Senior Manager, Airside Operations

YVR is a place of connection, bringing together people, places, and cargo while ensuring a safe and efficient experience for everyone. Airport Operations plays a pivotal role in keeping the airport—and the region it serves—moving. We are the team that ensures every passenger journey, aircraft movement, and baggage transfer happens safely, efficiently, and seamlessly.

Position overview

The Senior Manager, Airside Operations is a key leader in keeping YVR running safely and efficiently 24/7. Responsible for Airside operations, this role drives real‑time decision‑making, ensures regulatory compliance, and leads teams that keep passengers, aircraft, and infrastructure moving smoothly.

You’ll guide on‑shift leaders, strengthen safety and performance, and champion continuous improvement in a fast‑paced, highly regulated, unionized environment. As a critical link between frontline operations and functional directors, you ensure alignment between daily activity and YVR’s strategic direction. You will also act as delegate for the Director when required, supporting airport‑wide coordination and leadership.

Key responsibilities include:  

• Lead 24/7 airside operations, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient aircraft, vehicle, and airfield movement across a complex, high‑intensity operating environment.
• Drive airfield readiness and seasonal planning, leading proactive preparation, execution, and coordination on behalf of the Directors to maintain operational resilience.
• Provide senior escalation and decision support for airside issues, workforce matters, and emergency events, ensuring effective incident management and regulatory adherence.
• Ensure consistent leadership across shift‑based airside management teams, strengthening coaching, performance standards, and alignment in a unionized environment.
• Champion safety, security, and regulatory compliance, leading investigations, after‑action reviews, and risk‑mitigation strategies in accordance with Transport Canada and AVSEC requirements.
• Develop and mentor Airside Operations Managers and frontline teams, setting clear expectations, elevating leadership capability, and supporting workforce planning and contingency strategies.

• Advance strategic airside priorities, contributing to operational planning, budget oversight, KPI frameworks, continuous improvement, and strong engagement with regulators, partners, and service providers.

Key qualifications include:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in airport or aviation operations, including at least 5 years in management role and 3 years leading teams in a unionized environment. Supported by post‑secondary degree in Aviation Management, Business Administration, or a related field or a combination of equivalent training and experience.
• Strong technical understanding of airside operations, including aircraft performance, airfield safety, stand planning, and airport infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop diverse teams in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure operational environment.
• Proven experience managing complex operations, budgets, and vendor or contractual relationships.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and decision‑making skills, with the ability to remain calm and effective during emergencies.
• Familiarity with airport operations systems and related technologies, with flexibility to work shift patterns, including nights, weekends, and on‑call as required.
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory frameworks, including the Aeronautics Act, Canadian Aviation Regulations (Part III), ICAO Annexes 14 and 19, and Transport Canada TP312 (4th and 5th editions).
• Required certifications and licenses: Aeronautical Radio License – Land, Airside Vehicle Operator Permit, and a valid Class 5 driver’s license (Class 3 with Air Brake endorsement preferred).
• Completion of ICS 100, 200, and 300 or equivalent incident command training.
  

Although not required, French language skills are an asset as we are committed to providing bilingual services to our visitors and passengers. This helps us meet federal language obligations while ensuring welcoming experience. Candidates who do not speak French are still strongly encouraged to apply.

Previous job performance will be taken into consideration for all internal candidates that apply for this position. As part of our recruitment process, short-listed candidates may be required to participate in an assessment process.

Salary Range : $122,960 to $184,440 per annum, based on 37.5-hour work week. This is individually tailored to reflect your unique experience, qualifications and internal equity. Performance-Based Incentive: Eligible for an annual bonus target at 15% of your annual salary.

At YVR, your work experience goes beyond the paycheck. We support your personal and professional development, well-being, and a thriving work culture with generous vacation days, extensive health benefits, retirement savings matching, wellness programs, community engagement, commuting support, and continuous learning opportunities. Learn more at https://careers.yvr.ca/benefits.

YVR is more than just an airport. We connect our beautiful province and all it has to offer to the world. We are all leaders and trailblazers for change and innovation, so no matter the department or team you’re a part of, the work you do matters.

At YVR, we are flexible in everything we do. We will work together to find ways to deliver customer excellence that helps us all thrive.

Whatever your background and wherever you’re from, you belong at YVR. If you have any questions about accessibility or require any assistance applying, please reach out at careers@yvr.ca.