Senior Airport Operations Specialist I/II/III

Senior Airport Operations Specialist I/II/III

Salary

$85,372.56 - $118,067.04 Annually

Location

San Jose

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202601737

DEPART

Airport

Opening Date

08/17/2026

Closing Date

8/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.

About the Department

Fueled by a culture of innovation, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) is the Bay Areas easiest and most dependable Airport due to its medium size, simple layout, temperate climate and location. SJC is located just minutes from downtown San José - the Bay Area's largest city and the Capital of Silicon Valley. SJC is a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC was rated California's top-performing airport for on-time departures by Cirium in 2024 and 2025. SJC currently offers nonstop service to more than 40 domestic and international destinations. The Airport's two fixed-base operators, as well as several corporate aviation tenants, serve the business aviation needs of Silicon Valley; corporate and general aviation traffic represents more than a quarter of aircraft operations at SJC. For more information and to connect with SJC on social media, visit flysanjose.com.

Position Duties

The City of San José - San José Mineta International Airport is currently recruiting for Senior Airport Operations Specialists for the Airport Operations Division. This position performs work under the immediate supervision of an Airport Operations Supervisor and the Manager-on-Duty to support the variety of airport operations duties related to compliance, enforcement and customer service essential to the 24-hour operation of a medium-hub international airport. These activities support the four sections of Airport Operations (Airside, Terminal Management / Customer Experience, Landside, and Security). This position will rotate responsibilities between the various sections referenced above to gain a comprehensive knowledge base and insight of the functionality of the Airport.

Typical duties and responsibilities include the following:

Airside Operations:

• Responds to emergencies, distressed or disabled aircraft, hazardous materials spills, wildlife or other airfield accidents or incidents
• Perform airfield inspections and other operations duties in support of Airside.
• Coordinates cleanup efforts, prepares detailed informational and operational reports related to safety/security incidents, injuries and accidents.
• Use vehicle to patrol the airfield to inspect and observe aircraft, tenants, perimeter fences, gates to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and act to correct deficiencies.

Terminal Management / Customer Experience

• Coordinates common use resources (gates, remote parking, ticket counters, bag belts) to maintain safe, efficient day to day operations.
• Assists in documenting and resolving disruptions to operations such as bag jams, passenger queue control and irregular airline operations.
• Inspects the terminal facility regularly to ensure a clean, reputable terminal facility is available to the traveling public.
• Conducts customer service surveys to drive improvements for the overall passenger experience.

Landside:

• Uses data entry and personal interaction to process permits, reports, and work orders to ensure regulatory compliance and exceptional customer service.
• Observes, records, and enforces activities conducted on the Landside (terminal curbs, roadways, traffic control, public & employee parking facilities, and Ground Transportation areas).
• Responds to emergencies, vehicle accidents, or other Landside incidents to maintain a safe and efficient operation. Includes on-site inspection of the area, performing or coordinating activities as required.

Security Compliance:

• Performs surveillance, inspection and investigations for enforcement of the Airport Security Program; investigates security breaches and violations.
• Uses vehicle to patrol the airport to inspect perimeter fences, physical assets, employees, tenants, and contractors to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and take action to correct deficiencies.
• Enforces proper procedures for Airports Access Control System to prevent unauthorized and/or unescorted access to the Air Operations Area (AOA)

Airport Operations Center:

• Monitors and manages the Airport's Access Control, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV, Fire Monitoring System, Building Management System, and Baggage Handling Systems; utilizes computer-based tools such as Asset Management software, email, and Emergency Notification Systems to continuously facilitate a safe, efficient, and coordinated operation.
• Monitors and utilizes multiple Airport and public safety radio frequencies, phone lines, paging / public address systems, and electronic communications such as email, in order to coordinate Airport / stakeholder communications and Airport response.
• Receives and analyzes information and data on all events pertinent to Airport Operations; constructs and decides appropriate actions to be taken by personnel; prioritizes and coordinates team response, communicates relevant information, and dispatches personnel to respond appropriately.
• Utilizes the highest degree of professionalism in the conduct of all business and communications.

The Senior Airport Operations Specialist will be required to effectively multitask and prioritize simultaneous duties. Additional duties that may be assigned to the Senior Airport Operations Specialist include, but are not limited to: compiles data, completes required forms, prepares reports, oversees recordkeeping.

The Senior Airport Operations Specialist will ensure compliance with rules and regulations under the following agencies: California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), City of San José, and the San José Mineta International Airport. Successful candidates must demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.

Salary Range for Senior Airport Operations Specialist I is: $85,372.56 - $103,827.36

Salary Range for Senior Airport Operations Specialist II is: $87,949.68 - $107,125.20

Salary Range for Senior Airport Operations Specialist III is: $96,904.08 - $118,076.04

The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate's qualifications and experience. These salary ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay.

Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

• Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations. Knowledge of and/or Experience related to Federal Aviation Regulation Part 139 and Transportation Security Regulations (TSR) 1542 is desirable.
• Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.
• Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
• Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
• Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.
• Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational support and direction.
• Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.

Minimum Qualifications

Senior Airport Operations Specialist I: Bachelor's degree in Aviation or closely related field AND one (1) year of experience in the aviation field or an internship in aviation. Additional experience in aviation may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis. Aviation experience is typically gained by working for the following types of organizations: airport, airline, fixed based operator, airport related contractor, aviation related government agency or military aviation.

Senior Airport Operations Specialist II: Bachelors Degree in Aviation or closely related field OR certification from an airport industry professional organization AND one (1) year experience at the level of Senior Airport Operations Specialist I. Additional experience may be substituted for education.

Senior Airport Operations Specialist III: Bachelors Degree in Aviation or closely related field AND certification from an airport industry professional organization AND two (2) years of experience at the level of Senior Airport Operations Specialist I or higher. Additional experience may be substituted for education.

License/Certificates:

• Incumbents are required to complete and pass a TSA mandated, Criminal History Records Check, a Security Threat Assessment and all other City, State or Federal requirements.
• California driver's license.
• Obtain an Airport-issued Ramp Drivers Permit and Movement Area Operating Permit within 6 months of employment.

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application. Candidates are required to satisfactorily complete and pass a fingerprint based Criminal History Records Check prior to being considered for a position in this class at the Airport. This Airport position requires a background check and a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check. The candidate must be fingerprinted and qualify under all applicable TSA and Airport regulations.

Other Qualifications

Selection Process

To apply, please complete an application via the City of San Jose's website at The final filing date for this job announcement is 11:59 p.m. on August 31, 2026. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-September, with a tentative start date of late October for successful candidates.

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicants training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that the use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Tessa Elkins at telkins@sjc.org

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose's website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.

You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the Citys benefits page for detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City's Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks site to explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• High School Diploma or the equivalent (GED)
• College (1 to 29 semester units/ 1 to 44 quarter units)
• College (30 to 59 semester units/ 45 to 89 quarter units)
• College (60 to 89 semester units/ 90 to 134 quarter units)
• College (90 to 119 semester units/ 135 to 179 quarter units)
• College (120 or more semester units/ 180 or more quarter units)
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctoral Degree
• Other
• None of the above

02

If you have a bachelors degree or higher from an accredited college or university in a related field, please state the field of study and the issuing accredited college or university.

03

An acceptable education substitution for the Senior Airport Operations Specialist I/II/III position is experience in aviation. Please describe your additional experience in aviation.

04

This position may require a State of California Drivers License. Please select the applicable option that best describes your drivers license, or your ability to possess a valid drivers license.

• State of CA, Class A Drivers License
• State of CA, Class B Drivers License
• State of CA, Class C Drivers License
• I do not possess a State of California Drivers License but, I can obtain one.
• I do not possess a State of California Drivers License and I cannot obtain one

05

How many years of experience do you have in the aviation field? Please Note: One year of Full-Time experience = 2080 Hour

• Less than one (1) year
• One (1) year or more, but fewer than two (2)
• Two (2) or more years

06

All levels of this position require the ability to complete and pass a TSA mandated, Criminal History Records Check, and a Security Threat Assessment, and all other City, State, or Federal requirements. Do you agree to complete these requirements?

• Yes
• No

07

All levels of this position require the ability to obtain an Airport issued Ramp Drivers Permit and a Movement Area Operating Permit within six months of employment. Do you agree to complete these requirements?

• Yes
• No

08

Please describe your work experience related to Federal Aviation Regulations and Transportation Security Regulations, including how many years, which specific regulations you have experience with, and specific examples of your direct experience related to these regulations.

09

Describe a situation in which you encountered multiple issues that required the use of your prioritization skills. Please describe the process and reasons behind your decisions.

10

In this position, you will work with a fairly large team across various shifts. Describe your experience working in a team environment, what challenges you have faced both as a team and individually, and methods you used to facilitate effective communication. Please give specific examples.

11

Given that this position rotates on various shifts including weekends, holidays, and overtime assignments, please describe how you would effectively communicate and pass down information to different shifts and supervisors?

12

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect the candidate's own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

• Yes, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the above statement regarding the use of AI in the application and interview process.

Required Question

Employer City of San Jose

Address 200 E Santa Clara St

San Jose, California, 95113

Phone (408) 535-1285

Website https://www.sanjoseca.gov/