Salary: See Position Description
Location : Fayetteville, AR, AR
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 03175
Department: AIRPORT SERVICES (760)
Opening Date: 10/08/2026
Closing Date: 11/8/2026 5:00 PM Central
Essential Job DutiesSalary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience, consistent with the City's adopted pay plan.Safety/Security Sensitive Designation:
This is a safety/security sensitive position for purposes of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Note: All City of Fayetteville supervisory positions require the employee to demonstrate leadership competencies by exhibiting appropriate role modeling, and setting proper examples. In addition, all City of Fayetteville positions require the employee to provide good customer service to both internal and external customers, maintain positive and effective working relationships with other City employees (especially members of his or her own team), and have regular and reliable attendance that is non-disruptive. Other essential duties of this position include the following:
1. Perform supervisory responsibilities which may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the City's policies and applicable laws.
2. The incumbent is responsible for directing the operation, maintenance, and development of the City's municipal airport, Drake Field, which includes a city-staffed fixed base operator. Drake Field is a Part 139 certified general aviation airport.
3. Develop policies, plans, and procedures for the efficient operation of the airport.
4. Market the airport by developing and implementing strategic plans to attract users and commercial/industrial tenants from both local and regional/national markets. Partner with the City's Economic Development team to recruit aviation-related employers and develop airport property.
5. Schedule and conduct monthly Airport Board Meetings, which includes agenda preparation. Work with the Airport Board to develop plans, procedures, strategies, and programs to improve service and facilities at the airport.
6. Manage the fixed base operator as a customer-facing business. Set service standards for fuel, flight line, and passenger services, and track customer satisfaction, fuel volume, and margin.
7. Schedule, cross-train, and deploy staff to match demand, including peak periods and special events, so that based tenants, transient pilots, and corporate operators receive consistent service.
8. Oversee preparation and maintenance of the Airport Master Plan.
9. Oversee the management of fuel and aeronautical supply inventories as directed by the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality for fuel standards.
10. Prepare action items for the Airport Board and City Council. Coordinate action items through the Staff Review process and prepare backup information as necessary.
11. Develop and administer the five-year capital improvement plan for the airport. Prepare applications and present proposals to the FAA for Airport Improvement Program Grant funding to fund airport improvement projects. Prepare applications for Arkansas Division of Aeronautics matching grants. Manage active grants from award through closeout: direct and review the preparation of drawdowns and federal reports, ensure contractor compliance, and provide Finance with the grant expenditure reporting used in the City's annual audit.
12. Negotiate and enforce lease agreements and other contracts between the City of Fayetteville and Airport tenants. Prepare applications and agreements for review by the Airport Board and approval through the City contract review process and City Council as required.
13. Act as the primary contract administrator on all City contracts pertaining to the operation or the conduct of business at the airport. Act as the primary point of contact for the Department of Defense fuel and FAA Tower contracts.
14. Update and administer the Minimum Standards for Aeronautical Activities, Airport Certification Manual, Emergency Plan and Security Manual as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
15. Ensure compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations, State of Arkansas Laws and Directives issued through the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics and local Fayetteville and Washington County regulations, ordinances, and laws.
16. Oversee the airport's safety and regulatory programs, including the wildlife hazard management program, firefighting equipment and training shared with the Fire Department, training required by the FAA and vendors, quarterly hangar inspections, and the annual FAA and military fuel inspections. Manage the City's contract for Part 139 compliance support.
17. Manage the airport's financial performance. Prepare and monitor the budget; set fuel pricing, hangar rates, and fees; grow aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue; control operating costs; and report results against financial targets to the Airport Board and City administration. Oversee monthly accounts receivable and payable, and provide monthly financial reports to the Chief Financial Officer.
18. Prepare reports as may be required by the city, state and/or federal government.
19. Represent the Airport in public/private sector meetings and other activities. Participate in regional meetings with NWARPC, NWA Council, Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, and other regional business meetings to promote City and regional transportation improvements.
20. Provide assistance as needed to the general public and tenants, and work to successfully resolve complaints, disagreements, or conflicts that may arise in the course of day-to-day operations.
