Airport Emergency Services Manager

About the role 

At Auckland Airport, every day brings complex operations, critical infrastructure and millions of journeys. As AirportEmergency Response Manager, you will lead the people, systems and specialist capability that keep Auckland Airport ready to respond when it matters most.  You will ensure Airport Emergency Services remains operationally ready, resilient and compliant in support of our Category 10 aerodrome operation. 

You will lead through four Crew Chiefs, giving themthe clarity, authority and support to lead their crews confidently while maintaining consistent standard and accountability across the service.

What you will be doing 

You will own the overall readiness, effectiveness, efficiency and evolution of our Airport Emergency Services (AES). You will provide expert leadership during major incidents, oversee emergency planning, response and recovery, and ensure our people, equipment, training, procedures and specialist assets remain fit for purpose. Just as importantly, you will look beyond the current operating model—anticipating changes in aircraft, infrastructure, technology, regulation and risk, then translating them into a practical roadmap for the service. 

As part of Auckland Airport’s broader operational leadership team, you will connect emergency response priorities with airport strategy, operational risk and investment decisions. You will build trusted relationships across Airfield Operations, airport operations and emergency management, as well as with the Civil Aviation Authority, FENZ, Maritime New Zealand, Health New Zealand and other emergency service partners. 

In this role, you will lead: 

• Leadership and empowerment: Lead through four Crew Chiefs, setting clear accountability and decision-making authority while empowering them to lead their crews. Build succession depth, leadership consistency and visible engagement across frontline teams. 

• Regulatory and operational assurance:Maintain full readiness and compliance with Civil Aviation Rule Part 139 and applicable FENZ, Maritime New Zealand, public health and civil defence requirements. Establish meaningful assurance and performance monitoring so risks and gaps are identified early and pro-actively. 

• Future capability and continuous improvement: Set a clear direction for AES and develop a practical roadmap spanning people, equipment, technology, training and operating models. Challenge the status quo with safety, efficiencyand effectiveness as primary goals. 

• Efficiency and productivity: Own functional performance, budgets and resource deployment without compromising readiness. Use operational and workforce data to improve rostering, training, asset use and ways of working, aligning resources to current risk and business need rather than historical practice. 

• People and capability:Maintain a clear workforce and capability plan, ensure training and competency standards are met, and hold Crew Chiefs accountable for the performance, engagement and development of their crews. Help teams understand not just what is required, but why it matters to the wider airport operation. 

• Business and stakeholder leadership: Integrate AES into the broader airport operating system, strengthen relationships across internal and external partners, and turn operational and regulatory needs into well-supported priorities and investment decisions.

Key operational requirements: 

• ARFF operational readiness and regulatory compliance – Ensure Airport Emergency Services maintains the capability, standards and readiness required to support Auckland Airport’s aerodrome operations and Civil Aviation Rule Part 139 obligations. 

• Airport Emergency Plan and major incident preparedness – Maintain AES readiness to fulfil its responsibilities under the Airport Emergency Plan, including participation in emergency exercises and continuous improvement following incidents and exercises. 

• Operational response standards – Maintain clear operational procedures, response standards and assurance processes for aircraft emergencies, structural fire, rescue and other airport emergency response activities. 

• Specialist vehicles, equipment and facilities – Ensure emergency response vehicles, rescue and firefighting equipment, PPE, communications and facilitiesremain operationally fit for purpose, with appropriate lifecycle and replacement planning. 

• Incident review and continuous improvement – Ensure significant responses, exercises and operational events are appropriately reviewed, with lessons translated into improvements to procedures, training, equipment and capability. 

• Future emergency response capability – Lead the operational input into future AES requirements,including infrastructure, fleet equipment, technologyand changes requiredas the airport develops. 

What you will bring to the role 

At Auckland Airport, we are a busy hive of activity, and a lot of what we look for is how you would align with our AKL values All In | Tātou tatou – How we feel, Know How | Kōkiri Tahi – How we think and Let’s Go | Karawhiua – How we act.  

To be successful in the role, you’ll need: 

• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent combination of operational qualifications and experience. 

• Senior Rescue Fire Officer qualification or equivalent recognised ARFF qualification 

• Significant operational emergency response experience, preferably in aviation or emergency services, minimum 10 years. 

• Proven leadership of emergency response teams in a 24/7 operational environment. 

• Strong knowledge of ARFF practices, Civil Aviation Rule Part 139, airport emergency plans, CIMS and relevant emergency service regulatory frameworks. 

• Experience setting operational standards, leading training and exercises, investigating incidents and driving continuous improvement. 

• Sound financial, project, asset and contract management capability. 

• Excellent communication, judgement, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.

About us 

From the arrival of the Tainui Waka into the Manukau Harbour, Auckland Airport has always been a place of journeys. We stand proudly as the gateway to Aotearoa, welcoming travellers beginning their journeys, farewelling Kiwis to new destinations, connecting businesses and workers to new opportunities, and celebrating partners and investors who back us along the way.We have ambitions to be a global hub and a comprehensive development programme to deliver this vision. 

With so many moving parts to keep the airport precinct running, it’s our collaboration and passion that keeps everything together. This is what our culture and heritage have been built on. When you work with us, you’ll share our ambition to be a great New Zealand business, and one that’s making a strong contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and economy. 

E mahianamātoumōAotearoa. We are working for New Zealand. 

Auckland Airport is more than just a business. It’sa truly unique place with an important role to play in New Zealand’s recovery. Together we’re its custodians, knowing that the work we do has the power to create positive change for our customers, the community, the environment and for the prosperity of Aotearoa. We’re all about creating a sense of place where everyone can thrive, and one where others aspire to work. We’re a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome people from all walks of life. 

Whiria te tangata. Our values weave us together. They’re what we stand for, who we are and how we act. 

Apply today 

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