AIRPORT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER bei City of Long Beach, CA
City of Long Beach, CA · Long Beach, Vereinigte Staaten Von Amerika · Onsite
- Professional
- Optionales Büro in Long Beach
About the Department
THE COMMUNITY
CITY GOVERNMENT
The City is supported by a FY 2024 total budget of approximately $3.3 billion with a General Fund budget of $719 million. More than 6,000 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the vast majority being represented by twelve employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov.
THE DEPARTMENT
Long Beach Airport (LGB) is classified as a small hub airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems and serves approximately four million passengers annually. Owned and operated by the City of Long Beach, LGB was established in 1923 and is one of the oldest municipal airports in the United States. Known as the Coolest Airport in America, LGB is a friendly alternative to other Southern California airports, offering preferred flight schedules, great airlines and destinations and overall accessibility.
The Airport is committed to delivering an Outstanding Customer Experience in an intelligent, ecofriendly, safe, and efficient manner while being respectful of our employees and the community that we serve. We also strive to be a major driver in the economic vitality of Long Beach. Through Organizational Excellence, we seek to recruit, develop, and retain talented staff in an organization structured for success.
Long Beach Airport has a rich history of contributions to our nation’s leadership in aviation. Earl Daugherty opened one of the nation’s first flight schools in Long Beach in 1919. Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart flew from Long Beach. Once home to McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), many commercial aircraft including the DC-8, DC-9/MD-80, DC-10/MD-11, and C-17 were manufactured in Long Beach. Approximately 180 businesses reside on Airport property and are responsible for roughly 18,000 jobs. Some of these include AAA, Aero Business Center, Atlantic Aviation, Long Beach Marriott Hotel, DeVry Institute of Technology, DHL, Epson America, SCAN Health Plan, Signature @ Aeroplex, Skylinks Golf Course, and United Parcel Service.
Beginning in the early 2000’s, the Airport embarked on the development of modern facilities, which included Parking Structure “B” in 2011, and the Passenger Concourse in 2012. In 2022, the Airport unveiled its new Ticketing Facility Lobby featuring common-use facilities for all its airlines. A new Baggage Claim Facility with two carousels was opened in 2023. In 2025, the final facility improvement was the renovation and first-floor restoration of the Airport’s Historic Terminal, originally opened in 1941. The Airport has been awarded Grant funds for the modernization and refurbishment of the Passenger Concourse in anticipation of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Airport Department is governed by the City Council; the Airport Director is appointed by the City Manager and is responsible for overall airport activities. The Director is supported by a Deputy Director, Manager of Airport Operations and Facilities and Manager of Finance and Administration. The Public Affairs Officer reports to the Deputy Director.. The Airport Department employs approximately 125 staff and has an annual operating budget of approximately $28 million.
THE POSITION
The purpose of the PAO is to influence public policy affecting LGB, build strong, positive relationships with customers, surrounding communities and federal, local and state agencies, and demonstrate how LGB provides a positive economic impact on the community through educational programs, events and the dissemination of timely, accurate information.
Position Duties
- All media communications;
- Web content management;
- Creation and design of compelling and informative documents;
- Event planning;
- Coordination of ambassador and tour guide volunteer programs;
- Development of recommendations on City and/or Airport position regarding regulatory and legislative proposals;
- Execution of an environmental communications program to demonstrate LGB’s commitment to sustainability;
- Responsible for making day-to-day decisions affecting LGB’s Public Affairs, Governmental Affairs and Community Relations needs;
- Other duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
- Five (5) years of recent progressively responsible experience including two (2) or more years of recent supervisory experience, working in public relations, governmental affairs and/or public administration.
- Bachelors' degree in Public Relations, Governmental Affairs, Public Administration or closely related field is required.
- A combination of education/experience can be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis.
- Airport experience is highly desirable.
- A master's degree is desirable.
- Strong technical skill
- Strong administrative and interpersonal skills
- Strong writing skills (press releases; emergency communications; news articles; policy development, etc.)
- Ethical, with a high level of integrity
- Strong political acumen
- Embraces ideas and contributions from others
- Self-motivated - does not require extensive direction or guidance
- Dedicated to quality service
- Attentive to detail
- Exercises good judgement
- Displays enthusiasm and optimism regarding work
- Strong leader, capable of motivating and energizing staff
- Strong understanding of LGB's customer service goals and environmental initiatives
- Comfortable speaking at public events
Other Qualifications
The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visitinghttps://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.