Airport Director - Landside Operations

General Description and Classification Standards

• The Airport Director of Landside/Terminal oversees the management, operation, and strategic planning of all landside and terminal operations for the Department of Aviation.
• Leads a very large and diverse staff; allocates budgeted resources as needed; establishes processes and procedures; gives appropriate and effective feedback to personnel and programs; holds staff accountable; ensures compliance with enterprise maintenance management systems software.
• This position develops and implements Contingency plans and measurements for compliance with AFRD and TSA standards, and all federal, state, and local regulations and airport policies and requirements to ensure a safe, secure, and efficient operating environment.
• Develops the annual business plan, implements the operations objectives that support the plan and prepares the annual operating budget.
• Ensures a well-trained team by developing and implementing necessary training programs, implementing plans related to crowd control, contingency planning, severe weather preparation, and execution of the annual budget. He or she also has a role in preparing the Airport for emergencies and irregular operations – to include participating in planning and supporting airport exercises, service recovery, and in minimizing the impact on airport operations during emergencies.
• This position provides support to the Assistant General Manager - Regulatory Compliance. Duties include but are not limited to, reviewing, and monitoring plans and attending construction meetings, working with Project Managers and Construction Managers, and monitoring construction to ensure safe and efficient construction activities - minimizing the negative impact to the traveling public.

Decision Making

• Ability to make decisions that align with the airport’s long-term goals and strategic plans, ensuring that landside operations support broader organizational objectives.
• The ability to make effective decisions in a fast-paced work environment are paramount.

Leadership Expectations

• Position has directional authority over a group of managers and provides high level coaching and development for direct and high potential employees.
• Guidance should typically be general in nature and focus on objectives, end results, and policies.
• Position must be skilled in effective feedback for managers and teams reporting and develop tools and metrics to hold all areas accountable.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. May perform other duties as assigned:

• Supervise and evaluate assigned staff, address employee concerns, directs work assignments, counsels and disciplines employees when necessary, and completes employee performance evaluations.
• Provide technical guidance and direction and recommend changes in policies and procedures and personnel.
• Uses independent judgment and discretion in managing and handling emergency situations, determining, and deciding upon procedures to be implemented, setting priorities, maintaining standards, and resolving problems.
• Has the exemplary organizational, managerial, and technical skills required to supervise a department that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Oversee staff; participate in the selection of personnel; evaluate supervisory personnel, review evaluations of staff, provide technical guidance and direction, identify training needs, and identify and implement changes in policies, procedures, and personnel.
• Comply with local, state, and federal codes and standards by directing and monitoring the work of staff, stakeholders, and contractors.

Administrative Duties

• Oversee the employee support services and payroll also the managing of the fiscal budget and finances. Track monthly expenditures, compare them with prepared budgets and adjust as necessary to complete the mission within the budget.
• Develop a comprehensive administrative business service program, including service-level standards to clearly define operational priorities.
• Set Airport-specific targets and performance standards. Develop matrixes to measure performance.
• Administer the Xovis Passenger Wait Time Tracking System.
• Prepare the division’s annual operating budget, develop budget justifications and cost estimates, and monitor actual performance and expenditures.

Communication

• Interface routinely with Airport’s executive leadership and senior staff, departmental managers, and business representatives city wide.
• Participate in meetings with Department of Aviation personnel and Airport stakeholders and make presentations when necessary.
• Collaborate and communicate routinely with TSA staff, airlines, contractors, and Department of Aviation staff to include but not limited to Maintenance, ARFF, Planning and Development, Police, Security, and senior staff.
• Communicate effectively and exchange information in a professional and positive manner with customers, tenants, airport employees and other staff members. Ensure that correspondence with external and internal agencies is completed in a timely manner.

Record-keeping and Documentation

• Maintain records and supporting documents pertaining to aviation compliance and demonstrate best business practices.
• Use data driven methodologies to predict, plan, allocate resource and execute aviation business activities.
• Perform a critical role in airport management and total cost of ownership by providing records of all business activities and performance metrics performed by the department.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure all business functions are completed in a timely, efficient manner according to performance standards and best business practices.
• Monitor and control work performance, management and business and technical systems.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of all applicable laws, ordinances, policies, standards, and regulations governing airport management and operations to include budget, payroll, finance, personnel, office management, procurement, contract management, auditing, inventory, fleet management, data analytics, and financial planning.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills.
• Strong understanding of airport industry, facilities maintenance and asset management.
• Strong understanding of TSA Security Screening Checkpoint Operations.
• Strong supervisory skills.
• Excellent customer service.
• Functional knowledge of procurement, contracts, payroll, and SLA’s.
• Exceptional communicator; strong verbal and writing skill.
• Ability to organize and direct programs and resources involved in the operation, maintenance, and development of the airport.
• Coordinate programs, communications, information, and personnel to ensure the airport’s compliance with established requirements that meet the City of Atlanta and Department of Aviation standards.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate the performance and professional development of assigned staff.
• Ability to work in a team setting by collaborating with others in the research, development, and implementation of revenue-generating airport programs and projects.
• Effectively work, make decisions and communicate under a variety of emergency conditions.

Supervision Received

• Directly reports to the Assistant General Manager- Regulatory Compliance.
• Works independently and attends regular meetings with senior management.
• Routinely collaborates with managers and other directors to accomplish common goals.
• Direction received is very general and focuses more on long-term and short-term operating objectives.