Location
Gatwick Airport, London (initially 4 days per week onsite)

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. The Gatwick Northern Runway Programme (NPR) is a generational infrastructure development delivering aviation, economic, sustainability, and social benefits to the South East region. As Operations Director - Planning, you will lead the simultaneous delivery of multiple integrated projects within the NPR programme, ensuring adherence to client programme governance including risk, cost, and change control. You will work collaboratively with project stakeholders and supply chain partners to deliver the programme through its lifecycle.

Your responsibilities include managing the planning function to achieve strategic outcomes and KPIs, providing strong leadership to senior teams, and ensuring projects and tenders are effectively planned, monitored, and continuously improved to deliver excellence aligned with wider NPR objectives. This role requires ethical, compliant leadership with full integrated schedule accountability, shaping long-term delivery strategy and sustainable business outcomes. You will also champion the planning service with clients and industry, building strong partnerships and influencing strategic and commercial outcomes.

The role offers the opportunity to develop high-performing, inclusive teams through mentoring, talent development, innovation, and knowledge-sharing, driving trust, net zero delivery, and bottom-line results aligned to NPR and Mace Consult business objectives.

Experience
Degree or equivalent professional experience in construction, infrastructure, project, programme, or commercial management. Significant integrated planning leadership experience on large, complex, or landmark aviation infrastructure or construction programmes. Expert knowledge of planning systems, schedule management tools, and integrated project controls. Proven ability to manage large, multi-disciplinary teams across multiple locations with strong leadership and commercial acumen.

About you
Strong leadership skills with the ability to provide ethical and compliant guidance. Excellent client-facing skills within the construction and infrastructure sector. Collaborative and strategic thinker capable of shaping long-term delivery strategies and sustainable business outcomes. Committed to fostering inclusive, high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement and innovation.

Qualifications
Degree or equivalent professional experience relevant to the construction or infrastructure sectors. Professional qualifications in project or programme management are advantageous but not mandatory.