Aviation Director

City of El Paso•Various Locations within the City of El Paso, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of El Paso is seeking a highly qualified and collaborative Aviation Director for its Aviation Department. The Director will manage and direct El Paso International Airport operations, including business and financial operations, airfield and building maintenance, air service development, capital improvement programs, and long-range planning. This executive position reports to the Deputy City Manager and leads a department of approximately 237 FTEs. The successful candidate will be instrumental in advancing ELP as the gateway to West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Northern Mexico. This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen air service and airline relationships, guide modernization and capital delivery, maintain FAA and TSA compliance, generate revenue, support Foreign-Trade Zone 68 and airport business development, and build a culture where employees are informed, respected, accountable, and able to thrive. The City of El Paso (Pop. 683,012) is a full-service municipal organization operating under the Council-Manager form of government. Known as the Sun City, El Paso offers a dynamic borderland setting rich in history, culture, food, arts, and outdoor recreation. Framed by the Franklin Mountains and connected to New Mexico and Mexico, El Paso combines big-city services, regional influence, and a welcoming community identity.

Requirements

Graduation with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Business, Public or Aviation Administration or a related field, plus eight (8) years of professional airport administration or operations experience, including four (4) years in a managerial capacity.
A valid Texas Class "C" Driver's License or equivalent from another state is required by date of appointment.
Residency within the City of El Paso city limits is required by date of employment.
Must pass a criminal background check, maintain federally mandated airport security clearance, and be available for emergency recall and extended hours as needed.
Exceptional Communicator and Trust Builder - Skilled at engaging employees, City leadership, elected officials, airlines, tenants, federal partners, regional institutions, community partners, and the public with clarity, transparency, and respect. Visible, approachable, and able to explain complex decisions, communicate a clear big-picture vision to staff for execution, and maintain trust across operational and community stakeholders.
Proven Manager of People and Resources - Track record of leading large, diverse teams in complex organizations, with significant leadership experience in airport management or aviation administration at a commercial-service airport. Inspire accountability, respect airport-specific expertise, support career development, build strong teams, improve workplace culture, and foster collaboration.
Strong financial, budgetary, procurement, federal and state funding, grant management, and revenue-stream management skills.
Aviation, Security, and Regulatory Expertise - Solid grounding in commercial-service airport operations, airport planning, FAA and TSA requirements, emergency management, risk mitigation, environmental compliance, airfield and facility maintenance, airport finance, lease management, concessions, capital planning, and the operational requirements needed to protect safety, security, and regulatory compliance.
Strategic and Vision-Oriented Leader - Capable of positioning ELP for growth, modernization, and long-term competitiveness. Advance sustainable air service and new routes, strengthen airline and tenant relationships, generate revenue, improve customer experience, champion innovation and operational excellence, and align airport strategy with economic development and regional mobility.
Experienced Capital, Facilities, and Planning Executive - Demonstrated experience overseeing capital projects, facilities, infrastructure improvements, master planning, infrastructure lifecycle management, long-range facility development, and sustainability initiatives. Able to connect infrastructure decisions to safety, compliance, passenger experience, operational reliability, economic development, and the airport’s long-term competitiveness.
Community-Focused and Politically Aware - Able to work in a highly visible municipal environment and balance the needs of City leadership, elected officials, employees, airlines, tenants, passengers, public safety partners, Fort Bliss, Destination El Paso, economic development organizations, community institutions, and the broader binational region.
Adaptive Problem-Solver with High Emotional Intelligence - Collaborative, proactive, humble, approachable, transparent, and willing to take thoughtful strategic risks. Demonstrates integrity, steadiness under pressure, data-informed decision-making, customer-service orientation, and the ability to unite diverse groups around shared goals.
Balanced Background in Government and Airport Business - Combines proven public-sector management experience with deep aviation business knowledge. Able to navigate municipal processes while making timely, informed decisions about safety, finance, operations, development, air service, lease management, concessions, sustainability, and service.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of FAA Part 107 requirements, pilot certification, CoWAs, and ensure strong citywide UAS record keeping.
Knowledge of BLOVS and airspace risk management.

Responsibilities

Manage and direct the operations of the El Paso International Airport, including business and financial operations, airfield and building maintenance, air service development, capital improvement programs, and long-range planning.
Provide direction in issues relating to airlines and other tenants, reviewing and overseeing business and real estate matters, reviewing operations, including safety and security issues associated with and required by Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) regulations.
Plan, develop, and monitor long-term facility development plans for the airport and associated aviation and industrial properties.
Direct and oversee airport and airfield maintenance issues and programs, and promote the observation of safe work practices.
Direct and oversee strategic marketing campaigns, air service strategic objectives, and plans to expand air service to increase airport usage.
Initiate and oversee the negotiation of contractual agreements to generate a positive economic impact of air service to the region.
Review and evaluate service delivery methods and systems, including administrative, control, and security systems and internal relationships.
Identify opportunities for improvement and recommending improvements to systems and standard operating procedures to enhance operations and customer service.
Establish work priorities, monitor work progress, develop and monitor departmental operating and capital improvement budgets, and approve purchases and expenditures.
Respond to and resolve sensitive and complex inquiries and complaints, including requests of the City Manager, Mayor, Council, federal agencies, and department directors for information and interpretation.
Represent the City at various meetings and conferences and interact with a wide range of officials, regulatory agencies, airport tenants, department directors, coworkers, and the public.
Oversee the integration of UAS operations into broader airport safety, security, and economic development goals.
Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, discipline, and recommendations for hiring, promotion, termination or other employee status changes.