Manager, Airport Certification and Safety, JFK

Title:  Manager, Airport Certification and Safety, JFK

Department:  Aviation

Location:  JFK

The Aviation Department of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is currently seeking a Manager, Airport Certification and Safety, JFK Airport with extensive knowledge of FAA Part 139 to lead the execution of essential regulatory, airport certification, safety, and emergency management initiatives for our airport system.

The Aviation Department mission is to develop, provide, promote, maintain, and enhance a unified system of safe and secure regional airport facilities, providing the region with unsurpassed global access and restoring the region to its preeminent status as the nation’s gateway for passengers and cargo, and to do so with sensitivity for the community and the environment.

Functional Oversight

The Port Authority is seeking an experienced, energetic, strategic, innovative, and results-oriented manager to fill a critical position in the Aviation Department’s Aviation Operations team. 

Reporting to the Manager, Safety & Regulatory Compliance, the successful candidate will be expected to ensure that airport operations and maintenance activities and facility infrastructure comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and agency and department policy. The manager will assess the airport’s implementation of a vast array of Part 139 requirements, interface with the FAA and other airports to identify best safety practices, assist the airport to implement a Safety Management System (SMS), and serve as a technical resource and expert for the airport’s certification and safety program. The Manager, Airport Certification and Safety must maintain close working relationships with the Airport General Manager, the Managers of Airport Operations and Maintenance, the ARFF Chief and Deputy Chief, the Port Authority Police, the FAA, and the Port Authority Office of Emergency Management (PAOEM). Key activities include research, audit, evaluation, coordination, advise staff with recommendations, produce data reports, write reports, analyze and observe airport activities, record keeping management, and associated administrative work.

Responsibilities:

The Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Actively work with airport operations, maintenance, wildlife, and ARFF staff to develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive, systematic, and consistent plans to ensure that the airport achieves outstanding results on annual 139 airport certification inspections.
• Conduct audits of the airport’s day-to-day activities to ensure compliance with 139 requirements, the Airport Certification Manual, department policy and FAA Advisory Circulars.
• Conduct reviews and analysis of the airport self-inspection program and identify trends and recommend improvements.
• Review and analyze the results of annual certification inspections and develop plans for immediate remediation and continuous improvement.
• Provide oversight of all 139 training, including ARFF, wildlife, and driver training records management.
• Ensure that the ACM, including airport daily inspection procedures, construction safety and phasing plans, airport snow and ice control plans, and training documentation are up to date and accurate.
• Constantly monitor changes to Advisory Circulars and FAA publications and advise airport staff of upcoming regulatory changes.
• Craft future 139 requirements, including SMS and other safety initiatives.
• Coordinate with sister airports to standardize airport certification policies and procedures.
• Research, evaluate, make recommendations, and produce data reports regarding airport compliance
• Craft the SMS program to include safety inspection procedures, the facility safety inspection program, and airport safety inspections to identify potential hazards and prepare and recommend practical solutions to eliminate and prevent hazardous conditions.
• Coordinate with the airport to chair the FAA’s required SMS committee and coordinate with other departments to enhance awareness of safety issues.
• Coordinate and liaison with the FAA, the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), and airport tenants on all matters involving SMS.
• Work with airport staff to implement relevant Advisory Circulars and, if necessary, recommend revision of the ACM accordingly.
• Review reports by Airport Operations field supervisory personnel performing airport self-inspection and certification related activities.
• Coordinate with Aviation Operations central staff, local airport management, and sister facility airport certification staff to provide collective input and feedback with regard to operations policy, facility procedures and future airport safety initiatives and technologies.
• Support and track compliance status for Wildlife (USDA), Maintenance, and other units' Part 139 requirements.
• Contribute to aeronautical construction projects by offering FAA advisory circular design guidance.
• Participate in the development, submission, and receipt of FAA approval of Construction Safety and Phasing Plans.
• Represent Aviation Operations at  local Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT) meetings, airport Chief Pilots meetings, FAA Industry Day meetings, and other community and industry meetings.
• Handle administrative responsibilities, including preparing various performance reports and documenting work efforts in report format.
• In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the selected candidate will be required, when necessary, to report to the Port Authority Agency Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Jersey City, NJ to work emergencies and/or weather-related events (i.e., significant snowfall events), outside of normal working hours, inclusive of nighttime 12-hour shifts.

Qualifications

Candidates must present the following qualifications to be considered eligible for this position:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Aviation Management or a related field.
• Working knowledge of FAA regulations with at least three years of experience in airport operations/Part139 at a Part 139 certificated airport.
• Knowledge of the airport industry and associated FAA programs, particularly safety compliance.

Desired

Ideal candidates will present the following profile:

• AAAE accreditation.
• Experience working in the aviation industry, preferably airport / airline operations and safety as they pertain to Part 139.
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of FAA Advisory Circulars as they pertain to airport operations, safety and maintenance.
• Knowledge of and experience with Airport Safety Management System (SMS).