Deputy Airport Director, Information Technology and Innovation

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.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as the recruitment will close on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 11:59 pm p.s.t.

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and the successful candidate’s qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

John Wayne Airport (JWA) has approximately 125 dedicated staff and is home to eight commercial airlines, two commuter operators, two all-cargo carriers, two full-service fixed base operators, and over 440 general aviation aircraft. JWA is owned and operated by the County of Orange and is a modern, 20-gate, medium-hub commercial and general aviation airport located approximately 35 miles south of Los Angeles. In 2022, JWA served over 11.36 million passengers, in a community of over three million, who live within the 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County. Since 2017, JWA has been consistently ranked first or second in overall customer satisfaction for its size. JWA is one of the top-50 busiest commercial airports in the country in terms of both passenger enplanements and total operations and is also one of the nation’s busiest General Aviation airports.

JWA has an annual budget of approximately $200M and operates as an enterprise fund self-supported/funded agency and receives no monies from the County’s General Fund. These revenues are to operate and optimize the Airport, repay bonds, fund capital improvements, maintain assets, and support aviation planning.

Vision: To be a world-class aviation getaway for business and leisure travel.
Mission: To plan, direct, and provide high-quality aviation services and facilities for Orange County in a safe, secure, and efficient manner.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION DIVISION 

As technology continues to rapidly change in airports, JWA is looking to innovate the Technology Services Division to ensure JWA is seen as a leader when it comes to an end user’s experience, cyber security, parking systems, and utility plant upgrades. This Division plays a unique and critical role in the Airport’s operations and is looking to transform JWA in a more innovative way.

The newly centralized Technology Services Division of John Wayne Airport includes Technical Services, IT Project Management, Operations, Service Desk/CUPPS, and Security Teams. This Division provides 24/7 support for airport operations, including building automation, access control, security cameras, baggage handling systems, servers, applications, hardware infrastructure, network infrastructure, end-user support for JWA administrative staff and systems, IT security, compliance efforts, consulting services, and vendor contract management.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Orange County’s John Wayne Airport is seeking a Deputy Airport Director – Information Technology & Innovation (IT Director) to lead its newly created Technology Services Division. If you have significant airport experience, IT systems knowledge, and strong management skills, then you may be the ideal candidate for this exciting role! The IT Director will report directly to the Airport Director while overseeing a team of 19 and a Division operating budget of $9.3 million, along with additional capital improvements. This is the perfect opportunity for someone who is well-versed in Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (CUPPS), payment card systems (PCI), baggage handling systems, and building automation and wants to become part of a fast-paced, progressively innovative executive team, leading technology and innovation at a medium-hub airport. The IT Director will be responsible for overseeing several exciting projects, such as the replacement of the Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS), Parking Access Revenue Control System (PARCS), and the development of a multi-year technology strategy. This role requires strong relationship-building skills, as you will regularly collaborate, and sometimes negotiate, with airport business owners, security, airlines personnel, airport staff, and leadership and work often and effectively with other County centralized and decentralized information technology personnel. It’s essential that the incoming IT Director be innovative, self-driven, and eager to disrupt the status quo in order to thrive in this highly rewarding position.

The ideal candidate must have experience working in an airport setting as well as live and breathe innovation. The ability to provide strategic leadership, change management oversight, and alignment between IT solutions and business needs is critical to the success of this role. You will need strong systems administration and airport experience, along with a desire to build upon your current skills and capabilities to meet the ever-changing needs of the Airport. You will champion a dynamic work environment and be a part of a great management team that strives to develop staff and encourage new ideas and solutions to long-standing challenges. The successful candidate will understand how data can drive decision-making and will have the ability to utilize key performance metrics to measure the success of operations. If you are someone who likes to push against the status quo and thrives on developing unique ideas, then this may be the perfect role for you!

The successful candidate will demonstrate experience in the following:

Six years managing complex, multi-disciplinary Information Technology teams providing a diverse array of IT solutions (hardware, software, networks, cybersecurity, systems integration, and project management) in a senior leadership role with substantial decision-making
At least two of supervisory experience
At least two years of airport/aviation specific experience (including IT support for CUPPS, baggage handling systems, ticketing systems, PCI Compliance, parking systems, building automation, physical security, and/or networks)
Experience working with multiple stakeholders (e.g. maintenance, OCIT, electrical, airlines, concessions, physical and technical security agencies)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

In addition, the successful candidate will also have knowledge, skills, and abilities which will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Information Technology
• Effective Communication
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Planning and Organizations

LICENSE REQUIRED

The successful candidate must possess, obtain and maintain the following licenses:

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

AIRPORT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS

The successful candidate must clear a background check which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Security Threat Assessment (STA).

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, and WORKING CONDITIONS

In addition to the standard requirements and conditions listed for all positions, some assignments may require additional physical and mental capabilities and/or the ability to work in the more diverse environmental conditions listed for some positions.

Physical and Mental Requirements

Possess vision sufficient to read standard text and a computer monitor and to drive a vehicle; speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably in person to individuals and groups and over the telephone; possess body mobility to stand, sit, walk, stoop and bend routinely to perform daily tasks and to access a standard office environment; possess manual dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard, utilize office equipment and to write and drive; use a County approved means of transportation.

Environmental and Working Conditions

Possess the ability to independently reason logically to analyze data, reach conclusions and make recommendations; possess the ability to remain calm and appropriately focused in rapidly changing and difficult situations involving conflict, complex issues, controversy, and diverse stakeholder groups and interests; possess the ability to deal calmly and effectively with emotional interactions. Function effectively in a standard office environment.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services screens all application materials for minimum and desirable qualifications. After screening, candidates who meet the minimum and desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All candidates will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer): Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview (Oral Exam) | (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by job knowledge experts. Each candidate’s rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate’s qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List | Score Groups: Once all assessments have been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County may be required for some assignments.

Veterans Employment Preference: The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

Based on the Department’s needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.