Airport Duty Manager

About the role

The Airport Duty Manager is the principal representative of the Airport Director at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This position oversees all airport activities and coordinates across all airport divisions and sections. In the absence of more senior management, the Airport Duty Manager assumes responsibility for the function, operations, and physical maintenance of the entire Airport complex, representing Airport management during emergencies 24 hours per day.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage all operational activities of airport staff to ensure the safety and security of passengers, tenants, and employees.
• Direct influence over the performance of all airport operational staff, including terminals, security, airfield, baggage, parking facilities, remote property, and landside operations on a shift-by-shift basis.
• Coordinate with SFPD, Security Operations Center (SOC), security vendor, and TSA to ensure security procedural compliance and manage security events, including evacuation, facility searches, and re-screening.
• Identify potential problems and initiate corrective actions to minimize impact to the traveling public; coordinate resolution of issues with senior management, tenants, government officials, and other airport users.
• Determine work priorities and deadlines; delegate to appropriate airport personnel to accomplish objectives.
• Respond to complaints from staff, airlines, tenants, concessions, and the general public to resolve concerns and support the Airport’s mission.
• Conduct briefings with senior staff and shift briefings with all department management to provide critical information to all areas.
• Direct the use of tenant communication tools, including updates to Passur and Everbridge, to provide routine and emergency information to airlines and other stakeholders.
• Advise Communications staff during Airport critical events, including content of each incident communication.
• Coordinate scheduling, scope of work, and safety issues with stakeholders on all construction and maintenance projects to ensure minimal operational disruption.
• Monitor all construction activity occurring in “active” terminals to address safety and customer satisfaction concerns.
• Conduct safety spot checks of all Airport facilities; respond, assess, and fix security issues to prevent violations and fines as related to Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1540-1542.
• Respond and manage the airport facility, including the Emergency Operations Center, during emergencies.
• Coordinate support activities for routine and non-routine situations requiring the cooperation of federal, state, and local agencies.
• Assist SFPD-AB with managing the transient program by actively monitoring facilities, admonishing individuals, signing citizen arrest forms, updating the Airport’s data file, and appearing in Court.
• Represent the Airport Director and Senior Staff during emergencies; serve as the Senior Leader on duty and the Airport media spokesperson during off hours.
• Manage access to Special System Rooms (SSR) and sensitive support areas to prevent unauthorized access.
• Verify tenant, maintenance, and construction crew credentials, tools, liquids, and materials to ensure compliance with security regulations.
• Manage special events, including film shoots, VIP, and Government Affairs escorts by notifying all stakeholders, providing consulate assistance, and coordinating activities.
• Monitor and approve the use of common-use equipment, including gates, checkpoint equipment, ticket counters, jet bridges, baggage handling systems, and baggage carousels to ensure critical equipment is available during irregular operations or emergencies.
• Monitor the efficiency of security checkpoint lines (line wait compliance), passenger screening equipment, queuing systems, and checked baggage equipment to support the airport’s goals and customer service expectations.
• Manage the tarmac delay program to ensure compliance with Federal guidelines by interacting with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airlines to provide alternate gates and/or bus operations.
• Monitor ground transportation traffic flow to ensure sufficient resources for customers and help enforce provider compliance.
• Monitor AirTrain and BART services to ensure service levels and resolution of outages.
• Monitor the issuance of Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS) to reflect changing airfield conditions and/or hazards to air traffic.

Requirements

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five (5) years of professional-level airport/aviation work experience in customer service, facilities, or operations at a medium to large airport.
• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid California Class C driver’s license prior to employment.

Education Substitution: Additional qualifying full-time work experience (2000 hours equal one year) as described above may substitute up to two (2) years of the required education. One (1) year of work experience equals 30 semester units or 45 quarter units. One-year full-time employment is equivalent to 2,000 hours (based on a 40-hour work week). Overtime hours above 40 hours per week are not included in this calculation.

Qualifications

• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to conduct press interviews.
• Experience with heavy coordination of airport/airline operations with responsibility for the overall management of the operation at a particular airport/station.
• Experience in responding to and coordinating airport emergencies and incidents of all types.
• Possession of ICS certification (100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800).
• AAE certified (preferred).

Schedule

This position requires rotating shifts and days off, encompassing 24-hour/7-day-a-week shift coverage, including weekends and holidays. The role may involve prolonged standing and walking, occasional squatting, kneeling, and climbing. Working conditions may include sites with noise greater than 90 decibels, heights, streets, and roadways.