Manager of Aviation Operations & Compliance

About MassDOT

An agency on the move, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) takes great pride in connecting the Commonwealth’s residents and communities. Powered by a growing data-analytics discipline – and working in conjunction with municipalities, public agencies and the private sector – we’re finding new ways to improve the Bay State’s transportation infrastructure.

MassDOT is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating transportation policies and projects for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to efficiently plan, design, construct, and maintain a safe statewide transportation system which effectively meets the transportation needs of the Commonwealth.

MassDOT’s divisions include Highway, Aeronautics, Registry of Motor Vehicles, Rail & Transit, and Planning & Enterprise Services. There are approximately 3,600 employees across the organization.

Position Summary

The Manager of Aviation Operations and Inspection works under the direction of the Director of Aviation Operations and Compliance. Incumbents are responsible for a wide variety of aviation-related tasks. The MAO&I will provide support and leadership for all aviation safety matters in the Commonwealth. The incumbent will promote safety best practices, and a safety management system based on policy, safety assurance, risk management, and promotion.

The MAO&I will accomplish airport facilities compliance evaluations and conduct airport inspections at 35 public-use airports and more than 100 private restricted landing areas throughout the Commonwealth. Evaluate noise complaints, and provide standardization, evaluation, and compliance oversight. Under the direction of the Director of Aviation Operations and Compliance, provide 24-7 aircraft accident investigation and support in concert with aviation and airport stakeholders, and local, state, and federal agencies incl. MSP, FAA, and NTSB. Provide support for the administration of the aircraft registration program. Attend community outreach events and safety seminars and promote aviation and airports at a state and national level. The MAO&I will act as a team member in the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Air Operations Group. The MEMA Air Operations Group will follow Incident Command System (ICS) protocol to provide support to incident commanders to ensure proper use and allocation of air resources, including the deconfliction of manned and unmanned aircraft systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

Aviation and Airport Facilities

• Under the direction of the Director of Aviation Operations and Compliance, the Manager of Aviation Operations and Inspection (MAO&I) is the lead for the accomplishment of safety and compliance inspections of airport facilities and evaluate operations, procedures, and equipment to ensure compliance.
• Conduct airport inspections at 35 public-use airports and 141 private restricted landing areas throughout the Commonwealth to ensure compliance with FAA regulations, and MA statutes (MGL Chapter 90) and regulations (CMR 702).
• Provide field-level oversight for operational standardization, evaluation, and compliance efforts
• Lead and coordinate all airport and facility safety inspections and evaluate aviation operations, procedures, and equipment to ensure compliance.
• Update FAA 5010 Airport Master Records (airport inspection program database) and FAA registry for based aircraft information.
• Review and recommend schedules for maintenance and repair of facilities.
• Provide strategic planning and the oversight of Commonwealth aviation operations, as well as the standardization, evaluation, and compliance efforts.
• Investigate violations of CMR 702 and MGL Chapter 90 statutes relative to Aeronautics.

Safety

• Provide operational support for aviation and airport safety matters and ensure that safety best practices are applied in the field.
• Utilize the Safety Management System tools to assist in the elimination and mitigation of priority safety risks.
• Assist in the promotion of aviation safety and ensure the implementation and sustainment of a safety management system based on a strong policy, safety assurance, and risk management.
• Provide leadership by ensuring that aviation safety best practices are implemented and applied to all aviation field operations.
• Lead the continuous improvement of aviation safety across the Commonwealth by identifying, and then eliminating or mitigating the identified safety threats.
• Lead aviation safety efforts based on a strong policy, safety assurance, and risk management best practices.
• Review and comment on the safety and operations elements related to the preliminary plans for long-range airport construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation projects.

Aircraft Registration

• Provide support for the administration of the aircraft registration program to include inspections of aircraft registration compliance at airports.
• Work with airport managers and other airport stakeholders to assist in the accurate count and documentation of aircraft registration at Commonwealth Airports.

Airport Manager Certification

• Test and certify Airport Managers.

Aircraft Accident Investigation

• Support aircraft accident investigations and incidents by securing the scene and coordinating the investigation activities, and by working cooperatively with federal (FAA & NTSB) and local agencies.
• Lead the assistance to the FAA on aviation investigations and complaints. Investigate aircraft accidents by working cooperatively with the FAA and NTSB representatives. Assume charge of aircraft accident investigation scenes as needed, by coordinating with the FAA, NTSB, and state and local law enforcement.

Emergency Management

• Provide on-call, 24-hour support for aviation incidents, and assistance to Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for all-hazards events as member of lead coordinating agency for Air Operations.
• Serve as a member of ESF 1 (Emergency Support Function for transportation), Traffic Incident Management Task Force, and Emergency Management Committee.
• Take a leadership role as the lead coordinating agency for air operations (manned & unmanned aircraft operations) for incidents including those involving the MassDOT Highway Operations Center (HOC), the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) Operational Control Center (OCC), and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
• Review and/or approve flight plans, as well as the coordination of incident and emergency air operations resources.

