Director, Airport Operations

The Allegheny County Airport Authority [ACAA] invites you aboard our mission to create meaningful travel experiences in the aviation industry. As Pittsburgh’s gateway to the world, both Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport serve as beacons of change and connectivity for our region. As a member of our crew, you will directly serve, inspire, and advance our community in significant ways that impact the daily lives of others and the future of our organization. Whether you have a passion for travel, an appreciation for aeronautics and aviation, or an unparalleled love for the city of Pittsburgh, ACAA provides the opportunity for the next chapter of your career to take flight.

Our culture is one that emphasizes high performance, innovation, and learning. We know that those things only happen when everyone who works in an organization is properly empowered, equipped, and enabled in their roles to make an impact. At ACAA success is a shared responsibility, and we look forward to supporting and developing the unique strengths you could bring to our team.

Job Summary

The ACAA’s Director, Airport Operations will report to the Vice President, Airport Operations and provides leadership and day-to-day operational management of the Airport Operations Department. The incumbent is responsible for planning, monitoring, coordinating, and managing the airport operational activities related to landside, airside, and terminal facilities.

Here Is How The Director, Airport Operations Will Help

• Develop and implement airport operational policies and procedures to ensure the efficient operation and safety of the Airport.
• Ensure that the facility continually operates under certification requirements and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Develop, direct, and coordinate major programs and functions of the Airport Operations Department, including airport communications, emergency coordination, airfield management, methods and procedures.
• Oversee the inspection of runways, taxiways, and related aircraft operational areas for proper maintenance and safety conditions.
• Provide leadership and supervision of the Airport Operations Department, including training, planning, organizing, staffing, and directing airport operations staff.
• Review and coordinate staff policies and procedures.
• Maintain liaison with the Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic control tower and certification inspectors, airlines, ground handlers, and others.
• Direct airport operation programs including the Airport Operational Database and Resource Management, Self-Inspection, and Vehicle Movement Area Transponders.
• Prepare and recommend annual and long-term plans, programs, and budgets to the Vice President, Airport Operations; exercise control over planning, formulation, and maintenance of expenditure control for the airport operations department budget.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the operational and technological systems within Airport Operations.
• Provide support and development to staff through performance management, coaching, training, motivation, and discipline.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned or required.
  
  

The successful candidate for the role of Director, Airport Operations will demonstrate the following key competencies needed in our culture:

• Communication – Able to clearly articulate short-term vision, department goals and objectives; Collaborate effectively with peers; Able to communicate policy and strategy to team members.
• Strategic Thinking – Able to determine short-term outcomes and give guidance on how to meet goals; Able to direct and deliver plans to achieve efficient, on-time results.
• Team Builder – Able to direct and implement project objectives through “one team” approach; Focused on developing team; direct work of team through leadership and accountability; Makes informed decisions.
• Customer Centricity– Leads team to identify and improve customer experience; Directs and implements improvements that positively impacts most stakeholders.
  
  

Qualifications

The following requirements list the minimum education/training/experience required to qualify for this job. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be accepted.

Preferred requirements to apply for the role of Director, Airport Operations are:

• Possess or obtain prior to employment a valid Pennsylvania Class C driver’s license. Note: license must be maintained throughout employment.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in aviation management or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 5-7 years related experience managing operations at an airport.
  
  

We also expect that candidates will demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities in most cases:

• Extensive knowledge in airport operations.
• Extensive ability to function independently and exercise considerable judgment in the resolution of problems and/or coordination of emergency incidents.
• Extensive ability to solve practical problems and deal with numerous variables in situations where limited standardization exists.
• Extensive analytical and organizational skills, and the ability to function effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Ability to write grammatically correct reports, memoranda, directives, and letters to inform tenants, staff, and others of policies and procedures.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to procure and manage consultants / contractors.
  
  

Don’t meet every requirement?

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. As a Smarter Airport, we recognize that talent is not always related job history and skills come from valuable experiences that aren’t always shown on a resume. If you are excited to make a positive change for our region, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for our organization, whether it be this role or another.

Caring For Our Crew

Benefits

At ACAA, we’ve got you covered. That applies to how we equip, empower, and enable our people to do their jobs. It also applies to our benefits, which are broader and more valuable than what many other employers offer:

• We offer two plan options for healthcare coverage from high-quality insurance carriers, as well as an ACAA-funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) that will help offset the cost of many medical expenses.
• ACAA employees pay almost $1,200 less per year in healthcare payroll contributions than the average employee in other companies, according to market surveys.
• When HRA funding is included, the health-plan deductibles paid by ACAA employees are about $1,200 lower on average than the costs paid by employees of other companies.
• ACAA does not require that employees meet a separate deductible for pharmacy expenses before prescription-drug coverage kicks in.
• ACAA’s dental plans (included with healthcare coverage) offer an option covering children’s orthodontia.
• Employees also can take advantage of a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to help pay for health care and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
• All eligible full-time ACAA employees participate in the Allegheny County Employees Pension Plan, a defined-benefit plan that vests after 10 years of service.
• Employees also may participate in a Deferred Compensation Plan, which allows them to contribute part of their pay on a pre-tax basis into long-term retirement investments.
• A robust Employee Assistance Program (including access to free counselling sessions, financial guidance, and care coordination), life insurance options, a wellness program, and eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program round out ACAA’s exemplary benefits.
• Employees may enroll their children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age in our on-site preschool and childcare center, La Petite Academy, at Pittsburgh International Airport.
  

About Allegheny County Airport Authority

Allegheny County Airport Authority, which manages Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and Allegheny County Airport (AGC), is committed to transforming Pittsburgh’s airports to reflect and serve the community, inspire the industry, and advance the region’s role as a world leader.

Pittsburgh International Airport serves nearly 10 million passengers annually on 17 carriers and was named by Fast Company magazine as One of the Most Innovative Companies in the World as well as a finalist in its World Changing Ideas awards, both in 2020. PIT’s first-of-its-kind microgrid – which completely powers the airport campus through natural gas and solar energy – has won numerous awards for resiliency and sustainability.

PIT is in the midst of an ambitious terminal modernization that will make the passenger experience more efficient and deliver real opportunity for the region. The $1.4 billion new terminal program will construct a smarter, greener airport, inspired by the best of our region. The updated terminal lands in 2025 and will be the first airport terminal in the U.S. to be built from the ground-up post-pandemic, designed and constructed with the highest public health standards in mind.

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