About Our Job

We are looking to hire our next Senior Manager, Badging and Permitting to join our DEN team!   

  

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join DEN's diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 37,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.   

  

What We Offer  

The City and County of Denver offer a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The starting target salary range for this position is $109,134 to $144,000. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:   

• Competitive medical plans, dental, and vision insurance - eligible within 1 month of your start date      

• Pension Plan (DERP) and Retirement Plan   

• Accrue 140 hours of PTO within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year   

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability   

• CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits  

• Employee Assistance Program, Employee Volunteer Program  

• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides)  

• Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources  

• And so much more!!! 

Location and Schedule    

• This role reports 100% on-site to the Denver International Airport Badging office located in Concourse A. Employee parking will be provided. 

• Monday – Friday, standard business hours

• All scheduling is subject to adjustment and is based on operational needs.

​​

What You'll Do

Denver International Airport is seeking a Senior Manager of Airport Security - Badging and Permitting to become a key member of the leadership team in the Airport Security section of Airport Operations. The Badging and Permitting unit is responsible for the Airport’s identity management, credentialing, security training, and vehicle permitting programs supporting DEN’s 40,000+ badge holders and the broader airport community.

As Senior Manager of Airport Security you will be responsible for:

• Lead two badging offices and associated personnel responsible for collecting, processing, and adjudicating applications; delivering required security training; and maintaining regulatory-required records and information, including Criminal History Records Checks (CHRC), Security Threat Assessments (STA), FBI Rap Back, and other applicable screening requirements, supporting the annual issuance and management of more than 40,000 Airport ID badges.

• Provide strategic and operational leadership and accountability for the Airport’s identity management and credentialing program, ensuring compliance with the Airport Security Program, TSA regulations and directives, applicable federal requirements, and established Airport policies and procedures, while developing and implementing policies and procedures necessary to maintain regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness.

• Serve as the Airport’s subject-matter expert and senior business owner for airport access media, identity management, and credentialing. Provide oversight of the Identity Management System (IDMS) supporting fingerprinting, background screening, badging, and related processes while ensuring compliance with TSA requirements and the Airport Security Program. Ensure appropriate safeguards are maintained for Sensitive Security Information (SSI), Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and other sensitive data.

• Provide overall accountability for program compliance, policy development and implementation, risk management, budget and resource management, customer experience and service delivery, workforce planning, audit and TSA inspection readiness, vendor and contract management, and emergency and continuity planning.

• Lead workforce development, succession planning, and performance management for the Badging and Permitting organization, including developing employees and ensuring appropriate staffing, training, and organizational capacity to meet operational and regulatory requirements.

• Lead and oversee strategic initiatives and special projects in support of Airport Security priorities, including biometric credentialing programs, digital appointment queue management and customer experience solutions, computer-based training and testing, identity management technology enhancements, and other airport security initiatives.

• Establish and manage performance metrics and continuous improvement strategies for the Badging & Credentialing program, leveraging data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive operational efficiency, reduce processing times, enhance customer experience and service delivery, and ensure timely resolution of customer concerns while supporting more than 100,000 annual credentialing transactions.

• Prepare and present performance reports and executive-level briefings on operations, trends, compliance, risks, service levels, and improvement initiatives to Airport Security leadership and other key stakeholders.

What You'll Bring 

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.   

  

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, aviation management, public administration, security management, or a related field preferred.

• Demonstrated leadership experience building collaborative, high performing teams, and fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Experience leading, developing, and mentoring employees in a highly regulated, security-focused or complex operational environment.

• Knowledge of and experience interpreting and implementing aviation security regulations and requirements, with an understanding of the regulatory framework governing airport security.

• Experience managing complex operational programs, including the ability to establish priorities, manage competing demands, evaluate risk and implement effective solutions.

• Experience leading the implementation, integration, and optimization of technology systems that support credentialing and security operations, with the ability to translate business needs into effective technology solutions, data-driven processes and operational improvements.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to work with federal partners, airport leadership, airlines, tenants, contractors, law enforcement, and other internal and external partners.

• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and drive continuous improvement leveraging technology, data, and performance metrics to improve security, compliance, operational efficiency and customer service.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically beyond the immediate operational function, anticipate emerging security and business needs, and develop solutions that support the Airport’s broader organizational goals.

• Ability to serve as an Airport Security Coordinator (ASC) or alternate Airport Security Coordinator, including participation in the Airport’s 24/7 security leadership response structure, within six (6) months of hire.

• Airport Certified Employee (ACE) Certification in Security designated by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) or attain within six (6) months of hire.

• Certified Member (C.M.) Certification from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) preferred.

​Required Minimum Qualifications  

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:  

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).

• Experience: Three (3) years of supervisory, administrator or specialist level experience in an aviation environment or within a specialized functional area.

• Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.

• Licensure: By position, requires a valid Driver’s License at the time of application. Requires certification or licensure related to area of work at the time of application or by the completion of probation. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

  

FBI Background Check  

FBI criminal background checks are required for all positions at Denver International Airport (DEN). Employees are also required to report any felony convictions and/or moving violations to maintain this clearance and be eligible for continued employment. By position, a pre-employment physical/drug test may be required.  

  

Shift Work/Emergency Duties 

Denver International Airport is a 24/7/365 team operation. If staffing challenges arise, weather conditions warrant, or an emergency crisis occurs, all DEN employees will be required to work extended hours and/or alternative shifts (including nights, weekends, and holidays).  

  

About DEN  

Since opening on Feb. 28, 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has become one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, 82,427,962 passengers passed through DEN, making DEN 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. DEN is Colorado’s primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion in annual economic impact for the state. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and strive to keep Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) at the center of all that we do.   

  

Application Deadline  

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):  

• Resume  

• Cover Letter preferred, not required  

This position is expected to stay open until 9/13. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than 11:59pm on 9/12 to ensure consideration.  

  

Internal Candidates Only: Please note that probationary employees are not eligible to apply for open positions until they’ve successfully passed probation. Please only apply if you have already passed the probation. 

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CX3492 Airport Operations Manager

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$109,134.00 - $180,071.00

Target Pay

$109,134 to $144,000; Based on education, experience, internal equity, and career service rules

Agency

Denver International Airport

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [email protected] with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.