Aviation Lead

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means

• Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm.

• Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge.

• Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.

• Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm.

• Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential.

• Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Summary

SOM’s Airport Practice designs and delivers airport terminal buildings and supporting facilities for domestic and international projects, as well as airport-related architecture, interiors, and master planning. The Aviation Lead role requires advanced design and technical expertise, ownership of key portions of aviation projects, and a strong ability to organize and lead teams with limited oversight while mentoring junior staff. The successful candidate will excel in all aspects of airport project delivery, including client engagement, design-team and consultant coordination, and collaboration with project leaders. Candidates may be focused on Project Management, Architecture, or Terminal Planning, but must be strong leaders and collaborators with a demonstrated ability to lead project delivery while actively strengthening client relationships and contributing to the growth of the Aviation Practice.

Architecture

Design and delivery of terminal building and support facility projects from master plan validation, early Concept Design through Construction Documentation, and Construction Administration. Leadership of projects teams, direction and coordination of consultants and direct interface / point of contact with clients, program managers and contractors / design builders are all key aspects of the role as a leader in the architecture discipline. Experience with the overall delivery of terminal buildings through multiple of the phases including mentorship of staff level team members, organization and leadership of large interdisciplinary teams. Must be familiar with the end to end design process including cost and schedule management.

Planning

Planning in the SOM airport practice is focused on the layout and plan development of airport terminals. Our key team members that lead the planning must be able to interpret quantitative airport and terminal planning information, generate alternative terminal layout typologies, arrange terminal processor and support facilities into coherent and efficient configurations, and work within a larger architecture and consultant team to develop the plans and spatial design from concept through Construction Documents. Must be familiar with physical characteristics of all commercial aircraft and be able to generate at a concept level airside layouts, including aircraft parking and gating, taxi lanes, airfield tie-ins. Must also understand terminal landside facilities (curbs, parking, and bus and rail access) and be able to generate comprehensive layouts at a concept level.

Business Development

SOMs Airports Practice spans multiple offices, seeking work domestically and internationally. Your role would be as the Lead for the airports team for the Chicago Office, working in collaboration with Leads in other offices, under the leadership of the firmwide Airport Practice Leaders. Participation in business development and overall coordination across the airports practice will include pre-positioning for projects, development and coordination of consultant teams, leadership and development of responses to RFPs and other solicitations for projects. Based on the strategic growth model, you will participate in the development of the annual business planning strategy including market research, creating new business development opportunities, actively pursuing leads and working hand in hand with our marketing specialists, taking the lead in preparation of proposals.

Position Responsibilities

• Leads the Architectural Project Team through close collaboration with SOM Partners and project leadership to achieve design, technical and financial success.

• Strong understanding of architectural principles, practices, and design techniques, with a dedicated focus on airport facilities.

• Prepares, with Leadership input, quality agreements with clients including letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, and professional service agreements. Executes additional service agreements and gains authorization by phase.

• Collaborates with Partners and senior team to prepare, issue, and manage compliance plans to align project goals including budget, deliverables and schedule. Gains agreement with the senior team for labor allocation. Chairs weekly team meetings to address variances from the project plan.

• Administers internal control procedures with Project Accountant including billing, collections, percent complete, expense management, and year-end activities. Analyzes project reports and proactively manages the profitability of a project.

• Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making.

• Communicates actively through chairing weekly meetings, issuing meeting minutes and accurate project record keeping and sharing project information and correspondence.

• Manages owner/client relationship and expectations to allow SOM and team to work effectively, efficiently and collaboratively.

• Actively leads new business and marketing efforts including responses to marketing requests and maintenance of firm relationships.

• Initiates, monitors and maintains project schedule and work plan including schedule of meetings and presentations.

• Schedules and leads internal team weekly project meetings; develops the meeting agenda and project status update.

• Initiates, monitors and maintains project plan and financial performance of project.

• Initiates and maintains SOM-Client Services Agreement, SOM Sub-Consultant Agreements and requests for additional services.

• Monitors scope for contract compliance and potential additional services.

• Actively engages in project risk management through close collaboration with SOM Partners and legal counsel.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Actively leads multiple projects and teams.

• Established as an officewide resource in an area of expertise for market, discipline, or department.

• Directly supervises, trains, and mentors team members.

• Engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm through resume review, interviews, and leveraging personal network.

• Demonstrates leadership in the implementation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments and the associated development of staff knowledge.

• Creates and drives new ways of working through contributing to the development of services, standards, procedures based in an understanding of the business principles that protect SOM from financial and legal risk.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture.

• Licensed in state of practice; LEED accreditation preferred.

• Minimum 12-15 years of experience or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities specifically in Aviation sector projects and related business development.

• Strong team abilities, and consultant engagement.

• General understanding of sustainable strategies and principles including familiarity with LEED or other green building rating systems.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead project teams and manage project schedule, budget and program.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Smartsheets, Adobe Suite, Google Workspace, Revit, and Rhino.

• Familiarity with Deltek Vision, Salesforce

Are you ready to join a team of creative professionals working on transformational projects around the world? Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to build a better future with SOM.

Our Benefits:

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance

Savings: 401K matching, pre-tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs

Work/Life Balance: Inquire about our approach to flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program

Professional Development: Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees as well as specialized in-house career development

Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $125,000 to $160,000.

Our Culture:

Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. Here, you’ll collaborate with industry experts on some of the most exciting and transformative architecture, engineering, and planning projects in the world.

We believe an inclusive environment improves our teams, our firm, and our communities and are passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our DEI Action Plan was created to bring meaningful change to our profession, starting with our own culture and practices.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Visit this page to learn more about SOM's employment policy as well as additional information such as a privacy notice for California residents and how to apply offline.

For more about SOM: www.som.com

Portfolios must be submitted for all design and project management positions (Architecture, Interiors, City Design, Graphics, etc). Applications without work samples will not be reviewed. Portfolios should be one PDF attachment, 10-20 pages, maximum 5 MB. Submit portfolios as part of your application in the section where the application asks you for your Resume or CV.