Lead Information Technology Systems Specialist - Aviation Department

City of Phoenix

Phoenix (AZ)

On-site

USD 109,033 - 137,592

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Traditional pension with employer contributions

Generous medical plans

Wellness incentive

Tuition reimbursement program

Paid parental leave

Job summary

A major municipal government based in Phoenix is seeking a Lead Information Technology Systems Specialist to oversee a team of over 30 technical professionals and manage critical Aviation business systems. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, technical expertise in various systems, and a background in budget and resource management. This full-time position includes comprehensive benefits and a competitive salary range from $109,033 to $137,592. Ideal candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree and three years of related experience.

Qualifications

Three years of experience developing, evaluating, using, and maintaining technical system hardware and software.
Experience managing operational budget and vendor contracts in a 24/7 environment.

Responsibilities

Supervise and participate in administrative and technical research studies.
Manage a team of 30+ technical professionals responsible for critical Aviation business systems.
Engage with stakeholders to identify process improvement opportunities.

Skills

Proven Leadership

Technical Expertise

Vendor & Contract Management

Budget & Resource Management

Policy & Standards Development

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, or related field

Job description

1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This range is provided by City of Phoenix. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$109,033.00/yr - $137,592.00/yr

About This Position

Over 52 million passengers traveled through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in 2024, one of the busiest airports in the country and in the nation's 5th largest city. Sky Harbor is the largest of three airports in the Phoenix Airport System (Phoenix Sky Harbor, Deer Valley and Goodyear airports) which is operated by the City of Phoenix Aviation Department and has an economic impact over $44 billion annually.

The Aviation Department has a vacancy for a Lead Information Technology Systems Specialist position. This position supervises and participates in administrative and technical research studies and the evaluation, development, use, and/or maintenance of technical system hardware/software including operating systems, executive programs, transaction processors, database management systems. The incumbent participates on design review boards; reviews systems designs to ensure adherence to established policies and procedures; advises other personnel on technical software/hardware matters; assists the Administrator in determining the need and scope of study for Technical Service Requests (TSR's); and designs and implements TSR projects or assigns projects to appropriate personnel.

The Lead IT Systems Specialist works with considerable freedom in critical business systems under the general supervision of a technical services administrator or technical systems supervisor, and performance is evaluated on the basis of results achieved. The Lead IT Systems Specialist supervises technical professionals such as Lead User Technology Specialist and Senior User Technology Specialists.

Position Overview

This position is located in the Aviation Department and currently has one (1) vacancy. The successful candidate will provide leadership to a team of 30+ technical professionals and manage an annual operating budget of $6 million. The role includes responsibility for 365/24/7 support of critical Aviation business systems, including but not limited to: End Use Devices, Mobility 700 MHz radio systems, Parking, Revenue & Control Systems (PRCS), Video Surveillance Systems (VSS), Airport Information Systems (AIS), and Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI).

Leadership & Strategic Role

This position serves as a key member of the Technology Division leadership team and plays an integral role in both strategic and operational planning. The incumbent will collaborate with division leadership to shape long‑term technology strategies, align operational initiatives with organizational goals, and ensure delivery of high‑impact solutions that support Aviation's mission and business needs.

Customer Engagement & Innovation

In addition to internal leadership responsibilities, this role will actively engage and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders on projects and to identify opportunities for process improvement, operational efficiency, and innovative technology solutions. The position requires a forward‑thinking mindset and the ability to translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and sustainable technology initiatives.

Ideal Candidate

Proven Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a team of 30+ technical professionals, fostering collaboration and accountability in a 24/7 operational environment.
Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge in implementing and maintaining complex systems such as Parking, Revenue & Control Systems (PRCS), Video Surveillance Systems (VSS), Airport Information Systems (AIS), and Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI).
Vendor & Contract Management: Strong background in technology procurement, contract negotiation, and vendor relationship management to maximize ROI and ensure compliance.
Budget & Resource Management: Skilled at managing operating and capital budgets and optimizing resource allocation for operational efficiency.
Policy & Standards Development: Skilled at writing technical standards, procedures, scopes of work, and project plans to ensure consistency and quality.

Salary

Pay Range: $109,033 to $151,694 annually.

Hiring Range: $109,033 to $137,592 annually.

Pay Range Explanation

Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

Benefits

Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions. Click here for more details: Pension Information
401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans
Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post‑Employment Health Plan
Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
Dental, vision, and life insurance options
Employer‑paid long‑term disability
Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days
Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12‑month period
Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi

Minimum Qualifications

Three years of experience developing, evaluating, using, and maintaining technical system hardware, and software.
Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, or a related field.
Working conditions: Working irregular hours, second and/or third shifts, weekends, holidays, and evenings may be required.
Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
The following list is not all inclusive but are TSA general factors for disqualification of employment for working at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Other factors will be assessed that may also lead to disqualification. Qualified candidates should consider these factors when applying. Aviation Employment Disqualifiers.
Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
For information regarding pre‑screening and driving positions, click here.
The City job description can be found here.

Preferred Qualifications

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:

Two years of experience managing operational budget.
Two years of experience managing vendor contracts and relationships.
Two years of experience managing technical staff in a 24/7 environment.
Experience overseeing procurement of technology solutions.
Experience managing vendor relations and contracts to maximize ROI.
Experience writing technical standards, procedures, scope of work, and project plans.
Experience supervising and coordinating the work of professional, technical, and nontechnical staff.
Experience with working with department representatives to develop cost‑effective technology solutions.
Experience participating in, or assisting in the coordination of, technical system planning and budgeting, and acquisition and acceptance of new equipment and software to determine the relative cost/benefits.

Recruitment Dates

Recruitment closes January 21, 2026. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position‑based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

How to Apply

Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary e‑mail address.

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If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to an accessibility issue, please contact the Human Resources Department by phone at (602) 495‑5700 or by text at (800) 367‑8939. You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

Reference

Building the Phoenix of tomorrow.

#DoWorkThatMakesPhoenixWork

City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.

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