UAS Program & Operations

• Incumbents will become qualified to operate unmanned aerial systems as FAA Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (aka UAS or Drones) and shall maintain currency.
• Assist in the operation of UAS as a visual observer for Airport Inspections, operations, and management in accordance with FAA Part 107 regulation for unmanned aircraft systems.
• Provide support for agency and Commonwealth Counter-UAS efforts, as assigned.
• Support the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into aviation inspections and to augment the aircraft accident investigation process, and to provide imagery and other sensor data for NTSB officials.
• Assist in the standardization and evaluation of UAS operations and training efforts for internal and external drone operators, instructors, trainers, and educators within the Aeronautics Division, throughout MassDOT and the MBTA, and across all participating Commonwealth agencies.
• Conduct studies and surveys in support of drone use-cases across MassDOT, the MBTA, and state agency customers, including operations, software applications, and data management.
• Participate and assist in the leadership of the drone (unmanned aerial systems-UAS) program and the Drone Pilot Program (DPP), and the Commonwealth UAS Integration Program (CUIP).
• Provide leadership in the Counter-UAS efforts at airports and priority infrastructure and work with federal, state, and local law enforcement, homeland security, and other stakeholders from government, industry, and academia.
• Assist in leading the development of the drone shared services program that will assist all MassDOT, the MBTA, and other Commonwealth agencies with drone support. This work includes the cross-competency, team-based administration of all of the UAS programs.
• Work with leadership to coordinate the work of the drone program contractor team for all transportation modes in MassDOT and the MBTA, and for other state agencies.

Drone Data Analytics

• Assist with UAS Program Data Analytics and Cybersecurity by performing UAS data analysis, analytical support, and cybersecurity duties to include working with IT professionals to ensure that raw data and imagery is properly compiled and stored, accomplishing analysis of raw data, transforming raw data into useable information, creating analytical products for users, and working with IT professionals to ensure that UAS platforms, systems, and data are secure and resilient.
• Assist with the review and approval of the final drone analytical products to include imagery, inspection reports, surveys, and capital project metrics and analytics.

Aircraft Maintenance and Asset Management

• Ensure that the organization’s helicopter and other manned aircraft (if any) are maintained.
• Ensure the maintenance of all unmanned aircraft systems, including platforms, sensors, batteries, etc.

Administration and Career Development

• Plan and prepare work schedules.
• Lead and if appropriate, delegate administrative duties such as maintaining liaison with administrative personnel; maintaining records; preparing periodic reports; issuing tools, supplies and equipment; and operating data processing terminals, photographic equipment, and audio-visual equipment.
• Under the direction of the Director of Aviation Operations and Compliance, MAO&I has joint responsibility for leading the day-to-day activities of more than 50 subordinates, contractors, consultants, and vendors.
• Arrange and conduct liaison meetings and/or conferences to exchange technical information regarding such matters as planning and reviewing airport inspections and safety related projects.
• Assist superiors in the planning and preparation of training curriculum and development plans.
• Review contracts for consultant, contractor, and vendor services including fees, hours to be worked and scope of work to be covered.
• Ensure that consultants, contractor, and vendor aviation services conform to MassDOT Aeronautics policies and procedures.
• Perform related duties such as the review and approval of a variety of consultant, contractor and vendor services documents, budgets, estimates, payment vouchers.
• Lead the day-to-day activities of subordinates, contractors, consultants, and vendors.

• Perform related duties such as strategic planning, compiling and correlating operations and inspection data, drafting communications for internal and external stakeholders, preparing PowerPoint presentations, maps, and charts, attending meetings and conferences, and providing technical advice and statutory and regulatory support.
• Oversee the review, examination and approval/disapproval of complex aviation statutes, regulations, plans, and operations by analyzing technical documents for conformance to applicable rules, regulations, codes, laws, policies, or procedures.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

All job applications must be submitted online through MassCareers to be considered.

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

II. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Executive Order #595: As a condition of employment, successful applicants will be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption as of their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment. Applicants who receive an offer of employment who can provide documentation that the vaccine is medically contraindicated or who object to vaccination due to a sincerely held religious belief may make a request for exemption.

• For questions regarding the job posting, please email Heather Sweeney at heather.sweeney@dot.state.ma.us.
• For general questions regarding MassDOT, call the Human Resources Service Center at 857-368-4722.
• For a disability-related reasonable accommodation or alternative application method, call ADA Coordinator, Heather Ulesoo 857-851-9447.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.