The posting
About Our Job
What We Offer
The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $101,050 - $142,000/year, based on experience and education. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which includes but is not limited to:
- A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
- 457B Retirement Plan
- 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
- Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date
Location & Schedule
The City and County of Denver utilizes a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment. Employees work where needed, at a city site and/or in the field three days a week and telecommute remotely at a designated workplace within the State of Colorado the remaining days.
In this role, you can expect to work in-office a minimum of three days per week at the DEN Gateway Office, located at 4347 Airport Way, Denver, CO 80239.
Who We Are & What You’ll Do
Since opening on Feb. 28, 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has become one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, 82,427,962 passengers passed through DEN, making DEN 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. DEN is Colorado’s primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion in annual economic impact for the state. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and strive to keep Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) at the center of all that we do.
DEN is seeking a strategic, relationship-focused, and results-oriented Senior Real Estate Planning Project Manager to help guide the planning and development of one of the largest airport land portfolios in the country.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development, this role leads planning initiatives that support commercial development opportunities on DEN's non-aviation land. This position works collaboratively with internal business partners, regional municipalities, developers, consultants, and governmental agencies to advance long-term development objectives and implement DEN's Strategic Development Plan.
During your first several months, you will immerse yourself in DEN’s development priorities, regional partnerships, land assets, and long-term planning initiatives. You will rapidly become proficient in DEN’s Strategic Development Plan and assume responsibility for leading its update and completion. Success in this role will also require establishing strong relationships with stakeholders across DEN, the City of Aurora, Adams County, Commerce City, and other regional partners, while driving strategic development initiatives from vision to execution.
Key Skill Areas Used in This Role, and Primary Responsibilities:
- Strategic Planning & Development: Evaluate complex development opportunities and identify practical pathways to implementation. Align land use, infrastructure, economic development, and operational priorities to support long-term growth. Support the implementation and ongoing evolution of DEN's Strategic Development Plan. Develop recommendations related to land use, development strategy, infrastructure investment, and regional planning initiatives.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management: Build productive relationships with municipalities, regulatory agencies, developers, consultants, neighboring landowners, and community stakeholders. Facilitate discussions among groups with competing priorities and develop collaborative solutions. Represent DEN in meetings, negotiations, and regional planning efforts. · Communicate complex development concepts clearly to internal and external audiences.
- Project & Program Leadership: Lead and coordinate multiple development planning initiatives simultaneously. Establish structure and momentum within complex or evolving projects. Manage consultants and professional service providers to ensure successful project delivery. Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across planning, engineering, infrastructure, and development functions.
- Land Use, Development & Entitlement Expertise: Navigate land use regulations, entitlement processes, permitting requirements, and development approvals. Support site planning, infrastructure coordination, and development feasibility efforts. Interpret planning documents, development codes, transportation plans, and regulatory requirements. Assist with securing approvals from governmental entities and regulatory agencies.
- Research, Analysis & Decision Support: Conduct research and analysis related to planning, development, infrastructure, and economic growth issues. Evaluate risks, opportunities, and constraints to support informed decision-making. Translate technical findings into actionable recommendations for leadership and stakeholders. Monitor emerging trends, legislation, and regulations impacting airport and real estate development.
- Financial & Contract Management: Develop budgets, forecasts, contracts, reimbursement agreements, and funding strategies supporting planning initiatives. Prepare scopes of work and oversee consultant agreements and performance. Monitor project expenditures and resource needs to support successful project execution. Evaluate financial considerations associated with development opportunities and planning efforts.
What You’ll Bring
This role is ideal for a real estate development professional who thrives at the intersection of land planning, infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and complex stakeholder management. You will serve as DEN's representative in advancing commercial development opportunities, coordinating entitlement efforts, guiding infrastructure planning, and partnering with developers, consultants, government agencies, and airport leadership to transform airport-owned property into long-term economic assets.
Successful candidates typically demonstrate most of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Commercial Real Estate Development: Demonstrated experience managing commercial, industrial, mixed-use, logistics, aviation-related, or master-planned development projects. 10 + years of progressive experience in real estate development, land development, urban planning, infrastructure planning, economic development, or related fields
- Land Use Planning & Entitlements: In-depth understanding of how development projects move through approval and entitlement processes.
- Infrastructure & Site Development: Demonstrated ability to evaluate how roads, utilities, drainage, transportation systems, and public infrastructure support development objectives.
- Project Leadership: Previous experience successfully delivering complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, technical disciplines, budgets, and timelines.
- Stakeholder & Relationship Management: Experience building consensus and navigating political, governmental, and business environments.
- Strategic Analysis & Decision Making: ability to assess opportunities, identify constraints, and make recommendations that balance operational, financial, and community considerations.
- PMP Certification preferred
Required Minimum Qualifications
- Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Project Management, Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture or a related field.
- Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of professional project management experience in the related occupational group including planning, managing, and scheduling projects and preparing and reviewing contract documents.
- Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
- License/Certifications: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.
Application Deadline
This position is expected to stay open until November 13, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than November 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST.
Additional Information
FBI Background Check: FBI criminal background check is required for all positions at Denver International Airport (DEN). Employees must maintain clearance and report applicable criminal convictions and moving violations as required.
Snow/Emergency Duties: DEN operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Employees may be required to work extended hours or shifts during weather events or emergency situations.
About Everything Else
Job Profile
CE2294 Project Manager Engineering Senior
To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.
Position Type
Unlimited
Position Salary Range
$101,050.00 - $166,733.00
Target Pay
$101,050 - $142,000/year, based on experience and education
Agency
Denver International Airport
Redeployment during Citywide Emergencies
City and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor.
The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.
It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [email protected] with three business days’ notice.
Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.
For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.
