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Operational Readiness, Activation & Transition (ORAT) Project Manager - Aviation

STV · Chicago, IL · $149,672–$171,053 a year · Full time

Posted Jun 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about an ORAT program you worked on. What phase were you involved in and what did you deliver?

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on readiness experience on aviation or transit projects.

Tell me about a time you helped carry out a transition plan. What went wrong and how did you adjust?

What they are checking: Whether they have practical lessons from real transitions rather than only theory.

This role means regular travel to sites like DFW, JFK or LAX. How do you keep relationships strong when you are not always onsite?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay effective with stakeholders across a national portfolio.

What would you do

Construction is late but the opening date is fixed. How do you protect operational readiness?

What they are checking: Whether they can find what must be ready and push honest tradeoffs instead of hoping it works out.

A concessionaire is not engaged and keeps missing readiness meetings. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can build relationships with vendors and sub-concessionaires to get their participation.

About the work

How would you build a Stakeholder Engagement and Operational Interface Plan for a new airport concourse?

What they are checking: Whether they can map who needs to be involved and how operations will connect across groups.

What goes into a good familiarization and training plan for staff moving into a new terminal?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how to prepare airport, airline and concession staff before opening day.

How do you gather input from stakeholders to build an ORAT schedule they will actually commit to?

What they are checking: Whether they can build a schedule with real buy-in from the people who must do the work.

How do you plan operational trials so they reveal real problems before passengers arrive?

What they are checking: Whether they design trials that test realistic conditions, not just easy scenarios.

How would your approach differ between an aviation ORAT program and a transit one?

What they are checking: Whether they can apply readiness principles across both modes the posting mentions.

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The full job description

As published by STV.

STV is seeking an Operational Readiness, Activation & Transition (ORAT) Project Manager to join our national Aviation team. We are looking for someone who is excited about working on projects supporting our clients’ business and business practices. Open to flexibility on this role’s location, but the selected candidate must reside in the United States, as our projects are based across the country. Regular travel to aviation project sites will be required. Project locations include DFW, IAH, ATL, EWR, ORD, LGA, SAT, JFK, LAX, IAD, etc. As a member of the Aviation team, this position will provide expertise in logistics, planning, developing, coordination, and scheduling of operational readiness activities with our national aviation clients. Job Responsibilities: • Participate in and support planning, ramp up and execution of the various elements of Aviation, Transit and Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition Programs • Assist with the development of Stakeholder Engagement and Operational Interface Plans • Assist with the coordination and development of Familiarization, Induction and Training Plans • Assist with collection of information for ORAT schedule development • Assist with the implementation of Transition Plans • Establish and maintain strategic relationships with representatives of key stakeholders including management, vendors, sub-concessionaires, consumer groups and the business community to ensure stakeholders are engaged in the ORAT program • Present regular update reports on ORAT activities • Review Project schedules, testing and close out plans for development of detailed turnover plans including duties & responsibilities of all parties • Hold and/or attend regularly scheduled Project meetings • Effectively manage the workflow processes and ensure timely completion • Assist with Project Closeouts and transition to service Job Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Operations Management, Planning, Business, OR 10+ years industry experience within the aviation sector • Previous ORAT experience, including on Operational Readiness teams on new facilities • Knowledge of industry practices for systems and operations including: • Traction Power Systems • Signal Systems • Operations and Maintenance (O/M) • Facility Systems • Testing and Commissioning • Systems Integration Testing • Risk Management • Project Management • Must possess technical skills in project management, transit operations, documentation, communications, and/or operational or technology testing • Schedule review and impact mitigation • Monitor track progress across All Projects • Review schedule and mitigate conflicts across multiple projects • Training coordination and tracking across multiple active projects • Quality Assurance • Hardware/Software Knowledge Word, Excel, SharePoint, Outlook, Office 365, etc. Compensation Range: $149,671.54 - $171,053.19 STV offers the following benefits • Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account • Dental insurance • Vision insurance • Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable) • Disability insurance • Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment • 401(k) Plan • Retirement Counseling • Employee Assistance Program • Paid Time Off (starting at 16 days) • Paid Holidays (9 days) • Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year) • Parental Leave (up to 80 hours) • Continuing Education Program • Professional Licensure and Society Memberships STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications. Not sure this role is the perfect match? We encourage you to apply if STV’s work and values resonate with you. We know great candidates don’t always meet every qualification, and research shows women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they do. At STV, we believe strong talent comes from a wide range of backgrounds, and your skills and experience may align with this or another opportunity as we continue to grow.

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