LANDSIDE OPERATION MANAGER

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Chicago invites applications for Landside Operation Manager at Chicago Midway Airport. The role oversees and coordinates ground transportation, parking, and related facilities, ensuring safe and efficient operations for a 24/7 environment. The position requires supervisory experience in traffic control and a valid IL driver's license.

Starting salary is $71,772 with a 24/7 on-call schedule, weekend work, and potential budget-based expansion. Applications due by 9/4/2026.

Qualifications

• Three (3) years of traffic control work experience, with one (1) year in a supervisory role.
• Or an accredited college degree with an Associate's degree or higher plus one (1) year of traffic control work experience including supervisory duties.

Responsibilities

• Inspect roadways, parking areas, garages, and related facilities.
• Oversee contractors managing ground transportation, snow removal, and parking operations.
• Assist with coordination of snow removal and construction projects.
• Inspect roadways for safety hazards and conditions.
• Coordinate with OEMC on TMA placement to reduce congestion.
• Resolve disputes between the public, contractors’ staff, and TMAs.
• Enforce CDA and Department rules and regulations.
• Update and maintain landside operation records and reports.
• Assist in drafting contracts and department recommendations.

Skills

Traffic control

Supervisory experience

Driver's license

Education

Associate's degree or higher

Job description

Job Announcement

Landside Operation Manager, BX14

Chicago Department of Aviation

Midway Operations Division

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $71,772.00

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on September 4, 2026.

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), Landside Operations section operates 24 hours 7 days a week on a week basis, including weekends and holidays. The section has 3 members to cover all shifts. The area of operations spans over 1 terminal building (both domestic and international), including the upper and lower-level roadways, 2 parking garages, 1 rental car facility, 5 parking lots, 3 commercial staging lots and surrounding roadways and airport perimeter. Landside Operations over see and manage contracts associated with the airport operations including Parking Management, Ground Transportation, Snow Removal, Shuttle Bus Service, Rental Car Facility Management, Airport Road Striping and Airport Signage, also ensuring contract compliance. Landside Operations Manager is a critical staff member who will help ensure that operations are running efficiently and will assist the General Manager of Operations with tasks in the field and special projects. They also assist with construction coordination, traffic management on roadways, contractor oversight, ground transportation and parking. They will meet regularly with sister and state agencies, contractors, tenants, and customers. They will resolve Ground Transportation disputes and customer service problems.

Essential Duties

• Inspect upper and lower-level roadways, parking lots, garages, rental car facility, surrounding roadways and airport perimeter.
• Oversee contractors that manage ground transportation (orderly movement of public vehicles), snow removal, parking lots, roadway striping, among others.
• Assist with coordination of snow removal.
• Assist with coordination of construction projects.
• Inspect surrounding roadways to identify safety hazards and general physical conditions.
• Work with OEMC to ensure proper placement of TMA's to minimize traffic congestion.
• Resolve problems concerning disputes between the public, contractors' staff and TMAs.
• Enforce rules and regulations set forth by the CDA and Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
• Update and maintain records and reports on various landside operations.
• Assist in the preparation of contracts to which the department is a party.
• Assist in drafting department recommendations, status updates or policies

Additional duties may be required for this position.

Location: Chicago Department of Aviation - Chicago Midway Airport

Days: Sunday - Thursday

Hours: 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience

• Three (3) years of traffic control work experience, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the positions, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree or higher, PLUS one (1) year of traffic control work experience, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the positions

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

• A valid driver's license from the State of Illinois is required

NOTE: The candidate selected for hire must pass an airport background check and a Security Threat Assessment (STA).

NOTE: Must be flexible for early and/or late meetings and weekends.

NOTE: This is a 24/7 on-call operation, based on operational needs.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a written assessment. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. The Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference for applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor