Director of Airport Operations

JOB PURPOSE:

Provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for the Airport Operations Department and directs the safe, secure, efficient, resilient, and customer-focused operation of the Airport's airfield, terminal, and landside facilities. Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements; leads operational preparedness and emergency coordination; and works closely with Maintenance, Public Safety, Infrastructure, Information Technology, airlines, tenants, and other stakeholders to support reliable airport operations and continued growth.

Leads, develops, and evaluates Airport Operations personnel; establishes clear performance expectations, accountability, training standards, and succession plans.

Develops departmental goals, work plans, staffing models, policies, procedures, and performance measures aligned with Airport priorities and service expectations.

Prepares and administers the Operations Department budget; develops operating and capital needs; monitors expenditures; and supports procurement and contract administration for assigned services.

Ensures adequate 24/7 operational coverage, including nights, weekends, holidays, severe weather, emergencies, and irregular operations.

Serves as a senior representative of airport management and acts on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer when assigned.

Directs daily airfield, terminal, and landside operations to ensure safe, secure, efficient, and customer-focused service.

Oversees airfield inspections, discrepancy identification, corrective-action coordination, NOTAM management, pavement condition reporting, wildlife observations, construction safety monitoring, and other operational functions required by the Airport Certification Manual.

Leads gate, apron, and common-use resource coordination and supports efficient use of airport facilities during normal and irregular operations.

Coordinates terminal operations, passenger flow, curbside and roadway conditions, ground transportation activity, and operational issues affecting airlines, tenants, passengers, and the public.

Maintains effective working relationships with airline station management, FAA, TSA, air traffic control, tenants, concessionaires, contractors, and other airport users.

Establishes and monitors operational key performance indicators, service levels, trends, and corrective actions related to safety, compliance, reliability, efficiency, and customer service.

Ensures continuous compliance with 14 CFR Part 139, 49 CFR Part 1542, applicable FAA Advisory Circulars, TSA requirements, Airport rules and regulations, and other federal, state, and local requirements.

Coordinates with the Airport Fire Department and ARFF leadership to ensure airport compliance with the aircraft rescue and firefighting requirements of 14 CFR Part 139, including the applicable ARFF index, operational readiness, response capability, personnel training, vehicle and extinguishing-agent requirements, inspections, exercises, and required records.

Maintains and updates operational portions of the Airport Certification Manual, Airport Emergency Plan, Snow and Ice Control Plan, Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, and other required plans and records.

Leads the Airport Safety Management System, including hazard identification, safety risk assessment, risk mitigation, safety assurance, corrective-action tracking, safety promotion, and continuous improvement.

Maintains inspection readiness and ensures timely documentation, mitigation, correction, and closure of regulatory findings and operational discrepancies.

Ensures Airport Operations personnel complete required initial, recurrent, and specialized training, including Part 139, driver training, radio communications, emergency response, and other assigned programs.

Leads airport operational response during aircraft incidents, severe weather, security events, utility interruptions, facility disruptions, and other emergencies or irregular operations.

Supports activation and operation of the Airport Emergency Operations Center and serves in designated Incident Command System roles.

Coordinates emergency exercises, drills, after-action reviews, corrective-action plans, and business continuity activities with Public Safety, airlines, governmental agencies, and community partners.

Ensures timely and accurate operational communications to airport leadership, FAA, TSA, air traffic control, airlines, tenants, employees, and the public, as appropriate.

Works closely with Maintenance to identify, prioritize, communicate, and track airfield, terminal, landside, facility, vehicle, and equipment deficiencies that affect safety, compliance, capacity, customer service, or continuity of operations.

Establishes operational priorities and service-level expectations for corrective work…