Flight Operations & Transportation Deputy PM

GardaWorld Federal Services; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

GardaWorld Federal Services seeks a Deputy Project Manager, Flight Operations & Transportation to lead safe, compliant flight operations and detainee transportation. You will oversee airfield/tarmac activities, dispatch and execution, fleet readiness, and 24/7 coverage across multiple sites, reporting to the Project Manager.

The role requires hands-on leadership, sharp operational judgment, and experience managing time-sensitive, regulated missions within ICE/DHS standards and company policies.

Qualifications

• Eight (8)+ years of progressive experience in detention, corrections, secure transportation, aviation/flight operations, law enforcement, logistics, or comparable high-accountability operations, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory or management role.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills with sound judgment in high-consequence, time-sensitive environments.
• Ability to work effectively with government representatives, contracting personnel, detention leadership, aircraft operators, airport authorities, law enforcement, subcontractors/vendors, and internal support functions.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight of Flight Operations and Transportation, including tarmac operations, dispatch, drivers, transport officers, supervisors, mission staging, and associated support personnel.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee detainee transportation between the detention facility, assigned airfield(s), medical appointments, courts, transfer locations, and other authorized destinations in accordance with mission requirements.
• Serve as the senior contractor operational authority for aircraft-side/tarmac activities, coordinating staging, escort, restraint verification, boarding, deplaning, custody transfer, and movement between ground transportation and aircraft.
• Coordinate with ICE ERO, ICE IAO, COR, aircraft operators, airport/FBO personnel, and other partners for mission execution.
• Develop and maintain integrated daily and surge transportation plans, including staffing, shift schedules, vehicle assignments, dispatch coverage, mission sequencing, contingency staffing, and 24/7/on-call coverage.
• Ensure transport vehicles are mission-ready and appropriately configured, including safety equipment, restraints, cameras, GPS/telematics, communications equipment, and other contract-required systems.
• Oversee fleet readiness and coordinate preventive maintenance, inspections, repairs, vehicle substitutions, fueling, and escalation of out-of-service or safety-related conditions.
• Ensure CDL, DOT medical card, driver qualification, Hours-of-Service, drug/alcohol testing, and other applicable transportation requirements are maintained.
• Establish and enforce chain-of-custody, detainee accountability, manifest reconciliation, restraint accountability, and required movement documentation.
• Conduct pre-mission briefings addressing manifests, special-management detainees, restraint levels, seating, and vehicle plans, plus communications and emergency procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Transportation operations

Dispatch management

Staffing planning

Operational reporting

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

GPS/telematics

Camera/evidence systems

Job description

GardaWorld Federal Services seeks a Deputy Project Manager, Flight Operations & Transportation to lead safe, compliant flight operations and detainee transportation. You will oversee airfield/tarmac activities, dispatch and execution, fleet readiness, and 24/7 coverage across multiple sites, reporting to the Project Manager.

The role requires hands-on leadership, sharp operational judgment, and experience managing time-sensitive, regulated missions within ICE/DHS standards and company policies.