Senior Aviation Planner

ESA is seeking a Senior Aviation Planner with 10+ years experience support a growing portfolio of aviation planning and environmental projects.  This is an exempt, full-time, salary role.  Preference will be given to candidates who can work a hybrid office schedule from one of ESA’s Florida offices, Tampa preferred. Qualified remote candidates will also be considered.  This role will involve travel for client visits, projects, and in-person team collaboration as needed.

Remote candidates must be located in one of the following States: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, New York, Oregon, Washington, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington D.C., Wisconsin.

Who You Are 

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience. You are an airport planner with experience in the aviation industry with the following core competencies:

• Technical expertise: Knowledgeable in airport design, airspace, land use, and environmental regulations, processes, and principles. Engages in continual learning to expand technical expertise.
• Communications: Solid writing skills and effective oral presentation skills, and attentive listening capability. Able to prepare clear, concise, well-supported planning documents and technical reports. Proactive and highly responsive.
• Leadership: Able to contribute constructively to project solutions, follow through on assignments, and learn from constructive feedback. Takes initiative to develop technical, marketing, and management skills.
• Project Delivery/Financial Management: Able to complete project assignments on time and within budget. Performs all project management duties. Self-motivated and able to work on multiple task assignments simultaneously and prioritize based on project/schedule needs.
• Client Engagement: Ability to interact directly with clients and other team members and foster strong relationships.
• Winning Work: Able to assist and support marketing pursuits by contributing to proposals, project information, resumes, and other marketing materials.
• Innovation: Interest in working with emerging aviation technologies and bringing creative project solutions to clients.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in aviation planning, aviation management, or related field.
• Familiarity and interest in the aviation industry with a desire to learn and grow in the aviation industry.
• Academic knowledge of analytical techniques and related tools including statistical, spreadsheet, database, simulation, and spatial/graphical analysis applications.
• Academic knowledge of federal regulations, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circulars, and FAA Orders that apply to airport planning.
• Knowledge of effective writing techniques, ability to prepare written documents as directed.
• Able to verbally communicate basic planning information, including rules, policies and procedures to individuals and small groups.
• Proficient in the use of relevant software applications, which at a minimum include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), AutoCAD applications, and ESRI ArcGIS.
• Able to pass a 10-year background check for project-based assignments.
• Able to travel periodically to project sites and to attend corporate and industry meetings.
• Strong preference given to candidates with previous working experience with business development & client relations

What You Will Do for ESA  

This role includes performing, with limited supervision, various aviation projects in partnership with a team of planners and environmentalists to assist on a variety of assignments which may include airport master plans, airport layout plans, site selection studies, obstruction analysis, forecasting, environmental evaluations, noise analyses, resiliency/sustainability evaluations, and other aviation planning tasks.

Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Performs research, gathers data, and conducts surveys in support of airport studies. Collects raw data and organizes in a form ready for analysis.
• Conducts research for and prepares entire sections of analyses and/or reports for projects.
• As part of a team, interprets and applies applicable land use and environmental regulations, ordinances, and codes. Assists with updating and reviewing documents.
• Conducts technical analysis and prepares plans for airfield, airspace, terminal, or ground transportation facilities.
• Prepares written reports, maps, working papers, and correspondence for aviation planning projects.
• Prepares for, and participates in, client and stakeholder meetings (e.g., advisory committees, technical working groups, public workshops).
• Participates in industry events and actively supports committee activities.
• Conducts project administration and management tasks.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Other ad hoc tasks as needed

What’s Special About ESA 

Joining ESA means becoming part of an industry leading team of employee owners who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places. 

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company shares through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a 401(k) plan with company match, annual performance-based bonuses, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. 

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences. 

What’s Special About Our Airports Team

Our Airports Practice is a nationally focused group of aviation planning and environmental specialists supporting complex, high-profile projects across the country. We work as an integrated, multidisciplinary team and place a strong emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and cross-disciplinary coordination. Our clients span the public and private sectors and include airports, airlines, air cargo operators, private developers, state departments of transportation, and the FAA.

To read about some of our exciting projects check out these links: Professional Services for the Florida Department of Transportation’s Aviation Office, Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) Master Plan Update, and Lakeland Linder International Airport.