Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $155,567.284 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.The City of Long Beach is seeking an experienced, creative, innovative and collaborate individual who is committed to develop and support the Long Beach Airport.THE COMMUNITY
Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and five golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best–value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach, a charter city formed in 1897, is governed by nine City Council Members elected by district and a city-wide elected Mayor. Other elected officials include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The elected officials are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Clerk and Director of Police Oversight. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Utilities Department (Water and Gas) and Energy Resources Departments.
The City is supported by a FY2025 total budget of approximately $3.6 billion with a General Fund budget of $752 million. More than 6,000 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the vast majority being represented by eleven employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov.
THE DEPARTMENT
Recognized as America's Coolest Airport, LGB offers a unique blend of convenience, efficiency, and a relaxed atmosphere that sets it apart from larger, busier airports. Passengers appreciate shorter lines, quicker security checks, and easy access to gates, making travel less stressful and more enjoyable. Central to the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, with an unparalleled passenger experience, LGB provides leisure travelers with the perfect gateway to Southern California's attractions while providing valuable time savings to business travelers. In a recent ranking by The Washington Post, LGB was recognized as the second-best airport in the United States, based on factors such as accessibility, ease of navigation, architectural appeal, amenities, and unique features.
Long Beach Airport (LGB) is classified as a small hub airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems and serves approximately four million passengers annually. Owned and operated by the City of Long Beach, LGB was established in 1923 and is one of the oldest municipal airports in the United States. Known as the Coolest Airport in America, LGB is a friendly alternative to other Southern California airports, offering preferred flight schedules, great airlines and destinations and overall accessibility.
The Airport is committed to delivering an Outstanding Customer Experience in an intelligent. ecofriendly, safe, and efficient manner while being respectful of our employees and the community that we serve. We also strive to be a major driver in the economic vitality of Long Beach. Through Organizational Excellence, we seek to recruit, develop, and retain talented staff in an organization structured for success.
Long Beach Airport has a rich history of contributions to our nation's leadership in aviation. Earl Daugherty opened one of the nation's first flight schools in Long Beach in 1919. Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart flew from Long Beach. Once home to McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), many commercial aircraft including the DC-8, DC-9/MD-80, DC-10/MD-11, and C-17 were manufactured in Long Beach. Approximately 180 businesses reside on Airport property and are responsible for roughly 18,000 jobs. Some of these include AAA. Aero Business Center, Atlantic Aviation, Long Beach Marriott Hotel, DeVry Institute of Technology, DHL, Epson America, SCAN Health Plan, Signature @ Aeroplex, Skylinks Golf Course, and United Parcel Service.
Companies located near the Airport, such as JetZero and Ampaire are revolutionizing the aerospace industry and leading the way forward with sustainable aircraft designs. The future of space travel is being shaped by local companies including Relativity Space, Rocket Labs, VAST and others. Along with our partners, LGB is a key contributor to the economic vitality of the region.
The Airport recently completed Phase II of the Terminal Area Improvements Project along with significant roadway improvements. New courses and boarding lounges were opened in 2012. These facilities will soon undergo a refresh in preparation for the 2028 Olympics. A new Ticketing Facility featuring Common Use Passenger Processing was opened in 2022. A new Baggage Claim Facility was opened in 2023 and the renovated Historic Terminal, originally opened in 1941, reopened in 2025.
The Airport Department is governed by the City Council; the Airport Director is appointed by the City Manager and is responsible for overall airport activities. The Director is supported by a Deputy Director, Manager of Airport Operations and Facilities and Manager of Finance and Administration. The Airport Department employs approximately 125 staff and has an annual operating budget of approximately $28 million.
THE POSITION
Under the direction of the Deputy Director, the Airport Environmental Sustainability Officer is an at-will officer position within the Airport Department, responsible for the management of the Environmental Sustainability Division. The Airport Environmental Sustainability Officer oversees the development and implementation of environmental and sustainability compliance programs driven by local, state, and federal regulations and policies. This position serves as the environmental technical expert and is a key member of the management team in the development and execution of the Airport’s strategic objectives and key initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a considerable understanding of aviation including an in-depth knowledge of the environmental impact of airport operations.
Specific duties include:Manages the Airport’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan;
Develops short- and long-range strategies, policies, objectives, goals, metrics and initiatives to improve the sustainable performance of the Long Beach Airport;
Represents the Airport in City environmental committees and public forums (commissions, community working groups, stakeholders, etc.) and aviation industry organizations as they relate to sustainable airport development, operations and environmental regulatory compliance;
Implements new, innovative strategies to track performance measures, mitigate risk and respond to public environmental concerns;
Determines the allocation of resources necessary to fulfill division goals and objectives;
Represents the Airport’s interests to the federal, state agencies and other regulators regarding environmental issues;
Collaborates with fellow Airport Divisions Officers and staff on larger Airport-related projects;
Works with airport tenants on all matters related to environmental sustainability;
Maintains relationships with airport tenants, City officials, and the public and ensures effective communication;
Performs other management functions as required.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Airport Environmental Sustainability Officer manages the Environmental Sustainability Division in the Airport Department and reports directly to the Deputy Director, who in turn reports to the Airport Director. Within the Division are 2 employees – 1 Admin Analyst III and 1 Assistant Admin Analyst II.
The Airport Environmental Sustainability Officer is the Airport’s subject matter expert on environmental programs and minimizing impacts caused by airport operations. The Officer will manage assigned environmental programs at the airport for compliance with federal, state, and local rules and regulations, particularly as they pertain to air, water, soil, waste management, and recycling. They will also be responsible for producing various reports related to these programs. Work is in a public-facing, complex, politically sensitive environment. Must be able to comfortably speak in both small and large group settings, before elected officials, governing bodies, community groups and professional organizations in response to community concerns.
The Airport Environmental Sustainability Officer will envision and oversee the implementation of new or revised policies, procedures, initiatives and performance measures related to sustainability projects and programs. They will work closely with the Engineering Division to provide input related to environmental impacts from proposed projects. They will directly address related inquiries and oversee the development of new, innovative strategies and solutions to address emerging environmental issues. They must be able to identify sources of conflict and constructively mitigate causes of conflict to minimize impact on staff and stakeholders.
The Airport Environmental Sustainability Officer will train and supervise the Environmental Sustainability team. They will assess the division’s regulatory requirements, its operational, staffing and equipment needs, and fiscal resources and work with the Finance Division to prioritize needs in light of available resources to determine and maintain the division’s budget.
EDUCATION: - A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Planning, or closely related field.
EXPERIENCE:- Four (4) years of progressively responsible sustainability, environmental compliance, planning, and/or related work, including two (2) years in a supervisory or lead capacity, and at least two (2) years of aviation industry experience.
- A combination of education/experience can be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- A valid driver’s license, or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel, may be required for some assignments.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: - Understanding of aviation and the environmental impact of airport operations.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS THE FOLLOWING:- Experience reviewing local, state and federal environmental regulations and requirements.
- Superior project management skills including planning, analysis, decision making, problem solving, and ability to multi-task.
- Strong written and verbal skills, comfortable speaking in both small and large group settings, before elected officials, governing bodies, community groups and professional organizations.
- Ability to operate in a complex, dynamic, and politically sensitive environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.).
- Valid Class C Driver License.
- Ability to pass a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) mandated background check and maintain security clearance as required by law.
This recruitment will close at 11:59 P.M. (Pacific Time) on Friday, May 29, 2026. To be considered, applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and proof of education in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.
Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment.Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact (562) 570-7126.
The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.
The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.
The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov).
The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-7126.
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