Senior Vice President, Airport Operations

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

19d•$228,257 - $359,810

About The Position

The Senior Vice President (SVP), Airport Operations plans, directs, and manages airport operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), with executive oversight of operational support. The role provides strategic leadership to ensure safe, secure, efficient, and customer-focused operations in support of the Airports Authority’s mission, strategic business plan, and operational objectives. The SVP oversees the Airport Managers for DCA and IAD and the DVP of Operational Support, and serves in the Office of Operations at the Headquarters Office. The position works under the administrative supervision of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer (COO). The SVP leads airport operations directly and through subordinate Vice Presidents, sets strategic priorities and performance expectations, and ensures regulatory compliance and consistent operational standards. The role provides executive leadership during emergencies and major operational events, manages oversight of budgets and workforce resources, collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, and advances operational strategies, performance, customer satisfaction, and organizational resilience. The SVP assumes the Executive Vice President and COO’s duties and responsibilities in their absence and performs other assigned or self-initiated duties.

Requirements

Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in airport operations, aviation, transportation, military operations, or a similarly complex operational environment.
Experience as a second-level or higher supervisor directing multiple operational divisions through senior managers.
Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, standards, and ordinances governing airport operations, aviation safety and security, emergency management, environmental compliance, and public administration.
Knowledge of airport operations, FAA Part 139 requirements, TSA security requirements, Safety Management Systems (SMS), emergency management, and airport business continuity.
Knowledge of strategic planning, organizational leadership, performance measurement, and operational excellence principles.
Ability to develop enterprise strategies that align operational performance with organizational goals.
Ability to make sound executive decisions involving complex operational, financial, and regulatory issues.
Strong leadership, collaboration, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
Ability to make decisions and develop innovative approaches to frequent change, unexpected events, conflict, and uncertainty.
Ability to analyze complex operational issues and develop practical, innovative solutions.
Commitment to ethics, integrity, accountability, and public service.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with executive leadership, Board members, government officials, airlines, tenants, and external stakeholders.
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Aviation Management, Public Administration, Engineering, Transportation, or a related field.
State driver’s license in good standing.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Aviation Management, Public Administration, Engineering, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate airport operations across DCA and IAD to ensure safe, secure, efficient, and customer-focused operations.
Provide executive leadership to Airport Managers and Operational Support organizations, establishing strategic priorities, operational objectives, and performance expectations.
Ensure compliance with applicable FAA, TSA, DHS, OSHA, environmental, federal, state, and local requirements, Airports Authority policies, and industry best practices.
Establish, approve, and evaluate enterprise operational policies, standard operating procedures, governance frameworks, and performance standards.
Ensure safe operating conditions across airfields, terminals, landside facilities, and operational infrastructure, and promote safety, security, and accountability.
Lead executive response and recovery during emergencies, major incidents, irregular operations, and continuity-of-operations events, coordinating internal departments and external agencies.
Collaborate with airlines, tenants, federal agencies, local governments, and regional stakeholders to resolve operational issues, improve service delivery, and strengthen partnerships.
Develop and implement enterprise operational strategies, performance measures, and continuous-improvement initiatives supporting operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
Provide executive oversight of operational budgets, workforce planning, and resource allocation, ensuring divisions operate within budget.
Work with executive leadership to identify operational challenges and business opportunities, anticipate aviation trends, and develop innovative solutions that support sustainable organizational growth.
Collaborate with Engineering, Legal, Revenue, Real Estate, Finance, Procurement, Information Technology, and other executive leaders to integrate operational requirements into capital projects, technology initiatives, and long-range planning.
Monitor operational risks, industry trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements and recommend strategies to improve performance and resilience.
Assume the Executive Vice President and COO’s duties and responsibilities in their absence.
Perform other duties as assigned or determined on own initiative.