Part-Time UAS Instructor - School of Aeronautics

Provide UAS ground, flight, and simulator instruction to students enrolled in Liberty University’s UAS flight course in accordance with the regulations and procedures outlined by the School of Aeronautics and the FAA. Prepare schedules, maintain records, and ensure that course standards, training requirements, and objectives are met by each student in each UAS flight course. Maintain prominent levels of knowledge and proficiency in the areas of aeronautics, UAS flight training procedures, and flight instruction skills. Accomplish the additional duties assigned by the respective supervisor.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Train and mentor students in accordance with Liberty’s vision of Training Champions for Christ.
• Perform UAS flight instructor duties as authorized by the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s) in accordance with the Liberty University School of Aeronautics (LUSOA) Procedures for operating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
• Responsible for ensuring students are scheduled for and consistently perform the correct number of lessons during the academic term.
• Ensuring satisfactory progress for each student throughout the training course.
• Routinely informing your direct supervisor of course progress.
• Responsible for timely course completion of each assigned UAS flight student(s), including completion of required paperwork and assignment of final course grade.
• Expeditiously informing your direct supervisor of any scheduling, course, or comprehension issues that may impede or disrupt the student from successfully completing the training or completing the course within the designated time frame.
• Initiating stage check and end of course evaluation requests for assigned students.
• Recommending curriculum and course improvements when appropriate and developing new curriculum or course improvements as assigned.
• Responsible for accurately maintaining all appropriate records to include training, student logbooks, student signoffs, UAS checkouts, UAS tracking information, battery cycles, etc.
• Monitoring the maintenance condition of each UAS in operation and inform the appropriate persons of any UAS aircraft maintenance discrepancy issues immediately.
• Filing safety reports as necessary on any observed safety violations, or potential situations that may affect the safety of operations.
• Consistently informing your direct supervisor of your location during working hours, while making schedule adjustments with your supervisor as needed.
• Keeping current with continuing education
• Attending operations meetings.
• Attending special training and standardization meetings when scheduled.
• Attending other in-service training and instructor development meetings as assigned
• Maintaining your own knowledge in accordance with FAA regulations and aeronautics, Liberty UAS policies, and Liberty course and instructor procedures.
• Maintaining your own pilot proficiency as appropriate to the LUSOA UAS fleet.
• Assisting the UAS Operations Coordinator with special projects
• Performing other UAS mission types for the University as assigned.
• Including assisting with LU commercial operations and events, projects requested by other LU departments, department security operations, etc.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Train and mentor students according to the LU policies and procedures.
• Inform students on appropriate and applicable FAA rules and regulations for UAS operations.
• Guide and prepare students on safe and professional practices when operating an unmanned aerial system.
  
  

Qualifications And Credentials

Education and Experience

• FAA Certified Part 107 and TRUST certifications
• UAS piloting skills and experience, including familiarity with and ability to perform required flight maneuvers and procedures.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply effective instructional technique in the classroom and in flight.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply effective instructional technique whether throughout individual instruction or in collaboration with other instructors or in a team.
• Knowledge of appropriate Federal Aviation Regulations and LUSOA Academic administrative, operational procedures and requirements
  
  

Skills And Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Excellent supervisory, organizational, and training skills
• Excellent verbal/written communication, and presentation skills
• Ability to work and collaborate as part of a team
• Ability to work and collaborate with people from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds
• Ability to instruct and operate individually when and as needed
• Skill in development, implementation, and execution of a structured program
• Skill in understanding and adapting to individual learning styles of the students to ensure proper retention and comprehension
  
  

Required Certifications And Qualifications

• FAA Part 107 Certification
• FAA TRUST Certification
  
  

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB

Communication and Comprehension

• Ability to understand, speak, and write to effectively convey messages and correspond in an articulate and professional manner.
• Possess public communication skills that allow professional representation of Liberty University to a variety of business and community customers and associates.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong awareness and dedication to the importance of safety, integrity, and professionalism.
• Excellent computer literacy to include an in-depth working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite as well as the ability to adapt to and utilize proprietary software systems used in flight simulation devices.
  
  

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.
• Will be required to analyze complex problems and produce solutions in an expeditious manner.
• Will be required to adapt to different flight environments and adjust in order to maintain compliance with policies, regulations, and safety procedures.
  
  

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• Required to travel to local and campus locations.
• Frequently required to sit for extended periods to perform desk work or type on a keyboard. Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectively communicate verbally.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to move about the building.
• Handle materials, reach overhead, kneel, or stoop in order to conduct business.
• Regularly lift 50 or fewer pounds.
• Required to crawl under, over, and around simulators and cockpits
• Must be able to use all types of hand and power tools.
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment

Climate-controlled office/workshop setting and outdoors in flyable weather. UAS flight training generally occurs outside.

Driving Requirements

Use of one’s personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) is required for travel in the performance of the essential functions of this position. Proof of a valid Virginia driver’s license, an acceptable DMV record, and liability insurance is required.

Target Hire Date

2025-04-28

Time Type

Part time

Location

Lynchburg - In Office

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate all employees and prospective employees strictly according to the requirements of the job. All personnel related activities such as compensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments, working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs, and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including all applicable state of employment protected classes. The University is a Christian religious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to religious discrimination requirements. The University’s hiring practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception to the “religion” component of the employment discrimination laws for religious organizations (including educational institutions), and permits them to give employment practice preference to members of their own religious beliefs.