The Company

Founded in 1927 as a division of Pan American World Airways, Avports is an experienced and trusted airport manager and operator. Today, the company operates with over 650 staff (of which approximately 300 are unionized) at 14+ airports across the US and the Caribbean, with that number slated to grow to 800 during the next year with the addition of new airport projects.

Avports has historically managed and operated a portfolio of airport operations and maintenance (O&M) and public-private partnership (P3/PPP) contracts at more than 30 US airports. These airports have diverse operations, encompassing commercial and general aviation airports, passenger terminals, joint-use airports, heliports, NASA facilities, and spaceports. The company is working to integrate electric aviation, hydrogen fuel cells, and zero-emission decarbonization concepts in existing airport environments.

Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) https://flytweed.com/about/the-new-hvn/

Located three miles southeast of downtown New Haven, Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) offers a safe, convenient and welcoming airport experience connecting you to +33 destinations across the U.S. Traveling from Southern Connecticut has never been easier.

Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) is undertaking a major capital improvement project with a new 84,000-square-foot terminal and extended runway—a project that will support thousands of local jobs, strengthen the regional economy, and unlock new opportunities with every destination. As of Summer 2025, the new terminal has reached 60% Design—a key milestone in layout development, systems planning, and architectural design. While many core elements are in place, the design remains subject to change as we refine details and incorporate feedback on the path to final design.

Job Summary

Work as a subject matter expert to support operational success, employee engagement, and the long-term growth of the airport. Provide HR services across all employee lifecycle stages, ensuring smooth onboarding, compliance, and workforce optimization. Partner with managers, corporate HR teams, and leadership to support employee life cycle activities as needed, balancing multiple priorities. Demonstrates strong organizational skills, sound judgment, and effective collaboration across cross-functional teams.

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience preferably in a stand-alone HR position in a transportation, aviation, or other safety-sensitive and highly regulated environment. Demonstrated experience leading full-cycle HR operations, partnering closely with operational teams, and serving as a trusted advisor to leadership in fast-paced, dynamic settings. Brings strong organizational and prioritization skills, a customer-service mindset, sound judgment, apply high integrity and discretion, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy, urgency, accountability, and comfort working through ambiguity, maintaining compliance with internal policies and applicable aviation regulations.

Position is regular, full‑time on-site, reporting to the Airport Manager. Must maintain authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship. Primary work is on-site and based in Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), meeting corporate and airport access and security and background check requirements. May require occasional after-hours availability to support 24/7 airport operations.

Essential Job Functions

HR Operations & Compliance

• Administer and memorialize all on-site HR functions and processes including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, compensation, benefits, and performance management.
• Has authority to make HR recommendations and manage assigned personnel.
• Develop and deliver internal staff communications as needed/directed.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as aviation-related workforce regulations.
• Administer employee handbook, policies, and procedures.
• Manage and digitize employee records via HRIS systems. Ensure proper documentation and handling of sensitive and confidential information.

Recruitment & Workforce Planning

• Partner with department supervisors to identify staffing needs for airport operations, administration, maintenance, and security.
• Develop recruitment strategies for hard-to-fill and safety-sensitive positions.
• Process background checks, badging coordination, and pre-employment screening processes.
• Recommend and facilitate onboarding and orientation programs tailored to airport operations.

Employee Relations & Culture

• Serve as a trusted advisor to employees and supervisors.
• Investigate and resolve employee concerns, complaints, and workplace conflicts in a timely and compliant manner.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and service excellence.
• Support employee engagement and retention initiatives.

Performance Management & Development

• Lead performance evaluation processes and provide guidance to supervisors.
• Identify training needs and coordinate professional development opportunities with corporate HR.
• Support succession planning and leadership development initiatives.

Compensation & Benefits Administration

• Maintain employee records of pay, benefits, accidents, performance, and other activities and files reporting required to comply with labor laws and regulations.
• Manage benefits enrollment and serve as liaison with corporate HR and benefit providers.

