at City of Wichita in Wichita, Kansas, United States
Job Description
The City of Wichita is NOT an E-Verify Employer.
Distinguishing Features of Work
Join a forward-thinking, high-impact leadership team at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) as the Air Service and Marketing Manager—a critical role that connects Wichita’s business community and travelers to the world. In this high-visibility position, you will lead strategies to attract new air carriers, grow existing air service, and strengthen the airport’s competitive market presence. You will also drive integrated marketing, brand development, public relations, customer experience, and strategic communications that elevate the airport’s public profile and economic value. From managing major media events and airline relations to improving traveler satisfaction, this role is instrumental in shaping ICT’s identity as a modern, efficient, and welcoming airport. This position is ideal for a dynamic communicator, experienced strategist, and creative brand builder who thrives on collaboration, innovation, and public impact. Be part of the growth engine that keeps Wichita connected.
**Posting may close at any time **
Examples of Work Performed
Focus Area: Air Service Development
Strategic Purpose: Connect the community, businesses, and workforce to target markets through relevant scheduled air carrier service.
- Analyzes the region’s air service needs, deficiencies, and opportunities, and develops strategies to secure enhanced airline services
- Develops and maintains relationships with local and regional businesses to understand their current and future air service needs through surveys or other means
- Responsible for developing and maintaining relationships and communication with incumbent and prospective airlines regarding air service
- Provides market research and enplanement information to existing and prospective airlines for new service and prepares professional air service presentations
- Conducts ongoing research of industry news and trends and how these may affect Wichita’s air service
- Leverages applicable air service incentive programs and makes recommendations for specific air service initiatives to partners, including the Chamber’s air service development committee
- Directs and oversees contracted consulting firms that specialize in air service development to position the airport for future success
- Prepares and tailors various air service statistical reports for various audiences, including but not limited to the Airport Advisory Board, City Council, and Chamber
- Establishes and maintains effective relationships with are a Chambers, REAP, other City departments, economic development agencies, the business community, and other stakeholders to support air service development initiatives
- Conducts outreach to educate and influence target audiences, including elected officials, about the positive economic impact to our region and to gain support for the air service initiatives
- Supports airlines in celebrating new service inaugural flight events through event planning and celebrations
Focus Area: Marketing
Strategic Purpose: Increase awareness of the Airport Authority and its services. Internally and externally.
- Develops marketing strategies to promote and support ICT’s air service and the airport.
- Promotes the use of the airport in the catchment area region
- Creates marketing campaigns designed to increase the region’s awareness of the importance of the airport to local economic development, thereby increasing brand loyalty
- Develops and/or strengthens the airport’s brand
- Creates awareness of the available airline and airport services and facilities
- Directs and manages marketing functions, advertising, communications, and the airport’s social media
- Researches effective marketing techniques and makes recommendations to the marketing team
- Directs and oversees a contracted creative marketing team
- Directs and authorizes strategies and expenditures for media buys
- Develops marketing strategies with airlines to support new routes and preservation of current service
- Evaluates marketing campaigns for effectiveness
- Prepares comprehensive reports and presentations
- Provides marketing materials for the promotion of airport properties available for lease
Focus Area: Customer Experience
Strategic Purpose: Promote an excellent, accurate, and friendly customer experience through traditional and innovative methods.
- Oversees the development, implementation, and analysis of passenger surveys
- Manages and promotes the airport’s loyalty programs
- Creates customer service initiatives designed to enhance the airport’s brand
- Manages holiday and local event celebrations, decorations, and programming
- Manages customer service programs and supervises customer service representatives
- Plans, supervises, and coordinates the work of other employees and volunteers
Focus Area: Public Relations
Strategic Purpose: Provide a high-quality, consistent, and reliable brand.
- Directs and coordinates public relations activities
- Provides public speaking to Chambers, committees, business groups, etc
- Plans department special events and coordinates with all parties involved
- Coordinates airport tour requests with airport divisions
- Confers with staff and consultants
- Conducts press conferences
- Writes and distributes press releases
- Serves as media contact for the airport; available to the media 24/7
Focus Area: Communications
Strategic Purpose: Share relevant, timely, and accurate information to our internal and external stakeholders through various mediums.
- Directs and coordinates activities related to communications, including but not limited to, newsletters and social media posts, and website updates
- Assists in the development of department presentations for both internal and external use
Focus Area: Workforce Development
Strategic Purpose: Acts as a conduit to attract talent and build a dynamic workforce for WAA and the community we serve.
- Assists all airport divisions to understand workforce needs, supporting with recruitment efforts to promote their vacancies
- Coordinates with other City departments to identify shared recruiting opportunities, like job fairs, where airport divisions can participate
- Ensures department efforts align with community needs for workforce development
Focus Area: Budgetary Responsibility
Strategic Purpose: Contribute to the financially self-sustaining position of the Airport fund.
- Develops and manages the division’s operating budget.
- Oversees expenditures and financial allocations.
- Ensures efficient resource utilization within assigned programs.
- Monitors financial compliance and identifies cost-saving opportunities.
Requirements of Work
- Ability to gain knowledge of and adapt to the ever-changing environment of the airline industry, route development, FAA policies, and regulatory framework
- Ability to conduct and/or lead effective quantitative analysis of air service market conditions, trends, and opportunities
- Ability to lead, complete, and interpret comprehensive studies and assessments
- Ability to create creative and compelling presentations for airlines and stakeholders
- Ability to gain knowledge of the Wichita region, its business community, economy, demographics, and to track trends in these areas
- Ability to develop marketing strategies and direct a marketing team
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with airlines, associates, employees, representatives of outside agencies, elected and government officials, and the public
- Possess and exercise human collaboration skills to positively interact with a variety of stakeholders
- Ability to evaluate and utilize resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction
- Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms; excellent communication skills are needed for social media, creative writing for advertising projects, presentations, public speaking, interactions with business leaders, etc.
- Exercise a high level of independent judgment and discretion with respect to matters of critical significance
- Ability to oversee a marketing budget, reviewing and approving expenditures
- Knowledge of modern office principles, practices, equipment, and software
- Ability to use a computer to access, interpret, and record information
- Ability to create effective graphic design elements for utilization in social media and communications
- Ability to capture high-quality photos and videos for utilization in social media and communications
- Requires a valid Kansas driver’s license
- Work may require occasional travel for conferences and airline meetings
- Ability to pass background checks to be issued a badge for the entire airport environment
- An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal records check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. Please find more information under the following links:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlaen.pdf (Download PDF reader)
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf (Download PDF reader)
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/eppac.pdf (Download PDF reader)
