Associate - Aviation Planning

Role Overview

Associate - Aviation Planning at WSP Middle East, based in the Middle East region. The role contributes to concept-level airport planning, functional spatial design, multidisciplinary coordination, stakeholder engagement, and design-focused project support across major aviation projects.

Role Purpose

Play a key role in shaping the future of airport design by delivering world-class facilities that enhance operational efficiency, passenger experience, and environmental sustainability. Support the winning of prospects and projects while ensuring successful delivery of innovative and efficient design solutions within the Middle East Aviation Business.

Key Responsibilities

Airport Planning & Analytics

• Support project delivery of various scopes of work with an initial focus on delivery of the Concept of Operations for DWC phase 2.
• Lead analytical assessments of airport operations, including traffic profiles, flight schedules, dwell times and operational KPIs.
• Deliver and interpret capacity and Level of Service (LoS) assessments across terminal, airside, apron, landside and support facilities.
• Develop robust multi-scenario demand forecasts for passengers, aircraft, cargo and GA operations.
• Build and operate simulation models (CAST, AirTOP, AviPlan analytics or equivalent) to evaluate flow performance, system efficiency and operational resilience.
• Translate model outputs into clear, actionable recommendations that guide planning decisions and infrastructure priorities.
• Ensure data, assumptions and modelling workflows remain validated, traceable and auditable.
• Contribute to the development of airport masterplans and long-term strategic frameworks, providing evidence-based planning inputs.
• Define functional and spatial requirements for terminals, airside, landside and support facilities based on demand, ConOps principles and regulatory standards.
• Develop and evaluate planning options, phasing strategies, expansion triggers and performance trade-offs.
• Consider sustainability, resilience, airspace constraints and operational innovation in all planning scenarios.
• Provide structured planning guidance to downstream design teams to maintain alignment with the agreed masterplanning vision.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with airport operators, airlines, regulators and internal WSP teams to align planning criteria, analytical assumptions and study methodologies.
• Present capacity results, modelling outputs and planning insights in workshops and multi-stakeholder meetings, ensuring complex concepts are communicated clearly and accurately.
• Facilitate technical discussions, address stakeholder queries, and integrate feedback into updated forecasts, simulation scenarios and planning deliverables.
• Coordinate proactively with multidisciplinary teams—including terminal designers, airside engineers, operations and digital specialists—to ensure planning outputs are consistent, integrated and technically robust.
• Collaborate with other Business Units to develop and deliver a 'OneWSP' service offering to aviation clients.

Design-Focused Project Support & Tender Preparation

• Support proposal preparation by contributing planning methodologies, scopes, level-of-effort estimates, case studies and modelling insights that strengthen aviation bids.
• Contribute to enhancing WSP's internal planning practice by refining templates, improving analytical workflows and sharing practical lessons learned from projects.
• Provide informal technical guidance to junior planners, helping them understand planning frameworks, modelling approaches and project requirements while supporting overall team capability building.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Aviation Planning, Transport/Civil Engineering, Architecture, Aviation Management or a related discipline.
• 8–12 years of experience in airport planning, capacity assessment, forecasting, simulation modelling or airport masterplanning.
• Strong understanding of ICAO, FAA, IATA, and aviation regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with terminal planning concepts, passenger flow optimization, and airport simulation modelling.
• Hands-on experience with airport simulation and analytical tools (e.g., CAST, AirTOP, AviPlan) and the ability to convert model outputs into clear planning insights.
• In-depth knowledge of airport sustainability initiatives, net-zero strategies, and smart airport technologies.
• Strong capability in conducting and interpreting capacity and Level of Service (LoS) assessments for terminal, airside, apron, landside and support facilities.
• Familiarity with the Middle East aviation sector and regional regulatory requirements.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficiency in analytical modelling, scenario development and data interpretation, supported by strong Excel skills.
• Strong understanding of digital tools including AutoCAD, BIM, Revit, GIS, AviPLAN, CAST, and other airport design tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings to clients, multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
• Experience working with airport operators, airlines, regulators and cross-disciplinary design teams, demonstrating balanced professional judgment.
• Proactive, organised and accountable mindset—comfortable leading workstreams and managing multiple tasks independently.
• Collaborative approach and a genuine passion for aviation, airport performance and data-driven planning.
• Experience engaging with key stakeholders, including government agencies, contractors, and subcontractors, to drive project success.