Senior Airport Operations Manager – Airport Operations Center; AOC

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $120,000 - $165,000/year. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• 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

In this position you can expect to work on‑site five days a week at Denver International Airport (Airport Office Building). The standard schedule for this position is Monday – Friday; however, schedule and shifts will vary to ensure coverage seven (7) days a week and may adjust with short notice to ensure support for emergencies or events. This position may also require extended or additional work hours for snow duty and other emergencies (straight time overtime pay).

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.

Denver International Airport (DEN) is seeking an experienced Senior Airport Operations Manager to lead and shape our new Airport Operations Center (AOC). The AOC is a unified, cross‑functional hub designed to enhance airport efficiency and resilience. By leveraging data‑driven insights and proactive information sharing, the AOC anticipates and mitigates operational challenges, provides 360‑degree situational awareness across all airport functions, sets priorities, and supports an exceptional customer experience.

In this leadership role, you will have the unique opportunity to build and develop the AOC, bringing diverse work units together to create a collaborative, high‑performing operations environment that drives innovation and operational excellence.

Specifically, as the Senior Airport Operations Manager, you will:

• Stakeholder Coordination
  :
  Lead a team and system that serves as the central coordination point for daily airport operations. The AOC will maintain continuous awareness of the airport’s operational environment, predicting what will happen and bringing stakeholders together to support timely decision‑making and maintain efficient airport operations. This will include direct stakeholder engagement, timely and accurate notifications, coordination of virtual or in‑person meetings to ensure collaboration, and analysis of data points to identify and mitigate potential issues.
• Compliance and Quality Assurance
  :
  Ensure daily operations align with regulatory requirements, quality or customer experience standards, and safety requirements. When there are disruptions to the smooth operation or flow of the airport, coordinate response from necessary partners and ensure a quick return to normal operations. When an event becomes an airport emergency, ensure the response of the airport and other agencies to effectively coordinate and manage in compliance with National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards.
• System Performance Monitoring
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  Track and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs) for airport operations. Identify performance trends and use data insights to…