Director, Flight Operations

The director of Flight Operations will be responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the Academy’s aircraft and flight training program.  This position is responsible for the operation of United Aviate Academy’s (UAA) flight department, scheduling, staffing, as well as budget and salary development and administration. The Director also manages the background checks, health reports, and training requirements of all system-wide company pilots and aircraft, oversees revision maintenance, and makes sure that all flights are in compliance with FAA standards and regulations. The Director of Flight Operations will provide leadership and direction to the flight operations team members.

This position serves as the communication and coordination link between flight operations, maintenance and all other departments in the company.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Set operations policies and standards, including determining safety procedures.
• Place value on culture, efficiency, and execution to develop and manage a highly functioning team.
• Evaluate UAA equipment for human factors, usability, safety, and meeting appropriate (usually FAA) standards, in flight, on the ground, and on the bench.
• Participate in FAA test flights and ground evaluations.
• Actively learn regulatory and certification documentation to improve job performance.
• Oversee, direct, and grow the flight operations team and capabilities.
• Maintain equipment and facilities including keeping aircraft in top condition, safe, and legal to fly.
• Preflight flight test planning, coordination, and integration for avionics flight tests.
• Conduct post-flight reviews and complete documentation.
• Reasonable for documenting requirements and directing logistics support and arrangements for remote flight operation and maintenance.
• Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, and government regulations.
• Monitor spending to ensure that expenses are consistent with approved budgets.
• Plan, organize, or manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements.
• Develops and institutes flight department policies and procedures.
• Provides leadership and direction to flight operation team members to include Chief Pilot of Standardization, Chief Pilot of Instructors, Scheduling, and Flight Operations Specialist team members.
• Conducts reviews on all direct reports in accordance with Academy guidelines ensuring accountability.
• Works closely with department team members regarding scheduling functions to ensure effective utilization of aircraft, personnel, and students.
• Works in coordination with the Finance department to develop an operating budget for the flight department and maintains costs within the budgetary requirements.
• Advises Academy management on the status and requirements for aircraft and other equipment consistent with Academy needs, including awareness and understanding of new products and services in the aviation training industry.
• Works with relevant stakeholders including, but not limited to, Finance, Human Resources, Safety & Security, Academy Services, and our parent company United Airlines (UA).
• Maintains strong communication and leadership skills with the ability and desire to motivate and mentor team members adhering to our CORE4 values and professionalism.
• Design, manage, and oversee Flight Operations KPIs; communicate issues and mitigate proactively, make key business decisions, and drive for effective results.
• Assists in ensuring that the company follows the local, state, and federal regulatory requirements regarding the delivery of flight operations and training.
• Lead and promote flight safety throughout the operations department and company, supported by the Chief of Standards, Chief of Instruction, and Director, of Safety, Security, and Compliance.
• Proactively identify areas for continuous improvement, look for ways to help support our students’ needs, and strive for excellence on a day-to-day basis while working in partnership with Standards, Instruction, Safety & Security, Operations, Academy Services, and others, as necessary.
• Supports the Chief Flight Instructor in liaising with the FAA and ensuring compliance with regulations and United’s standards.
• Attending management and organizational meetings; ensuring two-way communication and alignment throughout the functional areas of the business.
• Assist management with Ad-Hoc value-add projects.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

• 5+ years of strong management and leadership experience
• 5+ years’ experience in the field of aviation
• 3+ years of aviation management experience. Be versed in FAR Part 141 as it pertains to human factors. Be familiar with FAA policy, orders, advisory circulars, and TSO Minimum Operations Performance specifications
• FAA CFI and CFII are required.
• Direct experience with FAA certification processes equipment already certified and equipment to be certified.
• Flight operations experience
• Experience managing people, budgets, aircraft, and vendor management contracts and negotiations
• Familiarity with rules and regulations, detailed tracking, and reporting, including FAA rules and regulations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, including advanced Excel skills
• Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, PowerBI, and other related systems experience a plus.
• Preferred experience understanding of 14 CFR, FSIMS 8900, and other regulations pertaining to aviation.

Certifications:

• FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine Land
• FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane Multiengine Land
• Current Certified Flight Instructor Airplane Single-Engine and Instrument Land
• Current FAA Medical Certificate with First Class Privileges
• FAA Certified Flight Instructor Single-Engine Land and Instrument
• FAA Flight Instructor High-Performance Endorsement and Complex Endorsement 

Preferred:

• Previous Chief Pilot or Assistant Chief Pilot experience is preferred.
• Gold Seal CFI is preferred.
• Previous key leadership role in a FAR Part 141 organization and/or a collegiate aviation program
• Experience developing training programs and TCO's
• Experience with a flight school scheduling system
• Detailed documentation of training records and compliance with Safety Practices and Procedures manual and a safety culture

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Aviation Management or equivalent leadership experience
• Commercial pilot certificate, Airline Transport Pilot certificate, or military equivalent certification

Essential Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors

• Ability to collaborate with other departments.
• Strong interpersonal and customer relationship skills.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and strong initiative skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and tasks.
• Willing to travel out of town occasionally.
• Willingness to work long and sometimes irregular hours compliant with the Federal Aviation Regulations.
• Strong problem-solving and analysis skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, and aviation scheduling systems.
• Knowledge of Aviation regulations, policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Knowledge of United Airlines policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ability to think strategically and translate concepts into actionable items.
• Courage to make key decisions and advise leadership with professionalism & poise.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous situations.
• Strong ability to use data & analytics; determine key decisions and identify actions for best results.
• Build strong partnerships across the business areas, operations, standards, safety, student services, and United Airlines.
• Commitment to the company culture as a subsidiary of United Airlines and valuing the Core4.
• Outstanding attention to detail, organizational skills, valuing compliance & ethical behavior, governance & controls, and adhering to company and financial policies.

EEO Statement: Westwind School of Aeronautics Phoenix, LLC, dba United Aviate Academy (UAA), is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind - All employment decisions at UAA are based on business needs. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting job applicants and employees without regard to race, religion or belief, color, national, social, or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, genetic information, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identify and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, or any other status protected by laws or regulations. Decisions on employment and promotions are based solely upon an individual’s qualifications, with reference to the responsibilities and skills required of the position for which the individual is being considered.