Chief Pilot - Aviation Leadership Opportunity
Join our dynamic aviation team as a Chief Pilot and leverage your extensive experience to lead and inspire our pilot workforce. This role demands a proven track record in aviation, with a paramount focus on safety and the successful management of flight crew personnel. The Chief Pilot will provide essential day-to-day leadership and motivation to ensure the pilot team consistently delivers exceptional technical and operational performance, aligning with overarching departmental objectives.
Key Responsibilities
The Chief Pilot is instrumental in shaping departmental success through a variety of critical functions:
- Oversee and supervise flight crew personnel, ensuring strict adherence to Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and company policies.
- Ensure the flight operations department is optimally staffed, organized, trained, and directed to meet all responsibilities.
- Maintain the validity and currency of all essential documentation.
- Drive the department towards achieving key business goals and objectives while upholding the highest standards of safety.
- Guarantee that the department and its personnel are equipped with the necessary resources for successful and efficient job performance.
- Coordinate operations to facilitate proper aircraft and pilot scheduling, alongside meticulous flight tracking.
- Provide support to the Director of Aviation during departmental performance evaluations.
- Cultivate and maintain a robust, collaborative working relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
- Prepare and meticulously maintain all pilot training, flight and duty, and proficiency records.
- Ensure comprehensive record-keeping practices that meet both FAA and company requirements.
- Oversee the continuous updating of aircraft documentation, checklists, publications, and databases.
- Manage and schedule training resources and their execution, encompassing aircraft training flights, simulator sessions, en route flight checks, ground school, and other relevant learning initiatives.
- Ensure compliance with customs, immigration, and all applicable international aviation laws.
- Conduct essential indoctrination, emergency, and internal training programs, including customer service enhancements.
- Assist in the selection and hiring process for new crew members, including contract pilots.
- Perform flight duties as Captain on qualified aircraft, as dictated by scheduling needs and crew capacity.
- Facilitate regular pilot meetings and maintain consistent, open communication channels with flight crews.
- Ensure diligent adherence to policies and procedures, and timely submission of paperwork by flight crews.
- Represent the department effectively at networking functions and engage with business partners to support departmental needs.
- Allocate approximately 50% of time to flight duties and 50% to office-based responsibilities.
- Submit comprehensive monthly operational reports to the Director of Aviation.
Minimum Qualifications
To be considered for this pivotal role, candidates must possess the following qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent practical experience.
- A current Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.
- Demonstrable experience in an aviation leadership capacity.
- Extensive knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs).
- A solid understanding of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and industry best practices.
- 5-7 years of experience within general aviation, including equivalent operational experience such as aircraft maintenance scheduling, crew and staff management, and budget planning.
- A strong grasp of business operations concepts, including budgeting, financial performance analysis, and reporting.
- Proven analytical ability to evaluate data and information for informed operational decision-making.
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills, coupled with effective interpersonal aptitude.
- Proficiency with computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite and relevant scheduling software.
- Demonstrated capabilities in people management, conflict resolution, and resource allocation.
- Superior organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
- Verifiable management and leadership capabilities.
- Ability to prepare and complete reports pertinent to departmental and positional responsibilities.
- A current First-Class Medical certificate.
- A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Preferred Skills and Education
Candidates with the following will be highly regarded:
- Experience as a check airman, instructor, or safety manager.
- A Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) credential.