Terminal Operations Aide / Airport Security Guard - Aviation Department

About This Position

In 2025, more than 52 million passengers traveled through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), making it one of the busiest airports in the United States and a key hub in the nation's fifth-largest city. PHX is the largest of three airports in the Phoenix Airport System, which also includes Deer Valley and Goodyear airports, operated by the City of Phoenix Aviation Department (AVN). Together, these airports generate an annual economic impact of over $44 billion.

The Aviation Department has a vacancy for a Terminal Operations Aide / Security Guard position. This position will perform a variety of duties associated with customer service, passenger assistance, safety and security, and ground transportation compliance enforcement through Notice(s) of Violation at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. All positions have extensive contact with the public, tenants and are frequently involved in customer service and conflict resolution that require the incumbent to work effectively in stressful situations.

Typical duties may include monitoring queues, providing information, resolving passenger and tenant concerns, all while enforcing compliance with airport rules/regulations and Phoenix City Code.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Knowledge of aviation terminology, operational procedures, safety practices, and coordination within an active airfield or terminal environment is desirable.
• Ability to make sound decisions while maintaining operational efficiency, passenger service, and safety.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with employees, tenants, airlines, contractors, emergency responders, and the traveling public.
• Ability to learn, interpret, and apply airport security procedures, operational policies, and departmental standard operating procedures while working in a dynamic airport environment.
  
  

SALARY

Pay Range: $20.02 to $32.62 per hour.

Hiring Range: $20.02 to $22.08 per hour.

Pay Range Explanation

• Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
  
  

Benefits

A comprehensive benefits package is offered which includes:

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information.
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions.
• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans.
• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan.
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually.
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options.
• Employer paid long-term disability.
• Free Bus/light rail pass.
• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year.
• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days.
• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period.
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi.
  
  

For more details, visit: Unit 002 Benefits

Minimum Qualifications

• Education and experience which provides the ability to read and write at a level appropriate to the classification, and which provides the ability to learn airport security methods, practices, and procedures.
• Working conditions:
• May require work irregular hours, weekends, holidays, and evenings.
• May require standing, walking, and carrying items that may weight up to 50lbs.
• May require work outside in a variety of environmental extremes such as heat, cold, air pollution, and dust.
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• The following list is not all inclusive but are TSA general factors for disqualification of employment for working at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Other factors will be assessed that may also lead to disqualification. Qualified candidates should consider these factors when applying. Aviation Employment Disqualifiers.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here.
• The City job description can be found here.
  

Preferred Qualifications

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:

• Two years of work experience in/with:
• A team-oriented environment that required effective communication, collaboration, and cooperation to achieve shared goals, preferably in an aviation, security, public safety, or customer service setting.
• A collaborative, team-oriented environment requiring effective communication, coordination, and cooperation to accomplish operational objectives, preferably within aviation, transportation, public safety, security, hospitality, or customer service operations.
• Providing direct, face-to-face customer service with demonstrated success assisting diverse populations in a professional, courteous, and solution-oriented manner in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.
• Experience in a commercial airport environment.
• Experience supporting airport operations (commercial or general aviation), airline operations, military airfield operations, fixed-base operations (FBO), flight operations, or pilot training.
• Experience performing operational oversight in an airport or similarly complex, customer-focused environment requiring continuous situational awareness, prioritization of competing demands, and coordination with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience assessing situations, exercising sound judgment, resolving operational issues, and adapting to changing conditions while maintaining professionalism in routine and emergency situations.
• Completion of FEMA Independent Study Coursework IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800, desirable.
  

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes August 12, 2026. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

How To Apply

Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.

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• If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to an accessibility issue, please contact the Human Resources Department by phone at (602) 495-5700 or by text at (800) 367-8939. You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.
  
  

REFERENCE

Airport Security Guard, JC:24000, ID# 62287, 08/03/2026, USM, GO, Benefits:002

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City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.