About This Role
This director role involves overseeing the operation, maintenance, and development of the City's municipal airport, Drake Field, which includes a city-staffed fixed base operator. The position is responsible for strategic planning, marketing, and ensuring compliance with aviation regulations, making it suitable for a leader in airport management.
Responsibilities
- Perform supervisory responsibilities including interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning, directing work, appraising performance, rewarding, disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and resolving problems
- Direct the operation, maintenance, and development of the City's municipal airport, Drake Field, a Part 139 certified general aviation airport
- Develop policies, plans, and procedures for the efficient operation of the airport
- Market the airport by developing and implementing strategic plans to attract users and commercial/industrial tenants from local, regional, and national markets
- Partner with the City's Economic Development team to recruit aviation-related employers and develop airport property
- Schedule and conduct monthly Airport Board Meetings, including agenda preparation
- Work with the Airport Board to develop plans, procedures, strategies, and programs to improve service and facilities at the airport
- Manage the fixed base operator as a customer-facing business
- Set service standards for fuel, flight line, and passenger services, and track customer satisfaction, fuel volume, and margin
- Schedule, cross-train, and deploy staff to match demand, including peak periods and special events, to ensure consistent service for based tenants, transient pilots, and corporate operators
- Oversee preparation and maintenance of the Airport Master Plan
- Oversee the management of fuel and aeronautical supply inventories as directed by the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality for fuel standards
- Prepare action items for the Airport Board and City Council
- Coordinate action items through the Staff Review process and prepare backup information as necessary
- Develop and administer the five-year capital improvement plan for the airport
- Prepare applications and present proposals to the FAA for Airport Improvement Program Grant funding to fund airport improvement projects
- Prepare applications for Arkansas Division of Aeronautics matching grants
- Manage active grants from award through closeout: direct and review the preparation of drawdowns and federal reports, ensure contractor compliance, and provide Finance with grant expenditure reporting for the City's annual audit
- Negotiate and enforce lease agreements and other contracts between the City of Fayetteville and Airport tenants
- Prepare applications and agreements for review by the Airport Board and approval through the City contract review process and City Council as required
