Senior Manager - Planning and Design (Hybrid)

Company: United Airlines
Location: Chicago
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network.

Come join us to create what's next. Let's define tomorrow, together.

DescriptionGet your hard hat ready. We're not just renovating the travel experience - we're renovating our physical spaces too. And our Corporate Real Estate team is on the front lines of procuring, designing and developing spaces at all our hubs, stations and city locations across the world. From airport affairs and business services to planning and development, this team is responsible for all our leases and major construction and renovation projects, system wide. This is a Chicago-based, hybrid position that will require 3 days in office per week.Job overview and responsibilities

• Leads strategic planning and design initiatives across United's global real estate portfolio
• Responsible for developing scalable design standards and guiding multidisciplinary projects that balance best-in-class design principles with operational and business needs
• Supports enterprise-wide master planning efforts and delivers design solutions that align with United's customer experience, brand identity, and long-term network strategy
• Brings architectural vision with the flexibility to meet real-world business challenges
• Develop and lead strategic design programs across United's Corporate Real Estate portfolio, balancing best-in-class design principles with business needs and operational realities
• Create and implement scalable, enterprise-wide design standards to drive consistency and excellence across all real estate projects, including space planning and FF&E
• Support large-scale master planning efforts in coordination with internal stakeholders, consultants, and external partners
• Lead multidisciplinary design efforts from concept through schematic development, ensuring alignment with United's brand, customer experience, and operational goals
• Bring a broad range of design expertise-from space calculations and workplace optimization to interior design consultation-to deliver thoughtful, functional environments
• Partner with cross-functional teams-including but not limited to CRE Planning and Development, Airport Affairs, Safety, Facilities Maintenance, Customer Experience, Operational Groups, and Finance-to ensure design strategies align with broader business objectives
• Manage and mentor internal team members and external design consultants, fostering a collaborative, high-performance cultureQualificationsWhat's needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):
  • Bachelor's degree in architecture, Interior Design, Engineering, or related field
  • 7+ years of relevant design experience; 3+ years of leadership experience
  • Expert of design and planning best practices, especially in the context of workplace environments, space optimization, and aviation environments
  • Proficiency in industry-standard design software, including AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, and other visualization or modeling tools
  • Strong skills in space planning and calculation, including capacity planning, adjacency mapping, and programming
  • Ability to balance architectural/design integrity with operational and business needs
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present design strategies to both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Ability to manage multiple complex projects and stakeholders simultaneously
  • Ability to travel up to 20%
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
  • Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
  • Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the positionWhat will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):
    • Master's degree or related experience
    • Licensed architect preferred but not required. Professional licensure (e.g., NCARB certification) demonstrates advanced expertise and commitment to the field, though it is not essential as this role does not require drawing stamp responsibilities.
    • 2+ years of aviation design experience; 5+ years of leadership experience
    • Familiarity with facility design, planning, or execution job functions within large infrastructure environments
    • Familiarity of design standards such as:
    • ACRP standards (e.g., Level of Service/LOS)
    • ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) airport design/operations standards
    • IATA (International Air Transport Association) planning standards
    • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and other applicable building codes
    • Familiarity with Safety Management System (SMS) programs
      The base pay range for this role is $124,735.00 to $169,950.00.
      The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.
      
      You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k) and flight privileges.
      
      United Airlines is an equal opportunity employer. United Airlines recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status and other protected status as required by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer - Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT.
      
      We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions. Please contact to request accommodation.
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Keywords: United Airlines, Mishawaka , Senior Manager - Planning and Design (Hybrid), Executive , Chicago, Indiana