Senior Aviation Director – Design, Engineering, and Construction

City and County of Denver • Aurora, CO

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $160,000 - $190,000/year. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 wellness day, and 1 volunteer day per year Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days. In this position you can expect to work on site at least 3 days per week at our DEN JAG Building (26100 E. 68th Ave. Suite 240, Aurora, CO 80019) and project locations on the DEN campus and properties. Since opening on Feb. 28, 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has become one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, 82,427,962 passengers passed through DEN, making DEN 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. DEN is Colorado’s primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion in annual economic impact for the state. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and strive to keep Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) at the center of all that we do. Design, Engineering, and Construction (DEC) is DEN’s primary capital project delivery division, responsible for planning, designing, and constructing critical airport infrastructure. DEC oversees a multi-year capital improvement plan totaling billions of dollars in facility, airfield, and roadway projects. The team is responsible for ensuring excellence in project delivery, sustainability, operational continuity, and long‑term stewardship of the airport’s built environment. We are currently seeking a Senior Director to lead the operations arm of DEC —— to provide the governance, planning, and coordination across the division and airport that is essential for successful capital project execution. This leader will guide early project strategy, develop standards and reporting practices, support cost and schedule optimization, and ensure alignment with stakeholders across the airport. With broad project lifecycle knowledge and strong communication skills, the Senior Director will help drive continuity of division operations, elevate project delivery excellence, and strengthen DEC’s overall effectiveness.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration Management, Aviation Management or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of subordinate supervisors.
• Extensive experience leading and developing project management teams, consistently building high-performing, well-aligned operations.
• Proven ability to drive project governance, establishing consistent standards for cost, schedule, reporting, and performance across large capital project portfolios.
• Strong capability in early project development: building business cases, aligning sponsors, and initiating projects within a multi‑year CIP environment.
• Working knowledge of contract administration fundamentals (rate validation, invoice accuracy, compliance) sufficient to oversee and guide the function.
• High-level communication skills, able to deliver polished, clear updates to senior executives and cross-functional partners.
• Broad project lifecycle understanding with the ability to coordinate across stakeholders and support project teams throughout planning and delivery.
• FBI criminal background check is required for all positions at Denver International Airport (DEN).
• Employees are also required to report any felony convictions and/or moving violations to maintain this clearance and be eligible for continued employment.
• By position, a pre-employment physical/drug test may be required.
• If weather conditions warrant or an emergency crisis occurs, all DEN employees can be required to work extended hours and/or shifts.
• Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operations arm of DEC ensuring effective governance, coordination, and support for all capital project activities.
• Establish and maintain standards, procedures, systems, and reporting frameworks that strengthen project planning, initiation, scheduling, cost management, and cross‑department coordination.
• Guide project initiation efforts by overseeing the development of business cases, aligning with project sponsors, and coordinating early planning for projects within the Capital Improvement Plan.
• Oversee contract administration activities to ensure compliance, accuracy of contractor rates, invoice validation, and alignment with procurement and project delivery requirements.
• Provide strategic planning and big‑picture operational leadership, assessing future needs, recommending improvements, and ensuring continuity of airport operations during project implementation/construction.
• Collaborate closely with project managers, stakeholders, and senior executives to optimize systems, align schedules, and support project delivery excellence.
• Manage operational budgets by reviewing past expenditures, forecasting future needs, and ensuring compliance with financial policies, goals, and resource allocations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop subordinate managers and staff, establishing clear goals, supporting professional growth, and reinforcing consistent standards across DEC operations.
• Represent DEC in meetings with internal and external partners to communicate plans, coordinate shared efforts, and strengthen alignment across divisions and airport stakeholders.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year
• 12 paid holidays
• 1 personal holiday
• 1 wellness day
• 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior