Airport Maintenance Operations Manager-Terminal 6 JFK

Overview

Symbrant Aviation Services is seeking an accomplished and decisive Airport Maintenance Operations Manager to assume full operational leadership of the maintenance contract at JFK International Airport – Terminal 6 (T6).

This position carries complete accountability for the performance, compliance, reliability, and financial stewardship of all maintenance operations supporting Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBB) and Baggage Handling Systems (BHS) throughout the terminal.

The selected candidate will serve as the senior on-site authority, responsible for ensuring operational precision, workforce governance, safety enforcement, structured communication, contract execution, and continuous performance improvement within a complex 24/7 aviation environment.

The ideal candidate understands that uptime drives revenue, compliance protects contracts, leadership sets standards, and discipline sustains performance.

Core ResponsibilitiesContract & Operational Ownership

  • Assume full responsibility for execution of the JFK Terminal 6 maintenance contract, ensuring SLA compliance and operational continuity across all PBB and BHS systems.
  • Establish and enforce structured operating procedures that maintain uptime, minimize risk, and protect contract performance.
  • Lead terminal-wide operational strategy, ensuring preventive and predictive maintenance programs are executed without exception.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce repeat failures and improve system reliability.
  • Maintain executive-level visibility into station performance metrics and operational risks.

Workforce Governance & Leadership Authority

  • Lead and hold accountable all supervisors and multi-shift personnel within a 24/7 operational structure.
  • Conduct formal performance evaluations for Supervisors and validate performance assessments completed by supervisory staff.
  • Establish structured expectations related to productivity, attendance, communication, and safety compliance.
  • Implement coaching initiatives and, when required, structured corrective actions or Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs).
  • Maintain documentation integrity supporting performance governance and compliance.
  • Build a disciplined, high-performance culture centered on accountability and professionalism.

This role requires the confidence to make difficult operational and personnel decisions when necessary.

Data-Driven Operational Management

  • Monitor and analyze KPIs including uptime percentages, downtime trends, preventive maintenance completion rates, labor utilization, safety metrics, and response time performance.
  • Identify anomalies within BHS and PBB system data and proactively drive corrective strategies.
  • Utilize CMMS platforms to ensure performance transparency and compliance tracking.
  • Translate operational data into actionable leadership decisions that improve efficiency and reliability.

Financial & Resource Stewardship

  • Manage labor planning, staffing optimization, and overtime control.
  • Oversee material procurement, vendor performance, and inventory management.
  • Maintain cost discipline while protecting operational integrity.
  • Ensure financial decisions align with contract expectations and long-term sustainability.

Executive Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Serve as the primary operational liaison between airport authorities, terminal stakeholders, airline representatives, vendors, and Regional Leadership.
  • Provide structured reporting on performance metrics, operational risks, corrective actions, and improvement initiatives.
  • Maintain professional executive presence during stakeholder meetings and performance reviews.
  • Ensure critical issues are escalated appropriately with impact analysis and recovery planning.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

  • Enforce strict adherence to OSHA standards, airport authority regulations, and company safety protocols.
  • Maintain a zero-compromise safety culture.
  • Ensure audit readiness and regulatory compliance at all times.

Experience

  • 3+ years of progressive leadership experience in airport operations, aviation infrastructure, transportation hubs, industrial operations, or comparable high-accountability environments.
  • 3-5 years managing supervisors or multi-shift operational teams in a 24/7 setting.
  • Demonstrated experience overseeing complex maintenance contracts or mission-critical infrastructure operations.
  • Proven track record of workforce governance, structured performance management, and operational accountability.
  • Experience leveraging data and CMMS platforms to drive measurable performance improvements.
  • Strong financial awareness related to labor management, cost control, and contract execution..
  • OSHA 30 certification required or ability to obtain prior to start date.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain airport security clearance.
  • MBA or advanced business education strongly preferred.

Pay: $95,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

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