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.

• 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

In this position you can expect to work on‑site five days a week at Denver International Airport (Airport Office Building). The standard schedule is Monday‑Friday; however, schedule and shifts will vary to ensure coverage seven (7) days a week and may adjust with short notice to support 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, handling 82,427,962 passengers in 2025. 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. 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 build and develop the AOC, bringing diverse work units together to create a collaborative, high‑performing operations environment that drives innovation and operational excellence.

• Stakeholder Coordination:
  Lead a team and system that serves as the central coordination point for daily airport operations, maintaining continuous awareness of the airport’s operational environment, predicting challenges, and bringing stakeholders together for timely decision‑making.
• Compliance and Quality Assurance:
  Ensure daily operations align with regulatory requirements, quality or customer experience standards, and safety requirements; coordinate response during disruptions and emergencies in compliance with National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards.
• System Performance Monitoring:
  Track and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs) for airport operations, identify trends, and use data insights to guide strategic decision making.
• Data Analysis and Reporting:
  Collect, interpret, and analyze operational data to produce reports and presentations for leadership, assist in budget creation, tracking, invoice approvals, expenditure monitoring, and staffing analysis.
• Team Building and Management:
  Hire, lead, and develop a high‑performing AOC team; establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations to ensure operational excellence.
• Policy and Procedure Development:
  Create and implement policies, procedures, and operational protocols for the AOC to ensure consistency and compliance across airport functions.
• 24/7 Operational Readiness:
  Develop staffing plans, escalation protocols, and processes to maintain continuous operational coverage and situational awareness.
• Perform Other Duties as Assigned.

Strong collaboration with many work groups and stakeholders is the basis of our success in moving toward DEN’s shared vision, mission, and goals. Cultivating strong relationships and pushing yourself, your work, and Denver to the next level will bring great satisfaction when successfully developing and leading the Airport Operations…