Veteran Fellowship

Welcome to San Diego International Airport, where our purpose is to create an exceptional airport experience for the community and the world. We embody the vibrant spirit of San Diego itself—sunny, welcoming, and full of life. We are committed to attracting, fostering, and empowering a team of talented individuals who can deliver our strategic goals.

Here, you’ll find a workplace culture that thrives on diversity and shared mindsets of collaboration, empathy, inclusivity, thoughtful decision-making, listening, and believing the best in people. If you are ready to contribute to a team that values meaningful impact and enjoys the journey along the way, we invite you to apply today.

The Veterans Fellowship Program is designed to foster a seamless transition for veterans from active duty to the civilian work environment by providing an excellent opportunity to gain practical work experience in our integrated aviation environment; duties assigned may vary widely depending on the department needs.

The one-year fellowship provides an excellent opportunity for veterans with great initiative. Selected veterans will gain practical work experience in our integrated aviation environment. Our program offers an array of valuable growth opportunities:

1. Hands on work experience.

2. Heighten understanding of the aviation industry's diverse facets.

3. Workshops with subject matter experts on: resume writing and interviewing skills, networking and building relationships, and corporate business practices.

4. Networking with the leadership team and fellow employees.

5. Gaining perspective from team members who successfully transitioned from the military to the civilian workforce.

Not limited to the following, the ideal candidate for Veteran Fellowship - Airside Operations Duty Manager maintains safety and security integrity consistently with mandates, policies and procedures:

1. Represents all aspects of airport emergencies and operational activities; maintaining safety and security integrity of airfield with standards on the airfield, taxiways and airside; manages FAR Part 139 programs including airfield safety inspection and reporting, airfield signs, markings and lighting, airfield pavement management, airfield driver training program, aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) contract, airfield wildlife management, disabled aircraft recovery; Part 77 obstructions, aviation fueling inspections, annual FAA certification inspection.

2. Serves as liaison with contractors during construction and maintenance projects on runways, taxiways, aprons, and terminal facilities; issues NOTAMs and communicates airport operational advisories to tenants, air traffic control, governmental agencies, and the public;

3. Coordinates, responds, and participates in airport emergencies with first responder agencies including law enforcement, medical, HAZMAT, TSA, ARFF, customs and border protection; manages aircraft gate schedule, remain-overnight aircraft parking assignments and changes in airline and charter aircraft schedules.

4. Manages airfield escort activities in compliance with mandates and regulations; maintains, and strengthens partnerships with stakeholders; interprets mandates and regulations to stakeholders; works collaboratively on organizational programs and initiatives; ensures delivery of effective customer service; develops resolution and course of action to conflicts.

5. Maintains records, operational log, and correspondence; develops reports and correspondence; participates in operational and industry meetings; oversees service provider contracts and activities; participates in goals and objectives development, as well as capital and operating budgets; implements changes; seeks and participates in opportunities to improve, streamline, reinvent work processes, manuals, and program documents; adapts best practices and processes;

6. Serves as a subject matter expert and provides input for airfield and airport infrastructure; keeps up-to-date on industry and regulatory trends and shape stakeholders views; performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

1. Business Acumen - Demonstrates broad understanding of the departments’ functions, and supporting work activities across the organization.

2. Relationship Management - Ability to consult and provide advice at all levels of the organization; resolve conflict, establish trust, credibility, and respect, as an impartial advocate for organizational business objectives.

3. Facilitation & Presentation - Facilitates respectful exchange of ideas and fosters an atmosphere of open communications while keeping focused on objective; effectively presents to individuals or groups.

4. Problem Solving - Ability to analyze and define a problem, evaluate alternative solutions, and identify an optimal solution; listens and clarifies information as needed.

5. Project Management - Ability to determine appropriate measures to achieve project goals and prioritize the measures; able to fully engage others to deliver an acceptable result in the time allocated.

6. Agility - Readily adapts behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.

Requirements

Required Education & Experience:

1. A minimum of three (3) years of active duty or mobilized reserve duty service.

2. Or combination of training and experience.

3. Documentation of an Honorable discharge (DD214) from active or reserve status is required. The DD214 should be signed with a discharge date within the last year (verify date in box 12.b); and must be submitted with your application.*

4. A California Class C driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Authority’s vehicle insurance policy.

Preferred Education & Experience:

1. BA degree in Aviation Management, or related field.

2. Three years of air traffic control, airfield operations experience.

*An exception will be made to the one-year requirement listed above for full-time students enrolled in a degree or certification program since honorable discharge; a transcript must be provided.

The hiring salary is $27.88 per hour.

Responsibilities require flexibility to work rotating shifts including weekends, holidays, and night shifts.

EEO Statement

It is the policy of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, SDCRAA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Physical & Mental Demands

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the hiring department to accommodate the limitation. If you need any form of accommodation during the recruitment process, please inform the Talent Acquisition Partner (Recruiter).

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as they may be assigned to them by their employer or law.