Planning & Development Deputy Airport Director

Orange County, CA•Costa Mesa, CA

53d

About The Position

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPUTY AIRPORT DIRECTOR (Business Services Deputy Director) THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC The eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill a current vacancy within John Wayne Airport and may be used to fill any future vacancies in other agencies throughout the County of Orange. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and or lower classifications. DEADLINE TO APPLY Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately on both the ADK website and through the County of Orange's website. TheADK Executive Search link will be provided below. Please note - in order to be considered, all candidates must complete the County of Orange's application. The deadline to apply for this position isFriday, December 19, 2025 at 11:59PM PST. To view the full recruitment brochure with ADK Executive Search, please clickhere! JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 and 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been a major cornerstone of Orange County for more than 100 years. Located in beautiful Southern California, we currently serve approximately 11.7 million annual passengers. We strive to provide a superior guest experience to ensure travel is convenient and stress-free. The County of Orange owns and operates the airport and the service area includes more than three million people within 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and beyond. As a medium hub airport, we have commercial flights to more than 40 nonstop destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Eleven commercial airlines and two air cargo airlines fly out of the Airport. It is home to nearly 500 general aviation (private, non-commercial) aircraft, representing 60% of total operations, and includes two full-service fixed base operators and one limited use general aviation facility. Mission:ConnectingPeople, Places and Opportunities. Vision:To be an airport of choice by creating exceptional experiences. Core Values: REACH Respect Environmental Stewardship Accountability Collaboration Honesty To learn more about working at John Wayne Airport, click here. To learn more about the County of Orange, click here. THE DIVISION The newly reformed Planning and Development Division oversees and delivers the airport's $700 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes airside, landside, and terminal renovations, as well as major utility projects and long-term infrastructure planning. The Division is also a key partner in the implementation of the General Aviation Improvement Program and the Terminal Tenant Concession Redevelopment Program. This team has 28 professionals in a variety of roles. This Division's functional areas include engineering, A/E design standards, land use and airport planning, environmental compliance, capital project programming, project management, project controls, and construction Coordination and Logistics Management (CALM). THE OPPORTUNITY The Deputy Airport Director of Planning and Development will serve as a strategic and hands-on leader for John Wayne Airport's newly restructured Planning and Development Division. Reporting to the Airport Director, this executive will oversee up to 28 indirect reports and the airport's $700 million CIP and manage transformative infrastructure initiatives. Projects include: Runway and Taxiway reconstruction Central Utility Plant and electrical distribution system Enhancements Vertical conveyance replacement Terminal Facility accessibility improvements Baggage handling system replacement Stormwater Treatment improvements This role is responsible for ensuring that all projects are delivered in compliance with FAA, CEQA, NEPA, and TSA standards-on time, within budget, and aligned with the Airport Layout Plan and long-term master planning goals. This position will guide the work of internal teams and external contractors, lead strategic capital planning efforts, and represent the airport in high-level discussions with elected officials, community groups, and regulatory agencies.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will bring a minimum of seven (7) years of leading capital infrastructure management or business services experience, with a strong focus on project management, engineering, development, construction, or planning. This includes five (5) years in a supervisory capacity, and a minimum of five (5) years of experience within the aviation industry.
A bachelor's degree in engineering, planning, architecture, construction management, or a related field; Master's preferred.
Current knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws, policies, regulations, and issues pertaining to Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 139, land use law, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Ability to conduct complex professional/technical research and analysis for assigned projects
Ability to evaluate the technical work product of staff, consultants and contractors across multiple disciplines
Ability to manage the work of the other professional/technical staff/consultants related to aviation, Architecture/Engineering (A/E), Construction Management, Airport Land Use, and environmental issues
Airport Capital Project funding and budgeting, FAA ACIP requirements, FAA Grant Assurance requirements
Contract administration in Architect/Engineer (A/E), airport and other large scale, complex public works or environmental compliance projects and extensive knowledge of the governing building codes, public works contracting regulations, FAA Advisory circulars, etc.
Knowledge of Capital Improvement program best practices, project controls and construction coordination
Ability to cast the strategic vision for the division while also providing direct hands-on management support and oversight to ensure productivity, accountability, and results
Uses creativity and innovation in achieving business objectives by planning and developing airport projects to be safe, efficient, and effective
Lead a multidisciplinary team to meet concurrent long-term and short-term objectives, foster collaboration across discipline and ensure accountability
Builds effective working relationships inside and outside the organization in working with airport related Commissions Elected Officials, regulatory bodies, regional planning bodies, tenants, and contractors
Promotes flexibility by planning for the effects of organizational change internally, and develops projects recognizing potential change in the airline industry and operational demands
Exhibits the courage to take action by tackling difficult challenges relating Engineering, Capital Projects, Land Use, and environmental issues that may impact the airport
Motivates team and collaborative partners performance for the purpose of achieving the airport goals
Motivates staff to reach their highest performance potential by developing staff and assigning progressively more challenging tasks
Values learning for staff and seeks out opportunities and skill development and mentorship
Integrates changes smoothly to respond to input from stakeholders including the airlines and other tenants that operate at John Wayne Airport
Assigns work to project team members, establishes expectations and monitors activities to ensure work is accomplished in a timely manner and within budget to facilitate project development
Gathers, analyzes and applies information skillfully and strategically to respond in creative ways to engineering, project management, capital improvement management, planning and land use challenges
Develops alternative solutions for consideration by the airport management, the Airport Commission, ALUC, and airline stakeholders
Works effectively in group problem-solving situations with diverse airport stakeholders to foster creativity and collaboration
Plans, organizes, and implements projects to meet established timeframes to ensure that airport infrastructure meets current and future needs to safety, security, reliability, sustainability, and guest experience
Sets appropriate priorities and modifies as needed as input is received from airport management and stakeholders
Promotes open, candid information sharing across organizational boundaries in working with cities and other jurisdictions on land use and planning issues
Communicates and coordinates effectively with federal, state, regional and local agencies on technical and non-technical matters
Listens effectively to others and understands stakeholder interests
Presents ideas and complex material clearly, concisely, logically and persuasively both orally and in writing especially for airport related Commissions and other audiences
Ensures timely, appropriate communication with stakeholders
Readily and routinely shares technical knowledge with others to support the airport's infrastructure development, land use planning and environmental compliance
Set challenging, measurable project goals aligned with airport business objectives
Plan, organize and implement projects to meet established time frames and cost containments
As opportunities arise, re-engineer business processes and improve organizational effectiveness by proposing and implementing initiatives to improve efficiency, streamline operations and meet current and future business needs
Set appropriate priorities and modify as needed
Accountable for personal performance and goal achievement and maintains sufficient content and knowledge to perform all aspects of the job effectively
Valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment
Valid Airport Access Badge with an Airport Driving Endorsement within ten (10) days of employment
Employees must clear a background check, which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check, and Security Threat Assessment (STA) check.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Airport Access Badge with an Airport Driving Endorsement within ten (10) days of employment.
Airport Access Badge must be maintained and renewed every two (2) years.

