Deputy Airport Director, Innovation & Technology
(Technology Services Deputy Director)
This recruitment is open to the public. The open eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill a current vacancy within John Wayne Airport and may be used to fill any future vacancies in other agencies throughout the County of Orange. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and or lower classifications.
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as the recruitment will close on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 11:59 pm (PST).
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and the successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 and 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been a major cornerstone of Orange County for more than 100 years. Located in beautiful Southern California, we currently serve approximately 11.8 million annual passengers. We strive to provide a superior guest experience to ensure travel is convenient and stress-free. The County of Orange owns and operates the airport and the service area includes more than three million people within 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and beyond.
As a medium hub airport, we have commercial flights to more than 40 nonstop destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Eleven commercial airlines and two air cargo airlines fly out of the Airport. It is home to nearly 500 general aviation (private, non-commercial) aircraft, representing 60% of total operations, and includes two full-service fixed base operators and one limited use general aviation facility.
- Mission: Connecting People, Places and Opportunities.
- Vision: To be an airport of choice by creating exceptional experiences.
- Core Values: REACH
- Respect
- Environmental Stewardship
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Honesty
To learn more about working at John Wayne Airport, click here.
To learn more about the County of Orange, click here.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
As technology continues to rapidly change in airports, JWA is looking to develop the Innovation & Technology Division to ensure JWA is seen as a leader when it comes to an end user’s experience, cyber security, service reliability, and strategic upgrade. This Division plays a unique and critical role in the Airport’s operations.
The Innovation and Technology Division of John Wayne Airport includes Technical Services, IT Project Management, Operations, Service Desk/CUPPS, and Security Teams. This Division provides 24/7 support for airport operations, including building automation, access control, security cameras, baggage handling systems, servers, applications, hardware infrastructure, network infrastructure, end-user support for JWA administrative staff and systems, IT security, compliance efforts, consulting services, and vendor contract management.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Orange County’s John Wayne Airport is seeking a Deputy Airport Director – Innovation & Technology (IT Director). If you have strong leadership/management skills, IT systems knowledge, and airport experience then you may be the ideal candidate for this exciting role! The position will report directly to the Assistant Airport Director while overseeing a team of 19. This is the perfect opportunity for someone who is well-versed in Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (CUPPS), payment card systems (PCI), baggage handling systems, and building automation and wants to become part of a fast-paced, progressively innovative executive team, leading innovation and technology at a medium-hub airport.
This role requires strong relationship-building skills, as you will regularly collaborate, and sometimes negotiate, with airport business owners, security, airlines personnel, airport staff, and leadership and work often and effectively with other County centralized and decentralized information technology personnel. The ability to provide strategic leadership, change management oversight, and alignment between IT solutions and business needs is critical to the success of this role.
The successful candidate will understand how data can drive decision-making and will have the ability to utilize key performance metrics to measure the success of operations. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience in the following:
- Sixyears managing complex, multi-disciplinary Information Technology teams providing a diverse array of IT solutions (hardware, software, networks, cybersecurity, systems integration, and project management) in a senior leadership role with substantial decision-making
- At least fiveof supervisory experience
- At least twoyears of experience working in an Airport/aviation environment or environment of similar complexity, including factors such as 24/7 operations, systems reliability, compliance programs, security, complexity of systems/projects
- Experience working with multiple stakeholders/customers (e.g. maintenance, OCIT, electrical, airlines, concessions, physical and technical security agencies)
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
In addition, the successful candidate will also have knowledge, skills, and abilities which will demonstrate the following competencies:
TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP - Strong ability to develop, maintain, and implement a multi-year technology strategy
- Ability to effectively lead and develop staff to meet current and future growth needs
- Partner with OCIT and other airport vendors to ensure alignment between solutions and business needs and ensure accountability
- Ability to listen, build rapport, and credibility as a strategic partner vertically within the business unit, as well as with leadership and functional teams
- Highly developed written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills
- Ability to lead change using positive and collaborative methods
- Ability to explain complex, technical information clearly and simply to different levels of staff, management, and executives
- Understanding of public sector budget, procurement, and billing processes
- In collaboration with procurement, provide general oversight of IT-related contracts, expenditures, purchase requests, RFP, Scopes of Work
- Understand how IT integrates and supports the airport- physical infrastructure, airport operations, maintenance of airport infrastructure, and capital projects
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCY- Ability to analyze, research information, and understand technical solutions
- Thorough knowledge of Systems Administration, the demonstrated ability to keep up to date in Information Technology solutions, and ability to implement IT solutions
- Experience with cybersecurity safeguards, compliance requirements, and programs
- Ability to ensure the reliable and effective service delivery of multiple IT/building automation systems.
