Airport Operations Architect

Location
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

About
The operational efficiency, safety, and passenger experience of airports undergoing refurbishment or modernization is a critical success factor for airport authorities and aviation stakeholders. It relies on a comprehensive understanding of terminal operations, airside/landside processes, regulatory compliance (ICAO, IATA, ACI), capacity planning, passenger flow modeling, baggage and cargo systems, aviation security, operational technologies (AODB, RMS, FIDS, BHS), and multi-stakeholder coordination across live brownfield environments.
The role of the Airport Operations Architect is to ensure the overall operational coherence and long-term viability of airport refurbishment projects by acting as the operational Design Authority, defining future-state Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), and ensuring alignment of all stakeholders and engineering disciplines.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Act as the Operational Design Authority for the airport refurbishment or modernization program, ensuring that all design, architecture, systems, and infrastructure decisions are operationally sound, compliant, and fit-for-purpose over the project lifecycle.
• Define and structure the Target Operating Model (TOM) and Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the future-state airport, covering terminal, airside, landside, back-of-house, and technical/operational systems, in coordination with airport authority, airlines, ground handlers, and regulatory agencies.
• Lead comprehensive operational, functional, and capacity assessments of existing facilities and systems, benchmarking performance against ICAO, IATA, and ACI standards, and identifying strategic improvement opportunities.
• Translate operational requirements into technical and functional specifications for passenger processing systems, baggage handling, and operational IT systems.
• Coordinate internal and external partners to achieve a coherent operational vision and ensure alignment across all project disciplines.
• Participate in the costing and commercial structuring of operational solutions, ensuring competitiveness while maintaining operational integrity.
• Oversee the choice of operational and technical solutions in the context of long-term planning, balancing innovation and operational continuity.
• Communicate and defend operational solutions in support of project strategy, ensuring alignment with the airport's strategic objectives.
• Participate in and guide operational policy and governance for the project, including operational continuity planning during construction and post-implementation performance monitoring.

Work Experience Requirements

• 12-15 years of experience in airport operations, terminal management, or aviation infrastructure consulting, with at least 5 years in senior operational or technical leadership roles on major airport refurbishment or expansion programs.

Qualification, Certification & Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Airport Management, Aeronautical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Transport Planning, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in aviation, transport, or systems engineering is strongly preferred.
• Professional certifications such as ACI AMPAP, ICAO AVSEC, PMP, or equivalent aviation/project management credentials are highly desirable.

Preferred Skills

• A structured, systems-thinking approach to airport operational architectures, including mastery of operational modeling and simulation tools.
• Wide-ranging technical and operational expertise across airport domains, including terminal operations and operational IT systems.
• A deep understanding of international aviation standards and best practices, with the ability to interpret and apply compliance positions.
• The ability to analyze operational needs and extract robust technical requirements that will guide architecture and systems integration over the project lifecycle.
• Strong capacity for communication, persuasion, and credibility, supporting operational strategy and lending authority to recommendations presented to stakeholders.
• Excellent documentation and specification writing skills, capable of producing clear operational studies, Target Operating Models, and technical specifications.