Aviation Lead – South East Asia

Overview

Aviation Lead – South East Asia Jobs in Singapore, Singapore at Populous

Title: Aviation Lead – South East Asia

Company: Populous

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Lead the Future of Aviation Across Southeast Asia

At Populous, we design the places where people love to be together. As a global design practice, we create world-class aviation, sports, entertainment, convention, and mixed-use destinations that shape how people experience travel, connection, and place.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Aviation Lead – Southeast Asia (SEA) to drive the growth, market presence, and successful delivery of our aviation portfolio across the region.

This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an established aviation professional with a strong track record in business development, client engagement, project delivery, and market leadership. Acting as the sector champion for Southeast Asia, you will identify and secure new opportunities, build strategic client relationships, lead major pursuits and bids, and support the mobilisation and delivery of aviation projects across the region.

Working closely with Aviation Leads across APAC and globally, you will help position Populous to capture and deliver some of the region's most significant aviation projects while fostering collaboration across offices, disciplines, and markets.

What You'll Be Responsible For

Aviation Sector Leadership

As the Aviation Lead for Southeast Asia, you will:

• Lead the development and execution of the aviation sector strategy across Southeast Asia while helping inform the broader APAC aviation strategy.
• Drive the growth and visibility of the firm's aviation business across key markets including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and emerging Southeast Asian markets.
• Position Populous as a trusted advisor and leading aviation design partner.
• Monitor industry trends, airport investment programs, and market developments to identify growth opportunities.
• Represent the firm at industry forums, conferences, and client events.
• Promote a culture of innovation, collaboration, and design excellence across the aviation sector.

Business Development and Opportunity Creation

A key focus of the role will be growing our aviation portfolio by:

• Identifying, developing, and converting new aviation opportunities throughout Southeast Asia.
• Building and maintaining a strong pipeline of projects across airports, aviation infrastructure, terminal developments, commercial precincts, and related facilities.
• Developing strategic account plans for key aviation clients and stakeholders.
• Proactively cultivating relationships with airport operators, aviation authorities, government agencies, airlines, developers, and strategic partners.
• Driving repeat business and strengthening long-term client partnerships.
• Collaborating with leaders across architecture, interiors, planning, and engineering disciplines to create integrated solutions for clients.
• Expanding the firm's market presence and supporting revenue growth across the region.

Client Engagement and Strategic Relationships

As a senior representative of the business, you will:

• Serve as the senior relationship lead for aviation clients across Southeast Asia.
• Build trusted advisor relationships with key decision-makers and executive stakeholders.
• Lead client presentations, workshops, and strategic discussions.
• Understand client priorities and position the firm's capabilities to meet future needs.
• Maintain high levels of client satisfaction and proactively manage complex stakeholder issues.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with civil aviation authorities, airport corporations, airlines, and government bodies.

Pursuits, Bids and Tender Leadership

You will play a leading role in securing new work by:

• Leading major pursuits, bids, expressions of interest, and tender submissions.
• Developing capture strategies and win plans for priority opportunities.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver compelling and commercially competitive proposals.
• Leading pursuit workshops, bid reviews, and interview preparations.
• Presenting to clients and participating in negotiations and contract discussions.
• Ensuring submissions demonstrate technical excellence, innovation, value, and delivery capability.
• Driving improved win rates and supporting the sustainable growth of the aviation portfolio.

Project Mobilisation and Team Establishment

Working closely with project and discipline leaders, you will:

• Support the successful transition from project pursuit through to delivery.
• Assist in establishing project governance, delivery structures, and execution strategies.
• Work with Principals, Project Directors, and discipline leaders to identify and mobilise the right resources.
• Facilitate collaboration between offices and disciplines to ensure projects are effectively resourced.
• Promote consistency in delivery approaches and project standards.
• Support knowledge transfer and lessons learned across projects and regions.

Project Delivery and Client Outcomes

While this role has a strong market-facing focus, you will also provide strategic project leadership by:

• Providing oversight and leadership for aviation projects across Southeast Asia.
• Supporting Project Leaders and Project Managers to achieve programme, commercial, quality, and client objectives.
• Monitoring project performance and proactively addressing delivery risks and challenges.
• Ensuring projects meet client expectations and reinforce the firm's reputation for excellence.
• Championing design quality, innovation, and technical rigour.
• Contributing to successful project close-out and ongoing client relationship management.

Regional and Global Collaboration

As part of our global aviation network, you will:

• Work closely with Aviation Leads across APAC and globally to align sector strategies and leverage international expertise.
• Collaborate with Project Leaders and teams across multiple offices and disciplines.
• Support cross-border pursuits and integrated project delivery.
• Share knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices across the global aviation network.
• Participate in regional and global aviation leadership forums and sector initiatives.
• Promote a "One Practice" approach to client engagement and project delivery.

Leadership and Capability Building

You will help strengthen our aviation capability by:

• Mentoring and supporting emerging aviation leaders and project teams.
• Fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across the region.
• Encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.
• Supporting capability development and succession planning within the aviation sector.
• Promoting a high-performing, inclusive, and client-focused culture.

Essential

What You'll Bring

• Degree qualifications in Architecture, Engineering, Aviation Planning, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years' experience delivering aviation and transportation projects.
• Demonstrated success in business development and client relationship management.
• Proven experience leading pursuits, bids, and tender submissions.
• Strong understanding of airport planning, terminal design, and aviation project delivery.
• Experience working across multiple countries, markets, and cultures.
• Strong commercial, strategic, and stakeholder management capability.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed and multidisciplinary environment.
• Existing relationships with airport operators, aviation authorities, and key aviation stakeholders across Southeast Asia.
• Experience delivering terminal, landside, airside, or aviation master planning projects.
• Experience working on projects in markets such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, or the Philippines.

Highly Desirable

• Project Management qualifications.
• Experience working across regional or global aviation practices.
• Exposure to major airport expansion, redevelopment, or greenfield airport projects.
• A strong network of industry contacts throughout the Southeast Asian aviation sector.

Why Populous?

This is an opportunity to shape the future of aviation across one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly growing regions. You'll work alongside some of the industry's leading aviation specialists, contribute to transformative airport developments, and help grow a sector that is central to Populous' future across Asia Pacific.

If you're passionate about aviation, client leadership, business growth, and delivering exceptional project outcomes, we'd love to hear from you.