Director, Airport Security Operations

Indianapolis Airport Authority•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

The Director, Airport Security Operations is a senior leadership position overseeing non-sworn, non-certified operational functions within the IAA Department of Public Safety. The role coordinates and integrates security operations, emergency communications, training programs, and operational support across Airport Police, Airport Fire Department, Security Operations, the Communications Center, and Airport Operations. It supports compliance with applicable TSA regulations, FAA requirements, and DHS directives while advancing a unified, intelligence-driven, risk-based security posture. The Director serves as an integrator of operational readiness and data-driven decision-making and reports directly to the Deputy Senior Director of Public Safety. The Director leads operational functions that do not require sworn law-enforcement or fire certification; supports TSA compliance and Airport Security Program management; coordinates training, exercises, and readiness; and establishes data and analytics capabilities for Public Safety operations. The role also serves as an operational liaison among internal divisions and external partners, supervises operational staff and analysts, and supports strategic planning, budgeting, policy development, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management, Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Criminal Justice, or a related field.
Seven to ten or more years of leadership experience in airport operations, aviation security, emergency management, or public safety coordination.
Seven to ten or more years of experience supervising direct reports.
Demonstrated experience working in TSA-regulated environments.
Strong background in operational analytics and performance management.
Knowledge of TSA regulations, including 49 CFR Part 1542 and ASP compliance.
Ability to coordinate multi-agency operations and integrate unified command.
Data-driven decision-making and analytics leadership.
Executive communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Operational risk management and security planning capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience with TSA Part 1542 requirements.
Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification.
Airport Certified Employee (ACE – Security or Operations) certification.
FEMA ICS/NIMS certifications or training in 100, 200, 300, and 400.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage public safety operational functions that do not require sworn law-enforcement or fire certification.
Coordinate activities across Airport Police, Airport Fire Department, Airport Security Operations, the Emergency Communications Center, and Airport Operations.
Ensure operational alignment with the Airport Security Program (ASP) and TSA regulations, including 49 CFR Part 1542.
Support incident-command integration consistent with NIMS/ICS principles.
Ensure adherence to TSA security requirements for access control, SIDA, credentialing and badging, and security incident reporting and response.
Partner with the Federal Security Director and TSA representatives on audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews.
Assist in maintaining and updating the Airport Security Program and associated security directives.
Oversee and coordinate multi-agency training across police, fire, communications, and operations divisions.
Ensure compliance with TSA-required training and emergency preparedness standards.
Oversee planning and execution of full-scale emergency exercises, tabletop and functional exercises, and active-threat and incident-response drills.
Maintain training records, compliance tracking, and readiness metrics.
Establish a centralized data and analytics function for Public Safety operations.
Develop and manage dashboards for security incidents and breaches, response times and dispatch performance, access-control violations, and training compliance.
Use predictive and trend analysis to identify risks and improve operational effectiveness.
Deliver executive-level reports to IAA leadership and support strategic planning initiatives.
Serve as the operational liaison across public safety and airport operational divisions.
Strengthen coordination with internal stakeholders and external partners, including TSA, airlines and tenants, and local, state, and federal agencies.
Promote unified communication protocols during routine operations and emergency incidents.
Supervise operational staff and analysts supporting security operations and communications.
Lead continuous-improvement initiatives, including implementation of access-control systems, CAD, and analytics platforms.
Support the Deputy Senior Director with strategic planning, budgeting, and policy development.
Coach, counsel, mentor, and develop direct reports; conduct performance reviews and career-development planning.
Establish performance expectations and standards, delegate responsibility, and promote accountability and regular feedback.
Lead direct reports in advancing the organization’s strategic pillars of Customer Service, Economic Development, Stability & Sustainability, Workforce Development, and Community Engagement.