Aviation Captain (Pilot in Command)
Job ID: 315442
Date Posted: 10/03/2025
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Area)
Category: AVIATION
Job Status: Salaried Full Time, Non-Commuting Position
About Cargill
Cargill, a purpose-driven organization, is dedicated to nourishing the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. As a family company, Cargill provides vital food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products that touch billions of lives daily. Operating across 70 countries with a global team of 160,000 colleagues, the organization connects farmers with markets and customers with high-quality ingredients. Professionals joining Cargill reach their higher purpose through meaningful work that delivers essential products from edible oils and eggs to industrial feed and alternative fuels.
Job Purpose and Impact
The Aviation Captain serves as a critical leader and recognized subject matter expert, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant worldwide transportation of passengers aboard the organization's corporate aircraft. This professional provides strategic leadership and insightful decision-making, acting as the Pilot in Command for highly complex domestic and international operations. This role frequently involves serving as Pilot in Command (PIC) of at least one aircraft model and acting as Second in Command (SIC) for high-risk international flights. The Captain typically operates within a specific continent but must be prepared to execute duties outside the designated region as required.
Key Accountabilities
The Aviation Captain is responsible for executing the following critical functions:
- Prioritizes Flight Safety & Efficiency: Rigorously operates the organization's aircraft following all aviation regulations, rigorous safety protocols, and standard operating procedures to guarantee reliable, comfortable, and timely flight experiences for all passengers and crew.
- Provides Executive Transportation: Ensures secure, efficient, private, and flexible medium-range air transport for the executive team, senior management, company employees, board members, and distinguished guests.
- Executes Strategic Flight Planning: Conducts detailed analysis of weather, navigation limitations, airspace restrictions, and customer requirements. Manages real-time flight solutions, handling delays, reroutes, and cancellations, and coordinating domestic trips seamlessly with the trip captain, administrative staff, and the aircraft scheduler.
- Performs Pre-Flight Inspection: Conducts meticulous and accurate pre-flight inspections of the aircraft to ensure it is in full airworthy condition prior to every departure.
- Manages In-Flight Communication: Handles all communication with air traffic control and precisely adheres to instructions to ensure safe and efficient flight operations within regulated airspace.
- Offers Maintenance and Troubleshooting Support: Identifies and troubleshoots developing maintenance issues away from the primary aircraft hangar. Performs minor maintenance functions allowed under aviation regulations, partnering with the maintenance staff to ensure safe and timely departures and arrivals.
- Delivers Operational Support: Executes comprehensive operational support duties, including serving necessary functions such as dispatcher, baggage handler, flight attendant, and security monitor to guarantee flights operate efficiently.
- Mentorship and Development: Coaches and mentors First Officers to improve their technical performance and technique, with a continuous focus on maintaining a superior safety culture and efficient customer service procedures.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum requirement of six (6) years of professional or military aviation experience.
- Possession of a First Class medical certificate, required for interacting with passengers.
- Ability to hold a valid passport with unrestricted international travel capability.
- Possession of an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP) with multi-engine land rating.
- Minimum flight time experience of 2000 hours total time.
- Ability to travel for extended periods both domestically and internationally.
- Ability to safely load and unload baggage weighing up to 50 lbs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Minimum of 1000 hours of experience in turbine powered aircraft (turbojet or turboprop).
- Previous Type Ratings in a jet aircraft.
- Significant corporate aviation experience.
- Proven experience with flight and ground operations regulatory compliance.
- Previous Crew Resource Management (CRM) experience.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field.
- General knowledge of global political, geographical, regulatory, physiological, and meteorological requirements essential for safe worldwide operations.
Compensation and Benefits
The expected salary range for this Aviation Captain position is $180,000 - $230,000. Compensation is determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the specific location, certifications, educational background, and relevant experience.
This position is eligible for a discretionary incentive award, the amount of which is contingent upon company and personal performance metrics. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted based on any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position is filled.
Cargill prioritizes its employees. As part of the overall rewards package, the organization offers a comprehensive benefit program, including medical and other benefits, which are dependent upon the position offered and hours worked (subject to certain collective bargaining agreements for Union positions).
Minnesota Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per calendar year, are provided unless otherwise stipulated by law.