2026-09 Director, Airside Operations

Victoria-Airport-Authority-; North Saanich; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Victoria Airport Authority in Victoria, BC, seeks a Director, Airside Operations to lead airside and groundside operations, ensuring safe, efficient and compliant performance. The role translates corporate priorities into multi-year plans, policies and performance standards, providing strategic guidance to executives and boards.

The Director leads multidisciplinary teams, manages workforce capability and succession readiness, and fosters a high-performing culture aligned with VAA values while

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Canadian Aviation Regulations, ICAO Standards, Safety Management Systems.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing operational and capital budgets.
• Effective communicator and collaborative leader building relationships with regulators, partners and Indigenous communities.
• Strategic thinker with ability to translate priorities into plans while maintaining safety and service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead airside and groundside operations, maintaining safety and compliance.
• Oversee maintenance, winter operations, and regulatory performance standards.
• Develop multi-year plans and capital initiatives to strengthen resilience.

Skills

Aviation regs

ICAO Standards

Safety Mgmt Systems

Operational risk

Business continuity

Airport infra

Job description

Director, Airside Operations

Victoria Airport Authority

Victoria Airport Authority

Victoria, BC

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) isVancouver Island’s gateway to the world,connecting more than 1.9 millionpassengers annually to key domesticand seasonal international destinations.Operated by the Victoria AirportAuthority (VAA), anot-for-profit, non-share capitalorganization, YYJ plays a vital role inregional connectivity and economicgrowth. VAA operates from thehomeland of the WSÁNEĆ peoplewhose historical relationship to the landcontinues to this day.

YYJ has been recognized as one of BC’sTop Employers annually since 2020. Ithas also received the Airports CouncilInternational award for Best RegionalAirport in North America in 2012, 2014,2020 and 2024. Since April 1, 1997, theVictoria Airport Authority has managedand operated YYJ on behalf of thesurrounding communities, delivering asafe, secure, sustainable, and efficientairport experience.

Job Overview

Reporting to the Vice President, Operations, the Director, Airside Operations(Director) leads, directs, and oversees the performance Victoria Airport Authority's(VAA) airside operations, systems and services. The Director is accountable for thesafe, efficient and continuous operation of these critical functions, including airsideand groundside maintenance, winter operations and compliance with applicableregulatory performance requirements.As a key member of VAA’s management team, the Director translates corporatepriorities into multi-year business and operational plans, policies, procedures andperformance standards.

The role provides strategic advice to the Executive,contributes to reporting to the Board, and leads operational and capital initiativesthat strengthen organizational resilience, improve performance and prepare theairport for future requirements. The Director provides senior leadership tomultidisciplinary teams in unionized and excluded environments. They areaccountable for workforce capability, succession readiness, performancemanagement and the development of a positive, high-performing culture alignedwith VAA’s values.

Requirements

• They bring strong knowledge of Canadian AviationRegulations, ICAO Standards, Safety Management Systems, operational risk,business continuity and airport infrastructure.
• They will have demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams, ideally in aunionized environment, managing operational and capital budgets, overseeingcontractors and vendors, and delivering complex projects and programs.
• Aconfident communicator and collaborative leader, the Director builds trustedrelationships with employees, regulators, aviation partners, service providers, localgovernments, Indigenous leaders and other interest holders.
• Strategic and forward-looking while remaining connected to day-to-day operations,the Director is recognized for sound judgment, accountability and the ability tomanage competing priorities while maintaining a strong focus on safety, serviceand operational excellence.