ASSISTANT CHIEF, AIRPORTS DIVISION

Job Description

Position/Program Information

EXAM NUMBER

C6088A

FILING PERIOD

The application filing period will begin on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
We welcome applications from anyone.

Why work for us?

With almost 10 million residents, Los Angeles County has the largest population of any county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, with more than 39 diverse departments and over 2,100 different job descriptions, the County offers a lifetime of opportunities and careers. We are Los Angeles County Public Works, the largest municipal Public Works agency in the nation. With more than 4,000 employees, Public Works offers over 500 different types of career opportunities that promote professional and personal growth as well as a rewarding and exciting work environment!

For more information about the outstanding benefits offered by Los Angeles County, please visit us here: https://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/ .

If you have questions about working for LA County, including current open recruitments, tips on crafting a resume or acing an interview, career planning, or any other general information, please visit our website at: https://hr.lacounty.gov/ .

OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS EXAMINATION.
If you performed work that differs from the duties described in your class specification and you believe qualifies you for this opportunity, please describe the out-of-class duties in detail in the Work Experience and Supplemental Questions sections of your application.

NO WITHHOLDS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THIS EXAMINATION.

Essential Job Functions

• Assists the Chief, Aviation Division, Public Works with various aspects of administration of the division.
• Oversees the development and implementation of airport and heliport-related plans.
• Provides leadership and management for the Aviation Division staff.
• Oversees the planning, budgeting, financing, and implementation of capital improvement and other projects to County airport facilities.
• Assists in the preparation of the division’s annual budget.
• Oversees requests for State and Federal aid and grant funding.
• Oversees airport leasing and property management activities.
• Oversees airport safety, fire suppression, and emergency response training.
• Assists in coordinating airport-related business with Federal, State, County, and City Governments, the Aviation Commission, and other divisions within the Department of Public Works.
• Assists in overseeing airport noise abatement programs and noise reporting requirements.
• Acts for the Chief, Aviation Division, Public Works during their absence.

For more information, please view the classification specification: Assistant Chief, Airports Division .

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree* in airport or aviation management, civil engineering, or business or public administration - AND - Three years of experience in upper-level public airport management**.

One additional year of the required experience will be accepted for each year of college.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
2 - Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

*To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your diploma, transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution with your application or email it to PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov . The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards if not listed in the International Handbook of Universities or World Higher Education Database. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted.

For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf .

If you are unable to attach the required documents with your application, please submit them to PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov within five (5) days of filing your application , and indicate your name, the exam name, and the exam number.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

**Upper-level public airport management is defined as: High-level management experience in public use commercial-service or general aviation airport with significant responsibility in organizational leadership, airport operations, personnel management, financial and budgetary oversight, regulatory compliance, and coordination and communication with airport stakeholders.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This examination will consist of TWO (2) parts:

PART I: Two separate assessments including a Simulation Assessment and a Situational Judgment Test, weighted at 40%, measuring:

• Communicating Effectively
• Executing & Delivering on Objectives
• Decision Making
• Delegating & Prioritizing Responsibilities
• Establishing & Maintaining Relationships
• Promoting Collaboration & Cooperation
• Coaching & Developing Others
• Building & Leading Teams
• Reading Comprehension

NOTE: Applicants will receive multiple email notifications for PART I.To ensure your scores are successfully recorded for PART I, applicants must complete all assessments. Failure to complete all assessments may result in forfeiture of your candidacy for this opportunity.

SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS AND SITUATIONAL JUDGMENT TESTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

PART II: An Evaluation of Training and Experience, weighted at 60%, assessing:

• Professional/Technical Knowledge of
  • Airport operations, inspection, and maintenance
  • Airport rules, regulations, guidelines, and contracts
  • Airport budget and grant administration principles and practices
  • Airport noise abatement
  • Long-range airport or heliport planning
  • Airport project planning, funding, and implementation
  • Airport property management
• Safety and First-Aid
• Strategic Planning
• Managing Performance
• Analyzing and Interpreting Data
• Influencing and Negotiating
• Written Communication
• Using Technology

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AND ACHIEVE 70% OR HIGHER ON THE COMBINED SCORE OF PARTS I AND II IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION:
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:

If you have taken identical components recently for other exams, your responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam.

SCORES CANNOT BE GIVEN OVER THE TELEPHONE.

TEST PREPARATION:

We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

• Various information can be found on our website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/job-search-toolkit/ . The section dedicated to test preparation is "Employment Test Assistance."
  
• Online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests/ .
  
• An online preparation guide is available at https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/1181885_True-to-LifeLeaderSJTPrepGuide.pdf .

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION:
Applicants who passed the assessments are placed on a list in the order of their score group for a period of 6 months. We will use this list to fill vacancies in Public Works as they occur.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

NMondragon@pw.lacounty.gov
PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov
klent@hr.lacounty.gov
info@governmentjobs.com
talentcentral@shl.com
noreply@proctoru.com
donot-reply@amcatmail.com

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to governmentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING USER ID, EMAIL AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend’s user ID and password may erase a candidate’s original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI): The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

CONTACT INFORMATION :
Department Contact Name: Neal Mondragon
Department Contact Phone: (626) 458-2141
Department Contact Email: PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Phone: (626) 458-2141
Teletype Phone: (626) 282-7829
California Relay Services: (800) 735-2922

For detailed information, please click here