Safety & Risk Management Support

• Collaborate with airport leadership to support workplace safety programs; ensure HR policies align with airport safety and operational standards.
• Provide support for safety and security initiatives, as assigned
• Support processing of safety and workers’ compensation claims and return-to-work programs.
• Apply meticulous recordkeeping practices while ensuring compliance with internal standards for centralized and confidential systems. Partners with department stakeholders to document, memorialize, and continuously improve standards, procedures, and workflows.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to by supervisor and senior management to support business objectives.

Competencies

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills. Customer-service mindset with internal stakeholders.
• Exhibit high levels of engagement with regular interaction with operational staff including maintenance, airfield operations, administrative teams, and airport leadership.
• High level of discretion and integrity when handling confidential and personnel matters.
• Accept ownership and accountability, consistently delivering accurate, high-quality results with a sense of urgency
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and corporate stakeholders
• Operate with integrity and compliance, adhering to internal policies and applicable aviation regulations
• Manage multiple priorities effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• High attention to detail, sound judgment, and conscientiousness in all work
• Communicate timelines, expectations, and progress clearly
• Make timely decisions when options are clear, escalating appropriately for higher risk or ambiguity
• Support team continuity and knowledge sharing.
• Seek, receive, and apply constructive feedback to support ongoing development
• Drive continuous improvement through innovative and cost-effective solutions

Required Skills & Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field.
• Minimum: Five (5) years of progressive experience managing HR programs in a similar position, preferably in transportation, aviation, municipal, or safety-sensitive and highly regulated environment.
• Preferred: Prior experience as a standalone or site-based HR leader preferred.
• Preferred: Professional HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR) a plus

Technical Skills / Expertise

• Proficiency in ADP required (on/offboarding, time and attendance, payroll, reporting, benefits administration, and system management).
• Compliance: Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, and policy administration including local wage, hour, leave laws, including FLSA classification, and recordkeeping requirements. Experience conducting internal HR audits.
• HR knowledge: Ability to understand and apply/support the full employee lifecycle, ensuring alignment between HR strategy and business needs
• Performance and employee relations: Experience administering performance appraisal, improvement, and corrective action/discipline programs
• Workforce planning: Familiarity with job architecture, position management, and workforce analytics
• Software & tools: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Must speak, read, understand, and write fluently in the English language.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with employee engagement initiatives and culture-building strategies.
• HRIS reporting and workforce analytics skills to support data-driven decision-making.
• Change management experience in growing or evolving organizations.
• Budget awareness and ability to support compensation planning and cost controls.
• High emotional intelligence and strong conflict resolution skills.
• Strong ethical judgment and commitment to confidentiality.
• Strategic thinking with hands-on execution capability.
• Adaptability and comfort working in a fast-paced, operational setting.

Work Authorization & Travel Requirements

• Must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship
• Must possess a valid local drivers’ license as a condition of employment.
• Must be eligible to travel domestically, including occasional overnight stays
• Must comply with applicable corporate facility access requirements if traveling to operational sites

Work Environment, Physical Demands & Requirements

• Requires occasional after-hours availability to support 24/7 airport operations. Days and hours of work, including weekends and holidays, may vary and are dependent on operational needs, in addition to the hours mutually agreed with the management.
• Primarily office-based, with occasional domestic travel (~10% per year)
• Employees must reside within reasonable commuting distance of the primary work location.
• Ability to sit or stand at a workstation for extended periods.
• Requires visual acuity, hearing, and speaking ability to communicate effectively.
• Regular use of hands and fingers to operate computer equipment and office devices.
• Occasionally lifts or moves objects up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to navigate office environments and operational sites as needed.
• Flexible to support occasional extended hours.
• While office work is sedentary, tasks at operational sites require mobility, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching.
• This job description is not intended to list every duty or responsibility. Duties may change at any time, with or without notice.

Applies to all team members, including those represented by a labor union or bargaining unit. If any part conflicts with a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA will take precedence.

The Company complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local law. Consistent with those requirements, the Company. will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability if such accommodation would allow the individual to perform the essential functions of the job, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage applications from all qualified candidates.

Compensation and Benefits Overview

Benefits may include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance options
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Plan options
• Supplemental Insurance Plan options
• 401(k) Profit-Sharing Retirement Plan
• Vacation and Sick Leave
• Paid Company Holidays
• Professional development resources