Programme Lead, Engineering, Aerospace ​/ Aviation ​/ Avionics

Location: Heathrow

Programme Lead – Surface Access (Highways)

Location:

West London
Project Type:
Major UK Aviation Infrastructure
Negotiable depending on experience
A major UK aviation infrastructure programme is seeking a Programme Lead for the Surface Access (Roads) team to coordinate the planning and delivery of all road and highway‑related scope required to support a large‑scale expansion programme. This is a senior strategic role working across complex interfaces with national and local authorities to ensure integrated, credible and assured delivery plans.
You will play a pivotal role in aligning multiple partners, navigating constraints, developing mitigation strategies and ensuring road infrastructure planning fully supports programme milestones and statutory obligations.

The Role
You will shape, coordinate and lead road and highway planning across a broad multi‑stakeholder environment.

Key responsibilities:

* Lead planning of all road and highway‑related infrastructure with national and local authorities
 
* Develop integrated road delivery plans reflecting constraints, mitigations and authority requirements
 
* Drive alignment across National Highways, local authorities, technical designers and delivery partners
 
* Identify risks, interfaces, constraints and opportunities across the surface access portfolio
 
* Ensure all highway planning supports DCO timelines and programme assurance frameworks
 
* Coordinate early‑works requirements linked to road and traffic management
 
* Provide structured governance and reporting for surface access work streams
 
* Integrate cross‑disciplinary transport, road and infrastructure inputs into one coherent plan
 
* Support strategic engagement with transport authorities and regulatory stakeholders
 
* Maintain compliant, transparent and fully assured surface access planning documentation
Experience & Background
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in transport, highways or major infrastructure delivery.
Ideal experience:
 
* Leading road, highways or transport‑related work streams on major programmes
 
* Working with National Highways, local authorities or regulated transport bodies
 
* Developing integrated road infrastructure plans with complex technical constraints
 
* Stakeholder and interface management across multiple organisations
 
* Experience with DCO, assurance or similar regulated planning environments
 
* Coordinating designers, engineering specialists and highway authorities
 
* Managing risks, dependencies and traffic‑related challenges within major projects
 
* Strong programme planning, governance and cross‑functional integration capability

What You’ll Bring
 
* Confident leadership and partner‑coordination skills
 
* Ability to simplify complexity into structured delivery plans
 
* Strong negotiation and influencing capability across senior stakeholders
 
* Commitment to safe, assured, compliant and collaborative planning
 
* Excellent communication and analytical problem‑solving skills

Why This Role?

* Lead a critical highways workstream for a nationally significant expansion programme
 
* Shape transport and road infrastructure delivery across a high‑profile aviation environment
 
* Work with major authorities, designers and technical specialists
 
* Long‑term strategic programme involvement with meaningful impact