21. Work evenings, weekends, and special events as operations require, and fill operational roles when needed.
22. Perform other duties as assigned.
Secondary Job Duties - Secondary duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications 1. Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of five years of experience managing a revenue-generating operation, including pricing, cost control, staffing, and financial reporting, with a minimum of three years of management experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
2. Experience negotiating and managing leases or commercial contracts, including setting rates and enforcing terms.
3. Experience running an operation subject to regulatory inspection, safety, or compliance requirements.
4. Demonstrated record of scheduling and developing staff to meet customer service standards.
5. Must possess or be able to obtain the Certified Member certification through the American Association of Airport Executives within one year of date of hire.
6. Possess a valid driver's license.
7. Must pass a criminal background check for offenses cited in A.C.A. 21-15-103 and A.C.A. 21-15-111.
8. Effectively communicate with others orally and in writing, often under complex conditions that require good judgment, diplomacy and tact.
9. Possess the ability to develop and implement strategies to effectively market the airport.
10. Must possess public presentation skills to provide presentations to staff, the public, and City Council in a clear, effective manner.
11. Must possess ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with airport users, regulatory agencies, appointed and elected officials.
12. Must be proficient in the use of a computer and software programs. Must be able to effectively operate standard office equipment.
13. Requires the use of mathematics involving practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. May require the use of basic algebraic solutions.
Preferred Qualifications
1. Experience overseeing federal grants from award through closeout, including reviewing and approving reimbursement requests (drawdowns) and financial reports, and answering for compliance in an audit under the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), is strongly preferred.
2. Experience in aviation, such as a fixed base operator, corporate flight department, airline station, or airport.
3. Knowledge of Part 139 requirements for a certificated airport and of FAA regulations.
Physical Demands
1. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
2. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate: at times jet engine noise and exhaust are present.
Full Time, 40 or more hours per week, non uniformed employee. Eligible for all City benefits offered to full time non uniformed employees and all full time City accruals of paid leave.
Please click this link for more details on City employee benefits:
www.fayetteville-ar.gov/654/Employee-Benefits-Information01
To qualify for this position, the candidate must possess a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.Do you meet this requirement?
02
The successful candidate must have a minimum of five years of experience managing a revenue-generating operation, including pricing, cost control, staffing, and financial reporting, with a minimum of three years of management experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted. Do you meet these requirements?
03
If you answered yes to the previous question, please give a detailed description of the experience that you have as well as the length of time for each experience.
04
Please use the space below if you need more space to complete your answer.
05
The candidate is required to have experience negotiating and managing leases or commercial contracts, including setting rates and enforcing terms. Do you have this experience?
06
The candidate is required to have Experience running an operation subject to regulatory inspection, safety, or compliance requirements. Do you meet this requirement?
07
The candidate is required to have a demonstrated record of scheduling and developing staff to meet customer service standards. Do you meet this requirement?
08
The candidate must possess or be able to obtain the Certified Member certification through the American Association of Airport Executives within one year of date of hire. If selected, would you be able to meet this requirement?
09
To qualify for this position, a candidate must possess a valid Driver's License.Do you meet this requirement?
10
The successful candidate must pass a criminal background check for offenses cited in A.C.A. 21-15-103 and A.C.A. 21-15-111. If selected, would you be able to meet this requirement?
11
The candidate must have the ability to effectively communicate with others orally and in writing, often under complex conditions that require good judgment, diplomacy and tact. Please describe any experience you have working under similar conditions utilizing these types of skills.
12
The candidate must possess the ability to develop and implement strategies to effectively market the airport. Please describe any experience (work related or other) that you have in which you have successfully performed the above types of skills
13
The candidate must possess public presentation skills to provide presentations to staff, the public, and City Council in a clear, effective manner.Please describe your experience, work related or other, in meeting these communication requirements. Please include group presentation experience.
14
The candidate must possess ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with airport users, regulatory agencies, appointed and elected officials.If selected, would you be able to meet these requirements.
15
The candidate must be proficient in the use of a computer and software programs. Do you meet these requirements?
16
Please give a brief description of the software programs that you are familiar with and have experience using.
17
The candidate must be able to effectively operate standard office equipment (i.e., copier, scanner, printer, fax, etc.). Do you meet this requirement?
18
This position requires the use of mathematics involving practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. May require the use of basic algebraic solutions.Please describe relevant experience you have, work related or other, in which you've utilized the above types of skills.
19
Experience overseeing federal grants from award through closeout, including reviewing and approving reimbursement requests (drawdowns) and financial reports, and answering for compliance in an audit under the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), is strongly preferred.Do you have this experience?
20
Previous experience in aviation, such as a fixed base operator, corporate flight department, airline station, or airport highly desirable.Do you have th
