Chief Commercial Officer Jobs

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions.

Agency Description

Philadelphia International Airport (“PHL” or the “Airport”) and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (“PNE”) are owned by the City of Philadelphia (the “City”) and operated by the City’s Department of Aviation (the “Department” or “Aviation” or “DOA”).

PHL is classified by the Federal Aviation Administration as a large air traffic hub, meaning those enplaning 1.0% or more of the total passengers enplaned in the U.S. PHL served more than 25.2 million passengers in 2022, up 28.5% from 2021, with service provided by 22 airlines with approximately 323 daily departures to 119 nonstop destinations.

According to data reported for calendar year 2020 by Airports Council International - North America, PHL was ranked the 20th busiest airport in the United States for passengers handled, 25th busiest in the nation for aircraft operations with 284, aircraft movements in 2022, and 14th busiest in the nation for cargo tonnage. The Airport is the only major airport in the nation’s seventh largest metropolitan area and serves residents and visitors from a broad geographic area that includes eleven counties within four states – Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Located seven miles from downtown Philadelphia, the airport is easily accessible and convenient to many tourist sites, business centers and cultural hubs.

PHL is one of the largest economic engines in the region, generating $16.8 billion to the economy and accounting for over 106,000 full-time jobs annually. More details on the airport’s regional economic impact are available at https://www.phl.org/drupalbin/media/PHL.2019.EIS_.pdf

Pursuant to the planned retirement of the current Chief Revenue Officer, the airport is now undertaking a national search for a successor. The department will fill the position under the redesignated title of Chief Commercial Officer.

The CCO role presents a compelling opportunity for a strategic and progressive leader from the airport industry, or a related and relevant industry, to assume the leadership of this dynamic commercial division.

Under general administrative direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the CCO is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling all functions and activi­ties within the commercial division which mainly comprises air service development, cargo development, concessions, retail, food and beverage, guest experience, parking, real estate development and all other revenue generating activities at the airport.

Essential Functions

• Confer with airlines, concessionaires, and other prospective users on the optimal use of airport facilities.
• Drive and oversee the development of domestic and international air service at PHL through strategically focused approaches and innovative marketing efforts targeted at specific air carriers.
• Oversee ongoing land acquisition and tenant-related capital improvement projects at both airports, ensuring that these projects are executed on time and on budget.
• Negotiate and oversee important commercial arrangements with air carriers, concessionaires, and suppliers, and ensure they are mutually beneficial, economically.
• Provide leadership and support over Guest Experience to continually influence and improve overall satisfaction, facilitate airport-wide communication and trust, and collectively address issues that impact our passengers to create a better experience for our guests and team members.
• Ensure that the Department takes all necessary and appropriate actions to keep the costs of commercial operations at appropriate levels in order to ensure the ongoing cost-competitiveness of its airports and attract and properly serve the highly cost-conscious airline community.
• Pursue ongoing commercial development, maximizing revenue and profitability from parking, car rental, retail, advertising, real estate and facilities, advertising and other related non-aeronautical assets and services.
• Provide marketing and air service development services to the public and Department employees. Oversee advertising, air service development and airport terminal support services.
• Oversee concession contracts, property leases, property development projects, and ground transportation.

Year One Critical Success Factors

The following critical success factors represent those deemed most critical to be accomplished in the first year of employment.

• Integrate into the greater Philadelphia community.
• Identify and address the most compelling issues and opportunities facing the division – namely across cargo, parking, and air service development.
• Establish strong, trust-based working relationships with the Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership team as well as the entire commercial division.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• A strong focus on customer service to all external and internal customers.
• A highly regarded and experienced airport executive or a senior executive from an industry with similar or relevant characteristics:
• Consideration will also be given to successful and adaptable executives who bring experience from adjacent and relevant sectors such as airlines, aviation services, transportation and logistics, infrastructure, real estate, tourism, and travel.
• Airport sector candidates should bring extensive knowledge and experience of airport industry best practices, standards, and regulations.
• An orientation towards strong community and stakeholder engagement with experience representing his or her organization at very senior levels to a wide variety of audiences, including the community and the public-at-large.
• A strong track record of negotiating effectively with third parties including, in the case of airports, current and potential users of airport properties and facilities, agencies and interest groups.
• Demonstrated strong project management skills in the context of direct management responsibility for large-scale initiatives involving significant dollar amounts and implications, a large staff, and many diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience in dealing with the public sector, ideally brings a nice blend of both private and public sector experience and of working at the public-private sector interface.
• Experience and comfort working in highly visible representational positions that have put him or her “in the spotlight” and “under the microscope.”

Work-Life

The Department of Aviation supports a robust work-life balance. Working hours are 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Our team is currently hybrid with both virtual and in-office days. The in-office requirement is 15 hours per week – essentially two days – or as otherwise needed, based on business needs, such as in-person hearings or client meetings. Staff can opt to come into the office each day if desired.

Qualifications

• At least 15 years’ leadership experience within airport commercial and retail, or equivalent industries with demonstrated accountability and successful track record of revenue growth.
• For those with airport experience, thorough knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations relating to civil airport operations, including those of the Federal Aviation Administration – F.A.R. Part 139.
• Eligible to work in the United States, or able to secure such right to work with relative ease and timeliness.
• Minimum of an undergraduate degree from an accredited school. Graduate degree and advanced executive leadership courses and relevant professional certifications are highly desirable.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a resume.

Salary Range: $185,000 - $210,000

Did you know?

• 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities
• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx