Vice President, Planning & Infrastructure

Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) manages and operates Victoria International Airport (YYJ), which is located on the homelands of the W̱SÁNEĆ People whose historical relationship to the land continues to this day. YYJ is the 11th busiest airport in Canada with almost 2 million passengers per year. A consistent award winner, YYJ has been rated one of the top ten most-loved airports in the world by CNN Travel and was recently recognised with the following awards: Top 100 Employer in BC; Airport Service Quality – Best Airport by Size and Region (North America); Best Hygiene Measures in North America; Excellence in Airport Concessions; and Most Efficient Airport with under 5 Million Passengers in North America. More than a transportation centre, YYJ is also source of pride for residents in the region and an economic catalyst and business generator for southern Vancouver Island as a whole.

Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President, Planning and Infrastructure (VP) leads, directs, and oversees all aspects of the VAA’s capital improvement program ensuring that airport infrastructure (e.g. runways, buildings, roads, utilities, underground systems, etc.) and systems (information technology, GIS, building automation, baggage systems, etc.) comply with regulatory requirements and meet the current and future requirements of airport passengers, airlines, systems and services. The VP is accountable for the oversight of a multi-million dollar annual capital and operations budget and the successful implementation of numerous infrastructure and facilities projects each year. The VP works in close collaboration with the CEO, the Board, other members of the executive team, and a wide network of internal and external contacts and partners. They also lead a multidisciplinary team of employees.

The ideal candidate has a strong engineering and/or project/program management background, with the proven ability to work collaboratively, effectively, and positively with a diverse range of internal and external partners. Ideally, they will have collaborated on a wide range of projects within an airport or similar highly complex, 24/7 operations environment dedicated to safety and customer service. The VP will lead by example, motivate others, and constantly identify new methods and process efficiencies. They will be a strategic thinker and leader who is also comfortable working in a hands-on capacity. The VP’s values encompass a strong belief in the concepts of process analysis and improvement; team and relationship building; innovation; communication; and partner collaboration in the development of all planning and infrastructure projects. Possessing the requisite qualifications, the incumbent will be tactful, calm, a superb listener, a proven team builder, and will bring a high degree of credibility to the role. Experience overseeing IT will be considered an asset.