Space Port Managers

Space port managers are responsible for what happens on every acre of the property (which can be vast) that they oversee. For example, Spaceport America is situated on 18,000 acres and features airfields and runways, launch sites, administrative buildings, customer-leased facilities, and many other structures. In addition to overseeing the overall facility, space port managers also supervise staff and work with contractors. Their major job responsibilities include:

Facility management. Space port managers make sure that facilities are well-maintained to ensure that they meet readiness and safety standards, as well as maintain launch site certification. This includes ensuring that ground systems and flight hardware (payloads and rockets) are compliant with government regulations. Managers create a facility management plan that details the funds and staffing that are necessary to maintain the facility, and update it annually. The plan also identifies areas of expected maintenance or other improvements that need to be made to maintain standards. Managers conduct planned and unplanned field inspections to evaluate maintenance, security, and other facility operations.

Customer/stakeholder relations. The manager serves as the primary point of contact with space port tenants (such as aerospace companies) or their superiors at space agencies such as NASA. They meet regularly with tenant representatives to address potential conflicts or disagreements.

Budget creation and management. The manager works with executives to create an annual budget that allows for proper fiscal management of the facility. They make presentations and write and submit reports that outline their budget needs. After the budget is approved, the manager oversees financial expenditures to ensure that funds are spent correctly.

Staff and contractor management. The manager oversees and regularly meets with department heads in a wide range of areas such as maintenance, business development, marketing, public relations, human resources, security, and launch operations. They also meet with and monitor the work of contractors to ensure that their work is conducted safely and in accordance with the facility’s standard operating procedures.