Director – Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA)

City and County of Denver; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 109,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension (life-long monthly)

457B Retirement Plan

Paid time off: 140 hours + holidays +

Hybrid workplace model

Job summary

City and County of Denver is seeking a Director for the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) at DEN. The role leads the Career Pathways and Research & Innovation portfolios, guiding strategy, performance, and enterprise-wide priorities.

You will manage budgets, partnerships, and change initiatives, working with senior leaders to drive organizational impact and equity across DEN programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• 5 years of experience at the level of functional/operational management with subordinate supervisors.
• Education/Experience equivalency: 2 years may substitute for each year of education.
• Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• FBI background check required for all positions; pre-employment medical/drug test may be required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and unify Career Pathways Manager and Research & Innovation Manager to drive enterprise goals.
• Provide strategic oversight for a broad portfolio including youth engagement, internships, and leadership programs.
• Oversee budgets, contracts, and vendor/grant agreements with strong fiscal stewardship.
• Represent DEN & CEEA internally and externally to partners including universities and workforce boards.
• Build strategic partnerships to expand program reach and alignment with DEN’s strategic plan.
• Guide organizational change with clarity and transparency in collaboration with senior leadership.

Skills

People leadership

Enterprise mindset

Data-driven decisions

Change management

Executive communication

Budget management

Partnership building

Portfolio governance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About Our JobWith competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.What We OfferThe City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $125,000 - $155,000/year. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service457B Retirement Plan140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 wellness day, and 1 volunteer day per yearCompetitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start dateLocation & ScheduleThe City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days.In this position you can expect to work on site at least 3 days per week at our CEEA Office Space at Denver International Airport (8500 Pena Boulevard, Denver, CO 80249).Who We Are & What You’ll DoSince opening on Feb. 28, 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has become one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, 82,427,962 passengers passed through DEN, making DEN 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. DEN is Colorado’s primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion in annual economic impact for the state. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and strive to keep Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) at the center of all that we do.The Director for the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) provides strategic, operational, and people leadership for CEEA’s Career Pathways and Research & Innovation portfolios, overseeing the two Managers who run each team. Bringing an enterprise mindset, the Director connects both portfolios to DEN’s broader priorities, represents DEN both internally and externally, and advances CEEA’s mission and DEN’s strategic plan through strong fiscal stewardship, data-informed decisions, and executive-level engagement.Specifically, as the CEEA Director, you will:Lead and Develop Teams: Directly lead the Career Pathways Manager and the Research & Innovation Manager, unifying goals, culture, and performance management across both teams.Foster Enterprise Collaboration: Bring an enterprise mindset to every decision by proactively collaborating with CEEA and DEN leaders, and aligning portfolio work with DEN’s strategic plan and enterprise-wide priorities.Build Leadership Capacity: Strengthen team capabilities and support succession planning across both portfolios.Oversee Complex Program & Portfolio Operations: Provide strategic oversight for a broad portfolio including youth engagement, internships, employee development, leadership programs, research, and innovation — including the Research & Innovation Lab/makerspace.Serve as Escalation Point: Address program risks, stakeholder concerns, compliance issues, and continuous improvement across both portfolios.Use Data to Drive Decisions: Leverage dashboards, reports, and research — including the annual CEEA Impact Report and Foresight report — to inform planning, resource allocation, and executive‑level insights.Drive Portfolio Performance & Accountability: Establish performance goals, success measures, and key outcomes across both portfolios; monitor progress, hold leaders accountable for results, and adjust strategies, priorities, and resources as needed to achieve desired outcomes.Manage Budgets & Agreements: Oversee budgets, contracts, and vendor/grant agreements for both portfolios with strong fiscal stewardship.Represent DEN & CEEA Internally and Externally: Act as a trusted spokesperson with executive leadership, staff, and external partners including universities, community organizations, workforce boards, and industry groups.Build Strategic Partnerships: Develop partnerships that expand program reach and align with DEN’s Strategic Plan; lead executive briefings and collaborate with the Senior Vice President on planning efforts.Lead Organizational Change: Guide change efforts across both portfolios with clarity and transparency, partnering with the Senior Vice President on transitions and role clarity.What You’ll BringOur ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:Proven people leader who unifies teams, drives collaboration, and thinks at an enterprise level.Experience managing large, multi‑program portfolios in research, innovation, education, or workforce development.Comfortable using data and dashboards to guide decisions and communicate insights to executives.Strong change‑management skills with a track record of leading through organizational shifts.Exceptional communicator with polished executive‑level and public‑facing presentation ability.Builds strong peer partnerships and contributes effectively within a director‑level leadership network.Experienced in managing budgets or program funding in complex, mission‑driven environments.Required Minimum QualificationsEducation requirements: Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).Experience Requirement: Five (5) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of subordinate supervisors.Education/Experience Equivalency: Two (2) years of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.License/Certifications: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.Additional InformationFBI Background Check: FBI criminal background check is required for all positions at Denver International Airport (DEN). Employees are also required to report any felony convictions and/or moving violations to maintain this clearance and be eligible for continued employment. By position, a pre-employment physical/drug test may be required.Snow/Emergency Duties: Denver International Airport is a 24/7/365 team operation. If weather conditions warrant or an emergency crisis occurs, all DEN employees can be required to work extended hours and/or shifts.Application DeadlineThis position is expected to stay open until Thursday, October 22, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than 10/22/26 at 11:59 p.m. to ensure consideration.About Everything ElseJob ProfileCA2758 DirectorTo view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.Position TypeUnlimitedPosition Salary Range$109,134.00 - $180,071.00Target Pay$125,000 - $155,000/yearAgencyDenver International AirportRedeployment during Citywide EmergenciesCity and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor.The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [e-mail] with three business days’ notice.Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.