Deputy Director of Planning and Development - Airport

City of San Jose; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San José’s airport team seeks a Deputy Director of Planning and Development to lead a 25-person unit and oversee major capital projects. You will negotiate with architects, engineers, environmental and legal teams, coordinating with public works and FAA to secure funding and ensure regulatory compliance.

The role requires advanced coursework in business or public administration and at least six years of senior administrative experience, with a track record in complex public-sector

Qualifications

• Advanced coursework in business or public administration.
• Six years of progressively responsible administrative/analytic experience.
• Experience managing a work unit equivalent to a major division within a City operating department.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 25 FTEs and drive multi-discipline capital projects.
• Serve as executive manager and negotiator with consultants, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Coordinate with FAA for funding and compliance with grant programs.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder engagement

FAA coordination

Public administration

Project management

Environmental compliance

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Advanced coursework in business/public administration

Job description

Fueled by a culture of innovation, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) is the Bay Area’s easiest and most dependable medium size airport due to its simple layout, temperate climate, and inland location. SJC is located just minutes from downtown San José– the Bay Area’s largest city and the Capital of Silicon Valley. In 2023, SJC was rated the Best Airport in the U.S. by Wall Street Journal and Best Midsize U.S. Airport in North America by travelers in the Airports Council International Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program.

SJC welcomed approximately 10 million passengers in 2025. The Airport’s two passenger terminals offer 36 gates equipped with passenger boarding bridges, including four swing gates connected to a U.S. Federal Inspection Services facility for international arrivals. The Airport’s 9 commercial airline partners serve more than 40 nonstop destinations across North America and in Asia. SJC’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 third of aircraft operations at the Airport. With a compact footprint of just 1124 acres, SJC’s two, parallel 11,000 ft. runways are a short taxi from both the passenger terminals and the general aviation ramp.

Supported by 232 employees, a $200 million annual operating budget, and a $385 million Capital Improvement Program (2027–2031), our mission is to connect, serve, and inspire.SJC is a self-supporting enterprise operation that receives no direct General Fund support from the City. The San José City Council is the policy making body for SJC. The Airport has an 11-member Airport Commission appointed by the Mayor and City Council that serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council and to the Director of Aviation regarding aviation issues. The City‘s Airport Commission activity can be reviewed here. SJC is a department in the Transportation and Aviation City Service Area. Additional information regarding SJC’s current core services, related programs, and budget can be found in City’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Documents and in SJC Financial Reports.

The Airport is proud to offer an exciting and unique opportunity for a team member who brings positive energy and is motivated to shape the future of the Airport. The Airport team is passionate about what our Airport has to offer to the Silicon Valley and is seeking a professional who will share this passion. This great work environment makes this an ideal opportunity for a highly motivated and results-oriented individual who would like to join our Airport team to work hard toward our strategic vision.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Aviation, the Deputy Director of Planning and Development leads a team of 25 FTEs and is a strategic thinker that leads a wide range of professional and paraprofessional team members who perform a variety of multi-discipline airport projects who develop, manage and deliver projects in the Airport Capital Development Program of various and considerable complexities.

Major functions of the position include:

• Airport Executive Manager for All Major Capital Development Projects –Serves as the primary executive manager and negotiator between the Airport and the community of Architectural, Engineering, Environmental, and Legal consultants and construction contractors. Works closely with support services from the City’s Public Works.
• Stakeholder Engagement –Leads partnering activities with a wide range of stakeholders and ensures appropriate level of engagement with Airport Divisions, Airport business partners, regulatory agencies, City Departments through the life cycle of a Capital project.
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) –Works closely with the FAA in capturing federal Airport Improvement Program funding and compliance with that grant program. Also, the position is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) to ensure compliance with all federal regulations and policies.
• Airport Master Plan –Responsible for managing the Airport Master Plan including processing updates as needed, and for any work related to compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).
• Compliance with FAA Standards –Responsible to ensure that all development complies with applicable FAA design standards and operating requirements.
• Manage Impacts to Off Airport Airspace –Responsible for ensuring that off airport development does not adversely impact the Airport’s airspace, inhibiting the operation and growth in airline service.
• Environmental Compliance Requirements –Responsible for compliance with and management of environmental regulations, including the Airport’s Storm Water Pollution and Prevention Plan, working with Airport tenant co-permittees to ensure compliance with the plan.

The Airport is a dynamic organization, and the successful candidate must by willing to lead through a changing environment with emotional intelligence.

For additional information please see the recruitment brochure located here: SJC Deputy Director of Planning and Development.

This position will close on November 20, 2026.

Training and Experience

Any combination equivalent to successful completion of advanced course work from an accredited college or university in business, public administration, or related field; and six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience in senior level administrative and/or analytic work in a public or private agency. Experience managing a work unit equivalent to a major division within a City operating department is desirable.

Licenses/Certificates

Possession of a valid license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in Californiamay be required. Certain positions may require possession of a specialized certificate, license, and/or registration related to a specific area of responsibility.