understanding of FAA regulations, airport operations, and aviation design and construction practices
• Experience supporting or leading business development, client relationship management, and pursuit strategy
• Active participation in aviation industry organizations such as AAAE, ACI, or SAME
  
  

About Freese And Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.

We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.

Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at Benefits That Work for You), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.

Join our team of 1,300 employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at Working at Freese and Nichols.

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.