Director, Airside & Terminal Operations

Welcome to San Diego International Airport, where our purpose is to create an exceptional airport experience for the community and the world.  We embody the vibrant spirit of San Diego itself—sunny, welcoming, and full of life. We are committed to attracting, fostering, and empowering a team of talented individuals who can deliver our strategic goals.

Here, you’ll find a workplace culture that thrives on diversity and shared mindsets of collaboration, empathy, inclusivity, thoughtful decision-making, listening, and believing the best in people. If you are ready to contribute to a team that values meaningful impact and enjoys the journey along the way, we invite you to apply today.

The Airside & Terminal Operations Department is seeking an experienced and visionary leader with strong strategic foresight and operational finesse for the role of Director, Airside & Terminal Operations. As the busiest single runway airport in the nation, we are pursuing a leader who can oversee all aspects of airport operations related to the efficient and safe movement of aircraft, passengers, and cargo on a space constrained footprint. The successful candidate will be skilled in collaboration and listening well, systems thinking, pursuing thoughtful decision-making in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment, and grasping the technical nuances this position requires. This key leader will align with our organizational mission to ensure a seamless travel experience for all airport users and:

• Provides leadership and direction to a diverse team of airport staff, including airside and terminal operations managers, supervisors, and frontline employees, ensuring cohesive teamwork and efficient operations.
• Fosters competencies, accountability, development, diversity, inclusion, empowerment, and learning within the team. Recognizes and rewards achievements, provides ongoing feedback and coaching, completes corrective actions, and oversees consulting services.
• Develops and executes departmental strategic plans aligned with organizational goals and objectives. Ensures compliance with aviation mandates and standards in airside and terminal operations, safety, and customer relations programs to maintain a safe and secure airport environment.
• Develops and manages budgets for airside and terminal operations. Ensures efficient use of resources while maintaining high standards of service and safety. Formulates and communicates goals, objectives, and budget processes to align with organizational strategies and performance metrics.
• Collaborates with other organizational leaders in the development and execution of comprehensive emergency response plans for incidents, ranging from aircraft emergencies to security threats, irregular operations, and natural disasters. Oversees the allocation of common-use resources (gates, ticket counters, etc.).
• Collaborates with airlines, government agencies, vendors, and other stakeholders to optimize airport operations and enhance the passenger experience. Advises executives and others on projects and issues. Represents the organization in public-facing presentations and engagements, formulates and communicates goals, objectives, budgets, and processes. Keeps current on industry and regulatory trends.
• Advocates for a customer-centric approach, ensuring a positive experience for passengers, airlines, and other airport users, including oversight of the Airport Ambassador volunteer program. Engages with the public to gather feedback and address concerns, fostering a positive public image and building trust with the community.
• Oversees the evaluation and implementation of cutting-edge technologies and automation solutions and helps identify capital improvement opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and elevate customer service standards, stays current on industry and regulatory trends to inform technological advancements.
• Supports sustainability efforts by promoting environmentally sustainable practices and initiatives, including energy efficiency, emissions reductions, and waste reduction.

Competencies:

1. Executes Strategy: Develops and executes departmental strategies designed to support organizational vision and goal attainment, ensuring a balanced approach that integrates departmental needs with broader organizational priorities.

2. Collaboration & Change Management: Manages organizational change by creating a sense of urgency, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and resolving conflicts to ensure smooth transitions.

3. Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and relational skills in interactions with colleagues and stakeholders to build a positive and productive work environment.

4. Influence & Building Relationships: Utilizes influence to set goals, change culture, build rapport with stakeholders, and champion initiatives based on mutually acceptable solutions.

5. Decision Quality: Enables customer-focused, business-driven decision making and allocation of resources.

6.  Integrity: Exercises diplomacy and discretion in dealing with highly sensitive, complex, and confidential issues and situations.

7.  Leadership: Blends people into teams and facilitates employee engagement; fosters open dialogue and defines success in terms of the whole team; shares wins and successes.

8.  Communication & Presentation: Proficiently and tactfully exchanges and presents information verbally, in writing, and digitally to stakeholders, the public, and members of the Board.

9. Agility & Problem-Solving: Analyzes situations, generates alternative solutions, adapts to evolving situations, and manages change.

Requirements

Required Education, Training and Experience**:

• Eight years of progressively responsible experience in the management of airside, airport terminals and/or other airport operations functions, of which at least four were in a supervisory capacity at a Class I medium or large hub airport, and/or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Graduation from a college or university with a major in public or business administration, airport management, aviation management or a closely related field.
• A California Class C driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Authority’s vehicle insurance policy.

Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as required by the demands of airport operations.

Preferred Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

• Well-versed in the 14 CFR Part 139 regulatory landscape.
• Advanced degree of a graduate level or higher with a major in public or business administration, airport management, aviation management or a closely related field.
• Certification as an Accredited Airport Executive (AAE), Airport Certified Employee (ACE), Certified Member (CM), Certified Aviation Manager (CAM), US Airport Professional (USAP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM).

The hiring salary for Director, Airside & Terminal position is a minimum of $165,887.

Applications are accepted through July 18, 2024 and will be reviewed after this date.

**Lacking some of the skills or experiences we've listed? No worries! Here at the San Diego International Airport, we're on a mission to cultivate a workforce as dynamic and diverse as the community we serve. While certain roles may require specific qualifications, we understand that talent comes in many forms. Some of our positions may not require specific degrees, and we're always open to individuals who bring a willingness to learn and a commitment to excellence. If you think this could be you, we encourage you to apply, and even if this position isn't the right role for you, we will add you to our database to consider for other opportunities in the future that align with your unique knowledge and skills. There's a chance we have the perfect spot for you to land!

EEO Statement

It is the policy of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, SDCRAA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Physical & Mental Demands

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the hiring department to accommodate the limitation. If you need any form of accommodation during the recruitment process, please inform the Talent Acquisition Partner (Recruiter).

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as they may be assigned to them by their employer or law.

Salary Range for this Director, Airside & Terminal Operations is $134,050 - $234,587.