Manager, Operational Safety

YVR; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vancouver Airport Authority is seeking a Manager, Operational Safety to lead proactive risk management and foster a strong safety culture across YVR operations. The role collaborates with airlines, regulators, contractors, and partners to continually improve safety performance and resilience.

The incumbent will guide investigations, assurance activities, and leadership development within a highly regulated environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in an operational or safety-critical aviation environment.
• 3+ years of people leadership experience with ability to coach and develop teams.
• Experience leading in a highly regulated operational environment with stakeholder influence.
• Experience implementing and continuously improving Safety Management Systems (SMS).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the airport's Operational Safety Program and set priorities.
• Lead cross-functional stakeholders to foster a safety culture across operations.
• Champion proactive risk management and effective mitigation.
• Drive safety performance using data, metrics, and best practices.
• Lead safety investigations and ensure corrective actions are embedded across the airport.
• Oversee safety assurance activities including audits, inspections, and compliance monitoring.
• Develop and mentor safety professionals and operational leaders.

Skills

Leadership

SMS implementation

Risk management

Incident investigations

Stakeholder management

Operational safety

Data analytics

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's in Aviation/Safety/Related

Job description

YVR connects people, places, and cargo while delivering a safe and efficient experience for everyone. The Operational Excellence and Improvement team helps ensure airport readiness by advancing operational safety, performance improvement, business resilience, and emergency preparedness, enabling YVR to effectively manage risks, respond to disruptions, and continuously improve operations.

Position overview

Are you passionate about creating safer, smarter airport operations? We have an exciting permanent full-time opportunity for a Manager, Operational Safety. Reporting to the Director, Operational Excellence and Improvement, you will lead the proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of operational risks while fostering a strong safety culture across the airport.

Working closely with airlines, regulators, stakeholders, and operational teams, you will lead a team focused on continuously improving safety performance across the airport. Through collaboration and proactive leadership, you will help ensure airport operations remain safe, efficient, and resilient.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the airport's Operational Safety Program, setting direction, priorities, and initiatives that strengthen safety performance across airport operations.
• Lead and influence cross-functional stakeholders, including airlines, regulators, contractors, and operational partners, to foster a strong and collaborative safety culture.
• Champion proactive risk management, ensuring operational risks are identified, assessed, and effectively mitigated to support safe and resilient operations.
• Drive continuous improvement by using safety data, performance metrics, and industry best practices to strengthen operational safety outcomes.
• Lead safety investigations and organizational learning, ensuring incidents are thoroughly reviewed, corrective actions are implemented, and lessons learned are embedded across the airport.
• Provide oversight of safety assurance activities, including audits, inspections, compliance monitoring, and operational readiness reviews, to maintain high standards of safety and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and mentor safety professionals and operational leaders, building capability, accountability, and engagement in support of a world-class safety culture.

Key Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of progressive leadership experience in an operational or safety-critical aviation environment, supported by a bachelor’s degree in aviation management, Aviation Safety, Aerospace, Risk Management, Occupational Health and Safety, Business Administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 3 years of people leadership experience, with a proven ability to coach and develop high-performing teams, set strategic priorities, allocate resources effectively, manage performance, and successfully lead teams through change and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leadership experience in a complex, highly regulated operational environment, with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive results.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and continuously improving Safety Management Systems (SMS).
• Strong background in operational risk management, including risk assessments, change management, and mitigation strategies.
• Experience leading or overseeing incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action programs.
• Proven expertise in safety assurance, including audits, inspections, compliance monitoring, and operational readiness reviews.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across operational teams, regulators, airlines, and external partners.
• Experience using safety data, analytics, and performance metrics to inform decisions, improve safety outcomes, and communicate insights to leadership.
• Sound knowledge of aviation regulations, standards, and industry best practices.

Although not required, French language skills are an asset as we are committed to providing bilingual services to our visitors and passengers.

This position is open to both Vancouver Airport Authority employees and external applicants. Previous job performance will be taken into consideration for all internal candidates that apply for this position.

As part of our recruitment process, short-listed candidates may be required to participate in an assessment process.