Join to apply for the Technical Director (Airport Capacity) role at Mott MacDonald.

Location: Croydon, London, Birmingham, Cambridge or Southampton.

Recruiter contact: Ainsley Anstess.

About Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

About the Business Unit

We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation, to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it, our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle.

About the Role

Our specialist aviation team, based in London, delivers major airport planning and development projects globally in collaboration with regional offices. We are seeking a Technical Director who is a specialist in Airport Capacity Analysis and is recognised in the industry as a technical expert in their field. The successful candidate will be part of a globally respected and diverse team of airport planners, airfield engineers and faculty, forecast, capacity and business analysts.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead capacity work on major airport development programmes for significant airport owners and operators.
• Be recognised by clients and within the aviation industry as a technical specialist with world‑class capacity expertise.
• Train others in this specialist field, nurturing junior team members and helping them develop airport capacity capabilities.
• Progress our capacity expertise across all airport facilities and systems including operational research, data analysis, capacity planning and simulation modelling.
• Optimise capacity at airports by understanding and making use of new technologies.
• Seek and pursue new business opportunities to grow airport capacity planning services.
• Build and maintain robust relationships with new and existing airport operator clients, influencing key directors to become their preferred consultant.
• Plan and position for upcoming opportunities, converting them into projects and producing high‑quality proposals that are both technically and commercially sound.
• Take on the role of Account Leader / Client Manager with clients that commission our capacity services.
• Provide technical leadership of capacity and simulation modelling work on major airport planning and development projects.
• Communicate effectively with client organisations and key stakeholders, building confidence in the capacity principles of their development programmes.
• Act as Project Director/Principal, accountable for achieving successful project outcomes and coaching project managers.
• Ensure successful completion of all projects under your oversight, delivering sound governance, commercial, financial, technical, health, safety and welfare outcomes and realising agreed client benefits.
• Direct airport capacity projects to achieve quality deliverables on time and on budget, maintaining customer satisfaction without compromising target profit.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in airport capacity, including work on large‑scale airport development programmes.
• Numerically fluent and able to understand complex systems and direct and train junior staff in analysis and optimisation.
• Understanding of simulation modelling tools and techniques to train junior simulation modellers and optimise airport facilities and operations.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage effectively at all client and stakeholder levels from board directors to graduates and capacity managers.
• Degree in mathematics, operational research, air transport management, aeronautical engineering, airport planning, civil engineering or other relevant qualifications.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of other languages is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel regularly to domestic and international clients and work overseas on major aviation programmes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software.
• Experience using simulation modelling software tools and managing their use within teams.

Desired Characteristics

• Proactive, self‑motivated, and with a learning mindset.
• Naturally curious and analytical, willing to adopt new techniques and software and to strive for continuous improvement.
• Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships, winning new work and becoming a preferred consultant.
• Strong project leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Team player who nurtures and uplifts colleagues and fosters teamwork and collaboration.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, confident liaising with clients and cross‑functional teams.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. is not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. We welcome applications from candidates eligible for alternative immigration routes that do not require sponsorship.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute.

Accessibility

If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will discuss how we can support you.

Benefits

• Health and Wellbeing
  Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues; health cash plan; access to Peppy menopause support; comprehensive wellbeing program; flexible salary options for health benefits.
• Financial Wellbeing
  Employee pension contributions matched between 4.5% and 7%; life assurance equal up to 4× basic salary (extendable to 6×); income protection scheme; flexible benefits.
• Lifestyle
  33–35 days holiday per year (increasing to 35 after 5 years); additional leave options; employee saving schemes and retail discounts.
• Enhanced Family and Carers Leave
  26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave; 2 weeks paid paternity/partner leave; up to 5 additional days for caring responsibilities (2 paid).
• Learning and Development
  Primary annual professional institution subscription; mentoring, formal training and self‑development opportunities.
• Networks, Communities, and Social Outcomes
  Participation in diverse employee networks; contribution to social outcomes and community impact.