Nice To Haves

Master's preferred.
Professional Engineer (PE)
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
Licensed Architect

Responsibilities

Oversee all areas within the division, including Engineering, Project Management, Construction Coordination and Logistics Management, Project Controls, Airport Project Programming, Land Use Planning/Airport Land Use Commission, and Environmental Compliance
Establish goals and objectives for the Planning & Development Departments and ensuring resources are available to achieve goals, foster collaboration and a common vision across the various units of this division and the broad airport
Lead, plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the performance of staff, establish development goals, observe performance and provide guidance and feedback, with a focus on creating and maintaining a high performance, service-oriented work environment
Support staff development through incorporation of best practices, coaching, knowledge transfer, mentorship, and supporting formal training opportunities
Lead strategic capital planning to prioritize projects and optimize funding opportunities
Oversee the preparation, development, implementation, and evaluation of the CIP and the other programs/projects, including master plan updates, environmental planning, and other airport projects, to ensure airport safety, security, service reliability, and sustainability for current and future infrastructure needs
Ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws, regulation and procedures
Ensure clearly defined Project Definition Documents, Design Standards, Project Controls, and policies are developed, evaluated, established, maintained, implemented and regularly updated
Manage contract management activities and serving as a subject matter expert in all aspects of contract management to ensure the county/airport interests are represented
In collaboration with procurement, oversee the prepare an evaluation of RFPs and bid specifications negotiating and managing contracts
Interpret, recommend, and develop policies and procedures and resolving matters involving Federal obligations of airport sponsors related to development projects, including AIP Grants and PFC projects
Advise leadership on project status, forecasting organizational needs, and demonstrating the merits and value of CVG projects to stakeholders
Oversee planning, design, engineering, and construction management for capital projects
Manage project budgets, contracts, and compliance with technical and legal requirements
Ensure compliance with environmental and Land-use planning regulations
Ensure appropriate staff support to the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC)
Present clear and concise reports to leadership, committees and community groups
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure facility and system effectiveness, drive continuous improvements, and ensure accountability