Director, Aviation

Roles and Responsibilities

• Developing and instituting department policies and procedures - including basic company policies, procedures and objectives - into departmental functions
• Preparing annual operating budgets that include operating expenses, facilities, supplies, outside services, personnel, training, and capital expenses
• Monitoring an operating budget on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis
• Reporting deviations between estimated expenditures and actual costs to higher management with appropriate explanations according to company procedure
• Establishing scheduling policies and procedures that provide effective control and management
• Establishing and maintaining liaisons with relevant company personnel
• Establishing, with the cooperation and assistance of company personnel and salary administration officers, minimum employment qualifications, hiring procedures, salary structure, performance appraisal procedures, grade structure and dismissal procedures
• Advising management on the status and requirements for aircraft and other equipment consistent with the company's transportation needs and goals
• Continuously reviewing department staffing needs against comparative aircraft studies and being creative to fully utilize each position
• Establishing measures of effectiveness and efficiency for the department
• Establishing and maintaining records as required by the FARs, manufacturers, and company policies
• Preparing short and long-range plans that include corporate and departmental objectives
• Developing department personnel to realize their full potential
• Ensuring that high levels of customer service are provided to the company and its customers
• Maintaining an operations policy manual to include flight, maintenance and pertinent company policies
• Ensuring that department personnel are thoroughly familiar and comply with company policies, appropriate FARs and pertinent operating manuals, practices and publications
• Establishing programs for pilots and maintenance technicians, including proficiency reviews, initial training, recurrent training and upgrade training
• Analyzing various training sources, which could include aircraft training flights, simulator training, en-route flight checks, ground school training and prepackaged learning courses
• Anticipating the need for upgrade training to meet additional or replacement needs
• Evaluating department personnel on an ongoing basis to ensure superior levels of performance
• Establishing standards and limitations to ensure safe and efficient department operations
• Establishing flight dispatch policies and procedures that govern the approval, delay, or cancellation of flight operations
• Monitoring the flight crew and dispatchers to ensure they comply with flight dispatch policies and procedures
• Coordinating the activities of the maintenance department with flight operations to achieve the company's goals and objectives
• Helping personnel understand the company's objectives and each other's needs
• Establishing and monitoring security procedures to protect the aircraft and company facilities
• Establishing and maintaining lists of aviation-related vendors that meet the highest level of aviation safety
• Representing the company in aviation matters through trade associations, the FAA, state or municipal aviation bodies, airport management, community organizations and contract agencies
• Maintaining high morale through an awareness of company and department policies, employee development programs and periodic department meetings for the two-way communication of ideas, goals and objectives

Required Skills

Qualifications and Education Requirements

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be self-motivated and able to work independently while performing each essential duty and responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and ability required.