The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (PBC BCC) invites applications for the Director of Legal Affairs for the Department of Airports. This is a senior-level position, providing strategic oversight, policy guidance, and coordination on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters affecting the operation, development, and administration of Palm Beach County’s Airports' system. This position will serve as the principal liaison to the County Attorney’s Office, ensuring legal issues are identified, managed, and addressed in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and County policies. The successful applicant will work closely with Department leadership to support operational objectives, mitigate risk, and promote regulatory compliance, but will not act as legal counsel or provide legal representation on behalf of the County.

Other: Valid Florida Driver's License and PBC Risk Management Department driving history approval prior to appointment. Requires successful completion of DHS Criminal History Records Check and Security Threat Assessment prior to appointment and the ability to maintain these clearances as a condition of employment.

THIS IS AN AT-WILL POSITION.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates complex contracts, leases, concessions, purchase-sale agreements, construction and professional services contracts, and intergovernmental agreements.
• Interprets aviation-related laws and regulations, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration(TSA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and other regulatory requirements.
• Provides support for procurement processes, construction projects, and capital improvement programs.
• Monitors regulatory changes affecting airport operations and proactively recommends policy or operational adjustments.
• Drafts and reviews legislation, rules, regulations, resolutions, and agenda items.
• Advises the management team on compliance and governance matters and risk mitigation measures.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires qualified applicants to possess one the following:

• A Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and a minimum of three (3) years of responsible experience in airport, real estate, construction, and/or government law, which includes three (3) years of responsible management or supervisory experience

OR

• A Master’s Degree in Business/Public Administration, finance or law and a minimum of four (4) years of responsible experience in airport, real estate, construction, and/or government law, which includes three (3) years of responsible management of supervisory experience

OR

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business/Public Administration, finance or law and a minimum of six (6) years of responsible experience in airport, real estate, construction, and/or government law, which includes three (3) years of responsible management of supervisory experience

OR

• An Associate’s Degree in Business/Public Administration, finance or law and a minimum of eight (8) years of responsible experience in airport, real estate, construction, and/or government law, which includes three (3) years of responsible management of supervisory experience

OR

• Graduation from high school or an equivalent recognized certification and a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in airport, real estate, construction, and/or government law, which includes three (3) years of responsible management of supervisory experience.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

Given the nature of this job, the ideal candidate for this position possesses the following:

• A Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Licensed attorney in good standing with any U.S. bar (state of licensure may vary)
• Experience in aviation, transportation, and/or infrastructure law

BENEFITS

We offer a comprehensive benefits package:

• Health, dental, life and disability insurance
• Generous vacation and sick leave + 13 paid holidays annually
• Participation in the Florida Retirement System – your choice of Pension or Investment Plans
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Did you know that your student loans may be forgiven as a public employee? Your time worked as a public employee with Palm Beach County can assist you in having your student loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
• 457(b) deferred compensation program
• Paid parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• And more!

OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM

Palm Beach County operates a system of four airports. PBI serves both air carriers and general aviation aircraft. Annually, PBI handles approximately 140,000 aircraft operations, made up of both air carrier and general aviation activity, and over 8.5 million passengers. PBI’s terminal facility encompasses 657,000 square feet, made up of three concourses with 28 passenger holdrooms/gates with loading bridges, an in-line baggage handling system, and Federal Inspection Services facilities for processing international passengers. The airfield consists of three runways, including a 10,000 ft. primary runway. PBI also has on-site: 9,600 public parking spaces, including multi-level garages and surface lots, a 24-hour FAA air traffic control tower, a U.S. Customs and Immigration port of entry facility, cargo facilities, an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting facility, and three fixed base operators, with four general aviation terminal facilities.

In addition to PBI, the County operates three general aviation airports including: North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport located in Palm Beach Gardens, which provides easy access to the Florida Research Park and Jupiter; Palm Beach County’s Park Airport located in Lantana, 6 miles south of PBI, and Palm Beach County Glades Airport located in the western portion of Palm Beach County, adjacent to Lake Okeechobee.

PBI continues to receive many prestigious awards, including: third-best U.S. airport by Travel + Leisure Magazine, fifth best airport in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards, and seventh best medium airport in the 2024 J.D. Power North American Airport Satisfaction Survey. With a customer-centered focus, PBI is exceeding expectations and continues to be named in the Top 10 Best Airports in the U.S. by providing our passengers an easy, convenient and stress-free experience from parking to boarding.

PBI strives to be the favorite airport for both passengers and guests picking up travelers. A concourse expansion is underway, providing more than 50,000 square feet of additional space on Concourse B and two new aircraft gates, in addition to the update of all food, beverage, and retail concessions throughout the entire terminal facility. In addition, plans for the construction of a consolidated rent-a-car facility and the construction of a post-security connection between all the concourses are in progress.

Additionally, the Palm Beach County Department of Airports has consistently been recognized as having a strong financial position by the national bond rating agencies due to low cost per enplanement, strong debt service coverage, robust cash balances, diversified air carrier mix, and diversified revenue stream.

OUR COMMUNITY

Palm Beach County is one of the most desirable locations in South Florida to live. The average temperature is 78 degrees; the 47-mile shoreline has numerous public beaches; and the landscape ranges from urban to agricultural to natural wetlands. In Palm Beach County, there are more than 150 public and private golf courses, hundreds of tennis courts, dozens of parks, waterparks, boating docks, snorkeling and diving sites, cultural and historic attractions, regional libraries, adult education pro-grams, hundreds of houses of worship, and dozens of schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, and shopping/entertainment centers. The BCC provides diverse and comprehensive services, from animal care to libraries, public works to PBI.

Palm Beach County is geographically among the largest of the 67 counties in Florida and is larger than the state of Delaware. There are an estimated 1.5 million people living in Palm Beach County. The lifestyles of residents range from urban to rural, with the more densely populated areas in the east. There are 39 municipalities in Palm Beach County. The remaining residents live in unincorporated areas. Major industries in Palm Beach County include tourism and agriculture, with the western portion of the County producing about 10% of the nation's sugar. The County is bounded by Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades, and the Atlantic Ocean, all of which offer recreational opportunities in beautiful natural settings.

HOW TO APPLY Visit www.pbcgov.jobs for job description and to apply online. May upload any Veteran’s Preference documentation to online application (No e-mail applications/resumes accepted). Online Applications are accepted until filled. EO M/F/D/V, Drug Free Work Place; All employees of Palm Beach County may be required to work before, during and/or after a natural or man-made disaster or hurricane.