Director - Airport Affairs

About the role

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.

Get your hard hat ready. We’re not just renovating the travel experience – we’re renovating our physical spaces too. Our Corporate Real Estate team is on the front lines of procuring, designing and developing spaces at hubs, stations and city locations worldwide. From airport affairs and business services to planning and development, this team is responsible for all leases and major construction and renovation projects, system‑wide.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of key objectives and strategies for United’s corporate real estate portfolio and growth plan.
• Manage primary relationships with external stakeholders, including airport authorities, airlines, government entities and industry organizations; lead negotiations to achieve business outcomes.
• Lead a team of professionals to drive strategic priorities, execute implementation plans, and meet defined objectives and metrics.
• Develop and maintain a strategic plan, goals and key performance indicators; engage stakeholders to gather input and secure commitment.
• Facilitate execution of the strategic plan through collaboration across United leadership, business units and external partners.
• Collaborate across the company to develop and administer processes that support strategic objectives, including business case development, planning and negotiation.
• Manage relationships and drive negotiations at strategic hub airports with airports, airlines and public/government entities.
• Balance proactive and reactive approaches, develop solutions and drive consensus through communication.
• Implement policies and initiatives focused on cost and risk management, optimal real estate utilization and enabling growth.
• Lead engagement in exception management, conflict resolution and strategic alignment.
• Establish department and individual goals, oversee performance and improvement plans, and coach employees on career development.
• Provide transparent communication to staff, leadership and stakeholders; represent United’s programs at industry and external events.
• Mentor and develop an empowered, engaged team within the Airport Affairs Department.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, real estate, business or a related field.
• 8+ years of real estate and/or contract negotiation experience.
• 3+ years of managerial experience related to the position.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, strategic and innovative thinking skills.
• Ability to “scan the horizon” and apply a risk/benefit approach to emerging issues.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience presenting to senior management or external audiences.
• Proven ability to collaborate with and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Capacity to balance various corporate objectives.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Successful completion of interview process.
• Reliable, punctual attendance.
• Hybrid work arrangement – based in either Chicago, IL or the Dulles Airport area in Northern Virginia.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Experience in the airline, airport, or aviation industry.
• Understanding of generative AI tools and ability to leverage them responsibly for research, analysis, content creation and problem‑solving, while adhering to data privacy and security policies.

Pay

The base pay range for this role is $159,790.00 to $207,998.00, dependent on experience, education and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long‑term incentive compensation awards.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability insurance
• Parental leave
• Employee assistance program
• Commuter benefits
• Paid holidays and paid time off
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flight privileges