- Experience with airport-specific common use and parking IT applications
- Must have and maintain credibility with the internal business community
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Office 365 Cloud Services, and mobile devices
- Managing multiple concurrent complex projects
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION- Promotes open, candid information sharing across organizational boundaries
- Builds consensus among diverse groups for the purpose of meeting business objectives
- Listens effectively to others
- Communicates effectively in writing to develop organizational documents
- Presents ideas and complex material clearly, concisely, logically and persuasively both orally and in writing
- Deals effectively with various levels of the organization
- Ensures timely, appropriate communication with stakeholders
- Applies contemporary technical concepts and best practices to assignment
- Readily and routinely shares technical knowledge with others
PROBLEM SOLVING and ANALYSIS- Makes sound business decisions based on limited, complex or contradicting information and relevant public service ethical principles
- Integrates new ideas and contemporary approaches into problem-solving
- Gathers, analyzes and applies information skillfully
- Develops alternative solutions
- Exhibits innovation and creativity in identifying and resolving problems as they occur
- Works effectively in group problem-solving situations
- Analyzes issues and data to support and provide input into programs and policy decision-making
PLANNING and ORGANIZATION- Sets project goals and objectives aligned with departmental and/or County priorities
- Plans for acquiring resources needed for project completion
- Integrates changes smoothly
- Works in an organized manner
- Exhibit cost consciousness and conserve departmental and/or County resources
- Manage various consulting contracts to ensure compliance
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To learn about the minimum qualifications of the Technology Services Deputy Director classification, click here.
LICENSE REQUIRED
The successful candidate must possess, obtain and maintain the following licenses:
- Valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment
- Valid Airport Access Badge with an Airport Driving Endorsement within ten (10) days of employment
AIRPORT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
The successful candidate must clear a background check which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Security Threat Assessment (STA).
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, and WORKING CONDITIONS
In addition to the standard requirements and conditions listed for all positions, some assignments may require additional physical and mental capabilities and/or the ability to work in the more diverse environmental conditions listed for some positions.
Physical and Mental Requirements
Possess vision sufficient to read standard text and a computer monitor and to drive a vehicle; speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably in person to individuals and groups and over the telephone; possess body mobility to stand, sit, walk, stoop and bend routinely to perform daily tasks and to access a standard office environment; possess manual dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard, utilize office equipment and to write and drive; use a County approved means of transportation.
Environmental and Working Conditions
Possess the ability to independently reason logically to analyze data, reach conclusions and make recommendations; possess the ability to remain calm and appropriately focused in rapidly changing and difficult situations involving conflict, complex issues, controversy, and diverse stakeholder groups and interests; possess the ability to deal calmly and effectively with emotional interactions. Function effectively in a standard office environment.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services screens all application materials for minimum and desirable qualifications. After screening, candidates who meet the minimum and desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All candidates will be notified via email of their status in the process.
Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer): Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.
Structured Oral Interview (Oral Exam) | (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.
Eligible List | Score Groups: Once all assessments have been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
Completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County may be required for some assignments.
Veterans Employment Preference: The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please clickhere to review the policy.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please see below for important information regarding COVID-19-related requirements.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and laws, regulations, and policies regarding COVID-19 are subject to change. The County of Orange is required to comply with all applicable State or County Public Health Orders, some of which require vaccination or testing as follows:
- Workers, who provide services in certain Medical or High-Risk Settings, will be required to provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or to wear a mask and undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.
- Workers, who provide services in certain Health Care Facilities or in a correctional facility or detention center where health care is provided, will be required to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated and boosted. (Workers may be exempt from this requirement based on religious beliefs or a qualifying medical reason; however, if exempted, they will be required to wear a mask and undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.)
The position for which you are applying may be required to adhere to any applicable State or County Public Health Orders. You will receive notification of any requirement as it applies to a position.
EMAIL NOTIFICATION:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at
www.governmentjobs.com.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact
Jennifer Ramirez at (714) 347-8385 or at
jramirez@css.ocgov.com.
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer,
encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
