City of Los Angeles Los Angeles World Airports CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Annual Salary: $158,667 to $225,755 Organizational Overview Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) currently operates two airports: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY), one of the world's busiest general aviation airports. In addition, LAWA maintains 17,750 acres of land in the Antelope Valley, 60 miles north of LAX. This land is adjacent to the former LA/Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) site, which was situated on United States Air Force Plant 42. PMD is not currently certificated by the FAA. LAWA is an independent, financially self sufficient department of the City of Los Angeles created pursuant to Article XXIV, Section 238 of the City Charter. LAWA is under the management and control of a seven member Board of Airport Commissioners appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The Executive Director administers LAWA and reports to the Board. Policies of the Commission are carried out by a professional administrative staff of nearly 3,500 employees. As a federally regulated enterprise fund, LAWA supports its operations solely through revenues generated by the Department. LAWA must fully recover its costs from aeronautical users, maximize its non-aeronautical revenues, and control operating expenses in order to cover obligations for debt service and meet financial projections. This requires managing a balance between cost-recovery formulas applied to aeronautical users and fluctuating non-aeronautical revenues driven by passenger traffic and commercial opportunities. LAWA s Fiscal Year 2016 budget has authorized operating expenses of $790.7 million. These expenditures will support daily operations of LAWA s airports and real estate holdings as well as provide capacity to fulfill federal mandates for the safety and security of airport operations. These expenses are matched against projected revenues of approximately $1,251.6 million for the same period, resulting in projected operating income of $460.9 million available to pay debt service.
The Position The Chief Information Officer (CIO) will be a business-driven leader, not a technology leader. He or she will understand the business aspects of LAWA and then leverage technology to drive innovation, elevate the passenger/guest experience, and develop and maintain an organizational culture and work ethic that promotes strategic planning, quality technological improvement, and cost effectiveness. This candidate must be able to balance often contending business needs across many stakeholders to deliver the future of innovation and technology in a dynamic setting of a very busy airport that is in the middle of a multi-billion dollar transformation. The CIO will also direct the network planning, design, implementation, and utilization of the Airport's information infrastructure and related voice, data, and video communications systems. In this leadership role, the CIO is responsible for promoting multi-jurisdictional cooperative efforts, including access to those services, and providing business with convenient, electronic access to Airport and other governmental information and services. The CIO will be responsible for executing the strategic plan for the procurement and application of the technology that will make all airports within LAWA's system more efficient and effective, as well as serve as a showcase for contemporary information systems both nationally and worldwide. The successful candidate will need to display fiscal responsibility and work within established budgetary procedures in order to push IT initiatives through to completion. This exceptional leader will also need to drive the IT Division to effectively become a more serviceoriented organization that will better support both internal and external LAWA customers. The LAWA CIO will have responsibility for: Moving the current operations-oriented technology group from a keeping the lights on culture to an agile project-driven culture that moves at the speed of the business; The assessment and evaluation of policies concerning services, methods, and standards for providing a cost effective and efficient integrated information technology and telecommunications systems for all forms of voice, data, and video communication and information systems; Overseeing the regulation and enforcement of telecommunication franchises and contracts; Ensuring IT systems meet the needs of the organization for today and tomorrow; Developing procurement strategies for IT professional services vendors and supplies of hardware, software, and other technology; Providing direction to staff to develop web-based applications that allow for greater distribution of information to LAWA staff, vendors, financial institutions, aviation customers and partners, and the general public in a wide array of areas that support LAWA s customer-service vision; and Conferring with representatives of private industry, communications companies, regulatory agencies, government officials, citizen organizations, and staff members regarding communication matters.
