• Back to search results

Apply By: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 11:59 pm EST

Head, Airport Operations

Job ID:

236337

Posting status:

Open

Organization:

Ministry of Transportation

Division:

Remote Airports Office / Transportation User Services Branch

City:

Thunder Bay

Position(s) language:

English

Job term:

1 Permanent

Job code:

M1011B - Technical Services16

Salary:

$92,920.00 - $135,056.00 Per year

Lead the Future of Northern Aviation in Ontario

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for aviation and public service? The Ministry of Transportation is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head, Airport Operations leader to oversee the operations, maintenance, and development of 29 remote airports across Northern Ontario.

As part of the Operations Division, the Remote Airports Office plays a critical role in providing the only year-round transportation access to isolated Indigenous communities. These airports are essential lifelines, supporting medical and medivac services, emergency response, and access to vital professional services such as policing, social services, and legal systems.

In this high-impact leadership role, you will guide a dedicated team of professionals, contractors, and service providers to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable airport operations across vast and challenging terrains. You'll collaborate with Indigenous communities, and government and industry partners to ensure the continued success and advancement of this essential public service.

If you're ready to lead a program that makes a real difference in the lives of northern Ontarians, this is your opportunity to shape the future of aviation in some of the province's most remote and resilient communities.

The Ontario Public Service: Strengthening Ontario, Together.

A career in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) is driven by purpose. We're building a stronger Ontario by delivering programs and services that make a real difference in people's lives. If you share this ambition, you'll find a workplace that reflects the diversity of the people we serve and empowers you to lead with confidence.

Why Your Leadership Belongs Here

• Purpose that drives you: Lead work that matters. Your leadership will shape policies, programs, and services that improve lives across the province—every day.
• A culture that supports you: Thrive in a flexible, inclusive, and respectful workplace that values your well-being and empowers you to bring your whole self to work.
• A career that grows with you: Explore leadership opportunities across ministries and sectors. With access to mentorship, learning, and mobility, your career can evolve here.
• Recognition that reflects your impact: We value the difference you make. You'll receive competitive pay, a defined-benefit pension, and benefits that support your well-being—plus meaningful recognition for your contributions.

About the job

We believe great leadership starts with high standards and strong support. In the OPS, that means showing up with authenticity, acting with integrity, and having the courage to do what's right, even when it's difficult.

As a leader, you'll shape a team culture that sparks innovation, supports collaboration, and champions inclusion. You'll help build a workplace that is diverse, anti-racist, and accessible, where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to thrive.

You won't be doing it alone. We invest in our leaders through mentorship, learning opportunities, and cross-ministry networks that help you grow your impact and connect with peers across the organization.

Leadership is about impact, and in this role, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful one.

You will:

• Lead the strategic planning, operation, and development of a network of 29 remote airports serving Northern Ontario communities.

• Manage program delivery, including infrastructure maintenance, capital planning, construction projects, and emergency response coordination.

• Guide and motivate your team through strong communication, accountability and creative resolution.

• Oversee procurement, budgeting, and resource allocation, ensuring efficient operations in challenging and remote environments.

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities, government partners, and aviation partners.

• Provide advice to senior leadership on program performance, regulatory compliance, and opportunities for innovation and sustainability.

Please note:

• This position is based in Thunder Bay and requires on-site work five days per week, with occasional travel throughout Northern Ontario.

What you bring to the team

Leadership and People Management

• Proven ability to lead and coordinate complex operations across large geographic areas, aligning team efforts with strategic goals.
• Skilled in building inclusive, high-performing teams through effective recruitment, training, and performance management.
• Experienced in planning and allocating financial, human, and material resources to meet program objectives efficiently.
• Demonstrated judgment and independence in resolving operational challenges and advising senior leadership on program improvements.

Relationship Management and Communication

• Skilled at building and maintaining effective working relationships with Indigenous communities, public organizations, aviation and internal partners
• Able to communicate complex technical and regulatory information clearly to a range of audiences, including senior leadership and external partners.
• Experienced in coordinating with federal and provincial aviation authorities to support safe and compliant airport operations.
• Comfortable navigating sensitive issues and providing thoughtful recommendations through written reports, briefings, and collaborative discussions.

Technical and Specialized Knowledge

• Knowledge of airport operations, facility maintenance, and safety standards, ideally within regulated or remote environments.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, and equipment planning to support infrastructure and service delivery.
• Understanding of relevant regulations and environmental practices, with the ability to support compliance and emergency planning.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects and applying practical solutions to improve operations, especially in challenging or resource-limited settings.

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

Think this role could be right for you?

We're here to support you every step of the way. These short videos can help you feel confident and prepared:

• Navigating Our Hiring Process (2 min) – Get a clear overview of each stage in our structured hiring process so you know what to expect and how to prepare.

• Application Preparation Tips (4 min) – Learn how to showcase your leadership experience in ways that align with how we evaluate applications during the screening stage.

Take a few minutes to explore these resources. They're designed to set you up for success.

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

Additional information:

Apply by:

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 11:59 pm EST

Position details:

• 1 English Permanent, 623 James St S, Thunder Bay, North Region

Compensation group:

Management Compensation Plan

Work hours:

Schedule 6

Category:

Management and General

Posted on:

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

How to apply:

• You must apply online.

• Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.

• Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.

• Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.

• OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

• If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.

Strengthening Ontario, together