Airport Operations Undergraduate Intern

Job Description:

Airport Operations Undergraduate Intern

Description

CAREER DESCRIPTION

Airport Operations Undergraduate Intern


John Wayne Airport

This recruitment is open to the public and will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days and is scheduled to close at 11:59 PM (PST) on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

The Airport

Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, John Wayne Airport (JWA) is the only commercial service airport in Orange County, California. Owned and operated by the County of Orange, it is located along the coast in one of the most premier regions in the country. JWA is a vital piece of the County’s transportation system, serving more than 11.7 million passengers annually. The airport offers nonstop flights to over 40 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada via 11 commercial airlines and two air cargo providers.

In addition to its commercial operations, JWA serves as a major hub for general aviation, with nearly 500 private aircraft housed onsite. General aviation accounts for approximately 60% of the airport’s total operations and is supported by two full-service fixed-based operators (FBOs) and a limited-use facility. John Wayne Airport’s reputation for providing a superior guest experience, operational efficiency, and environmental stewardship continues to make it a distinguished airport in the region and across the country.

• Mission: Connecting People, Places and Opportunities.
• Vision: To be an airport of choice by creating exceptional experiences.
• Core Values: REACH
  • R espect
  • E nvironmental Stewardship
  • A ccountability
  • C ollaboration
  • H onesty

View : John Wayne Airport: The Little Things
To learn more about John Wayne Airport, click here .
To learn more about the County of Orange click here .

OPERATIONS DIVISION
John Wayne Airport (JWA) Operations Division is responsible for the day-today oversight of JWA activities, ensuring JWA operates safely, securely, effectively and within the scope of strict federal regulations. Each day, Airport Operations staff conduct on-site inspections; address the needs of all tenants, patrons, and other customers; issue and track employee identification badges and other access cards and keys; manage parking facilities, emergency preparedness, janitorial services, safety, and monitor the activities of ground transportation providers. The Division consists of five areas: Airside Operations, Landside Operations, Safety, and Emergency Preparedness and Security.

THE OPPORTUNITY
This internship is an in-person internship and is assigned to the Operations Division at JWA. The incumbent will assist the Operations Division with oversight and taking action on JWA activities such as aircraft gate assignment, incident management, and data reporting.

INTERN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Intern duties/responsibilities include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following projects:

• Aircraft Gate Assignment and Scheduling
  • Assist in managing the assignment of gates to arriving and departing flights.
  • Work with the Operations team to ensure gate assignments align with the airport's daily flight schedule.
  • Monitor gate usage and adjust assignments in real-time as required by delays or cancellations.
• Communication with Airlines and Ground Crews
  • Assist in facilitating communication between the airport, airlines, and ground-handling services.
  • Help track gate assignments and notify all stakeholders of any changes or delays in gate availability.
• Incident Management and Troubleshooting
  • Observe and help resolve any gate-related issues, including technical malfunctions, maintenance requests, or delays due to weather or other factors.
  • Work with airport security, ground crews, and other departments to solve issues that may arise in the gate area.
• Data Collection and Reporting
  • Collect data on aircraft gate utilization, flight arrival/departure times, and any delays for report generation.
  • Assist in producing weekly/monthly reports related to aircraft gate management performance; ground transportation, parking shuttles, and parking lot operations; security and safety reports; and highlighting trends and suggesting improvements.
• Shadowing Airport Operations Officers
  • Shadow Airport Operations Officers as they monitor airfield operations, including aircraft movements, safety inspections, and incident response.
  • Shadow Airport Operations Officers as they monitor landslide and terminal operations, including ground transportation, parking, and terminal conditions, and monitor construction activities.
  • Observe how Operations Officers interact with airport tenants such as airlines, contracted security, OCSD, OCFA, TSA, and air traffic control to ensure smooth operations.
  • Learn about the role of Airport Operations Officer in managing emergencies and handling operational disruptions.
  • Participate in walkthroughs of the airside, landside, and terminal environments to understand operational challenges.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have recently (within 6 months) completed or must currently be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management, Airport Operations, Business Administration, Transportation, or related field.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Understanding of Airport Terminology and Functions: Basic understanding of the functions within an airport (e.g., gate management, airside/landside operations, passenger services, security).
• Familiarity with FAA Regulations: Knowledge of FAA Part 139 certification and regulation regarding airport operations
• Understanding of Airfield Operations: Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders and tenants involved in airfield operations, including FBOs, air traffic control, airlines, and security personnel.
• Aircraft Gate Management Systems: Familiarity or ability to quickly learn how to use gate management software and tools for scheduling, gate assignments, and aircraft parking(e.g., AeroCloud, AODB - Airport Operations Database, RMS - Resource Management Systems).
• Basic Data Analysis: Ability to handle basic data entry and analysis, such as tracking gate utilization, flight delays, and turn-around times.
• Problem -Solving Skills: Ability to address operational disruptions (e.g., delays technical issues) with a solution-oriented approach.
• Security Awareness: Understanding the importance of airport security, particularly related to restricted zones, gate access, and ensuring compliance, with TSA and FAA regulations.
• Attention to Detail: Gate management requires a meticulous approach to scheduling, tracking, and coordinating various moving parts in real-time.
• Customer Service: Ability to handle inbound calls from customer tenants in a professional and courteous manner. Assist in resolving customer complaints, concerns, and issues, ensuring customer satisfactions.

TIME COMMITMENT
Paid interns may work up to 59 hours per pay period and internships can last for a minimum of 6 months and no longer than 12 months.

BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO THE INTERN

• Earn academic credit while applying classroom knowledge to a professional workplace
• Build resumes/hands-on experience and explore a career in local government
• Network with professionals in their fields of interest

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applicants must attach a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcripts to their application. The cover letter is an opportunity for students to describe career and academic goals, to elaborate upon personal and academic accomplishments, and to identify what type of internship experience they are seeking. Learn more about what to include in a cover letter here .

Applications that do not include a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcripts will not be considered.

AIRPORT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
The successful candidate must clear background check which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Security Threat Assessment (STA).
References may also be contacted to verify the applicant's qualifications.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site.

Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Emmanuel Tamayo at emmanuel.tamayo@ceo.oc.gov or (714)-834-4633.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

This position does not offer any benefits.

If you have any questions, please contact the recruiter for this position. The recruiter should be listed on the Job Posting.

Closing Date/Time: 5/8/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$19.00 Hourly