Head of Airport DevelopmentHybrid

Lead aviation infrastructure projects shaping the future of Melbourne Airport in a dynamic 24/7 operational environment.

Reporting to the Chief of Aviation, the Head of Airport Development sits within the Aviation business unit and is responsible for leading the planning, development and delivery of Aviation-led capital programs across terminals and airfield operations.

This role focuses on projects that directly support Aviation business priorities, operational performance and customer outcomes within aviation infrastructure projects spanning Terminal 1, Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and the airfield environment. While Melbourne Airport also delivers major infrastructure programs through separate delivery functions, this role is specifically focused on Aviation-owned development initiatives and operational capital works programs.

The role is ideally suited to an experienced development, program or infrastructure leader who thrives in complex operational environments and enjoys balancing strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and delivery leadership.

Key responsibilities:

Capital Planning & Development

• Partner with Aviation business leaders to identify, prioritise and define the right capital projects
• Develop and maintain a rolling capital program aligned to broader business objectives
• Lead business case development, investment submissions and governance approvals
• Ensure strong coordination across operational and infrastructure programs

Design Leadership

• Drive robust briefing and design management processes across all projects
• Ensure customer experience is embedded within all passenger-facing design outcomes
• Lead multidisciplinary consultant teams through the project lifecycle
• Champion innovation, efficiency and modern construction methodologies where appropriate

Procurement, Commercial & Cost Management

• Lead procurement strategies that balance commercial outcomes, risk allocation and delivery requirements
• Ensure strong budget development, forecasting and cost control across programs
• Drive value through procurement and contractor engagement processes
• Maintain alignment with governance, funding and commercial benchmarks

Delivery Leadership

• Lead the safe and successful delivery of aviation infrastructure programs in a live operational environment
• Ensure focus on project milestones, quality outcomes and stakeholder management
• Foster a high-performance culture across internal and external delivery teams
• Promote a strong safety-first mindset aligned with Target Zero principles

The successful candidate will have:

• Extensive experience delivering major built environment capital projects
• Degree qualifications in Construction, Engineering, Property, Project Management or a related discipline
• Established leadership experience across large-scale development and infrastructure programs
• Aviation and Airfield projects management background is highly regarded
• Strong commercial acumen, including procurement, cost management and contract negotiation
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary internal and external teams
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• The ability to influence outcomes and navigate complexity in high-pressure environments
• Experience within aviation, transport or similarly complex 24/7 operational environments will be highly regarded

We understand that not everyone will feel they meet all of these 100%. However, if you feel you have the attitude and aptitude to grow within our team, we invite you to apply and have a conversation with us about this position.

About the Company:

Melbourne Airport (Australia Pacific Airports Corporation) is proud to be one of Australia's premier transport hubs and Victoria's gateway to the world, connecting us to the global marketplace. We are committed to creating connections that matter and enhancing the traveller experience across every aspect of our organisation to deliver our vision of becoming Australia's favourite Airport destination. Currently, in an exciting phase of change, we are delivering rewarding career opportunities, making Melbourne Airport a dynamic and fast-paced place to work for our people.

APAC is a majority Australian-owned private company that also operates Launceston Airport, the tourism gateway to Tasmania and an industry multi-award-winning airport.

Culture and Values:

By joining the team at Melbourne Airport, you will work within a friendly, high-performance culture with a focus on our people and their development.

Our vision is to become Australia's favourite Airport destination and our people are paramount to achieving this success. We provide a supportive environment, with values that encourage all of our employees to Be You, Think Big, Own it and Work Together.

Benefits:

• Free access to Higher State, our state-of-the-art Fitness Club & Wellness Hub at Novotel & ibis Styles Airport hotel.
• Airport car parking 24 hours/365 days a year for both business and personal use
• Hybrid flexible working arrangements
• Airport Holiday, an additional day of leave
• Wellness Day, a further additional day of leave
• Discounted onsite childcare at Creative Garden Early Learning
• Mental health and well-being initiatives, including Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term career and professional development opportunities
• Active social culture and participation in a range of social impact days and activities
• Signature Experiences including an airfield family day
• Access to an employee benefits scheme including access to corporate rates and airport retailer discounts (including SkyBus)

APAC is committed to weaving Diversity into our DNA. We believe that Diversity and Inclusion will help us realise our greatest potential as a company, and maximise the potential of all our team members. We strive to create a culture where our team members understand that each individual is unique and that embracing diversity makes us more flexible, productive, and creative.

APAC provides equal opportunity and advancement in employment regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, cultural background, caring responsibilities, disability or socioeconomic background. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our workplace values of Being You, Thinking Big, Owning It and Working Together.