The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate for this position will be a business leader first, with deep experience in building a data-driven technology platform from scratch, in order to assist in leading a billion dollar plus business. The ideal candidate does not have to come from the public sector, however he or she must have working knowledge operating and procuring in the government sector as well as working in a complex organization with numerous internal and external stakeholders. This individual should also effectively manage IT initiatives and projects, while working within the organization to give and prioritize as needed for overall project success. It is imperative in this role that strategic initiatives are executed and that service levels are adhered to throughout the organization. This individual will be responsible for the overall success of this Division. While this individual may possess a strong background in technology, they need to be able to apply technical concepts and terminology to all facets of the organization and communicate effectively with non-technical associates. Outstanding management skills are paramount to job success as well as a strong customer service orientation. Most importantly, the CIO will have a commitment to teamwork and diversity to earn the respect of staff, colleagues, and appointed officials (Airport Commissioners) throughout the LAWA organization and the City of Los Angeles. This ideal candidate will also have a unique blend of people skills and an uncanny ability to move swiftly to resolution in a fast-paced and complex environment. This skilled individual will have the ability to work well with other technology staff to discern desired functionality and requirements, and fashion innovative technological and procedural solutions, while at the same preserving the highest level of security available. Additionally, this top individual will have had exposure to and experience with cyber security management underpinned by a broader technology background with particular emphasis on telecommunication networks. This top caliber technologist will have a demonstrable background in working with business stakeholder groups to develop and deliver an organization-wide cyber security agenda. The CIO, working with other key staff, will have the skills to assess organizational cyber security threats and vulnerabilities at an organizational level and contribute recommendations for specific remediation actions and initiatives. The ideal candidate will also have the executive management level experience necessary to: Create a data-driven platform that allows LAWA to make decisions based on objective evidence not subjective opinions; Provide executive leadership in developing, expanding, and conveying LAWA s technology vision to achieve improved operational efficiencies and customer satisfaction across an Airport-wide spectrum; Implement innovative technology programs and systems that are based on best business practices; Maintain a high level of customer service Airport-wide; Ensure the organization fully embraces an aggressive and progressive approach to the delivery of information technology, and also understands when technology is not a solution; and Provide strong fiscal management and accountability with a creative approach to identifying new grants and external funding opportunities.
In summary, the successful candidate will have the ability to lead and manage a large, complex technology organization in an open, approachable, honest, and forthright manner. Education and Experience Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in information systems, engineering, business administration, or related field is required. Possession of a MPA, MBA, or similar education is desired. Experience: Interested candidates should possess over ten years of information technology and/or telecommunications experience and at least three years of senior-level executive experience with a large, complex public or private organization. This individual should have direct experience providing oversight to a large multi-faceted Information Technology organization and have competence in understanding complex security-related issues. Specific experience working in an aviation setting would be advantageous. Compensation LAWA is offering a competitive salary (based on candidate qualifications) and benefits. The current range for this position is $158,667 to $225,755. A comprehensive benefits package includes the following: Medical and Dental Programs (several options available); Optional Flexible Benefits including the ability to purchase life insurance and disability coverage; 120 hours of Vacation; 12 paid Holidays and one Floating Holiday per year (floating holiday becomes available after 6 months of employment); Sick Leave; after 6 months of employment a monthly accrual of 8 hours until the beginning of the calendar year and a yearly allotment of 96 hours of 100% and 40 hours of 75% sick leave thereafter; Bereavement Leave; Retirement Benefits through LACERS; Optional Deferred Compensation Program; Tuition Reimbursement as well as specialized training and professional development funding to enhance employee skill sets; Employee Assistance Program; Workers Compensation coverage for injuries sustained in the course of employment; and Vehicle provided at LAWA expense. LAWA also offers relocation assistance for a successful out of area candidate.
To Be Considered This is a confidential recruitment and will be handled accordingly throughout the various stages of the process. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established. This recruitment is considered open until final selection is made. Candidates are encouraged to apply by Friday, May 6, 2016. It is anticipated that the most highly qualified candidates will be invited for an on-site interview in late May. Selection and appointment is anticipated during June 2016 (or sooner) or at a mutually agreed upon date. Electronic submittals should be sent to Ralph Andersen & Associates at apply@ralphandersen.com and should include the following: Compelling cover letter; Comprehensive resume; and Current salary. Confidential inquiries are welcomed to Heather Renschler at (916) 630-4900. Candidates are also encouraged to further research the Los Angeles World Airports website at www.lawa.org. The City of Los Angeles is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals to submit an application for this exceptional career opportunity. * The position of Chief Information Officer at the Los Angeles World Airports is an exempt, at-will management position. The incumbent will not accrue any civil service tenure, contractual employment rights, or due process rights. The incumbent may be removed, without any finding of cause, by the General Manager Airports. Such removal would not be reviewable or appealable.