Aviation Campus Operations Lead

Thrust Institute; Burleson (TX); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Thrust Institute is seeking an Operations Manager to drive day-to-day operations at our Burleson campus. You will oversee flight schedules, instructor and facility utilization, and ensure clear accountability across the operations team.

This role requires strategic planning for growth, staff coaching, and partnering with maintenance and leadership to maximize aircraft uptime and training continuity. You will also support hiring, onboarding, and development, while maintaining safety, quality, and

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in aviation operations or related leadership environment.
• Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work cross-functionally.
• Experience coordinating schedules, resources, or operational logistics.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and operational scheduling systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the execution of the day-to-day flight schedule through direct oversight of location operational staff.
• Ensure aircraft, instructors, simulators, and facilities are utilized efficiently and in alignment with training demand.
• Establish clear role accountability across the operations team; delegate responsibilities appropriately and monitor follow-through.
• Identify operational gaps or inefficiencies and implement corrective action.
• Step into tactical execution when staffing or performance gaps require leadership coverage.
• Oversee workload distribution across the operations team to prevent burnout and ensure consistent performance.
• Provide coaching and performance feedback to location operations staff.
• Maintain operational coverage standards and proactively plan for staffing needs.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and development of operations personnel in coordination with the Director of Flight Operations and Manager of Operations Training & Development.
• Oversee schedule integrity, including rescheduling, maintenance blocks, instructor availability, and student progression pacing.
• Partner with Maintenance and flight leadership to maximize aircraft uptime and training continuity.
• Monitor long-term resource demand and capacity planning for sustained growth.
• Support the Student Services Liaison in managing Zero Time to Airline students by ensuring operational alignment with student timelines and hour requirements.
• Maintain visibility into training pipeline health and progression benchmarks.
• Maintain facility standards, including cleanliness, inventory management, and operational functionality.
• Identify and implement improvements that enhance the student and staff experience.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison with the FBO and airport management.
• Collaborate with the Director of Flight Operations on long-term planning, operational initiatives, and campus performance metrics.
• Support campus events and initiatives that promote student engagement and industry exposure (airline visits, open houses, professional development events)

Skills

Aviation operations

Leadership experience

Scheduling & dispatch

Cross-functional communication

Resource planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree (Aviation/Business/Management)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Scheduling systems

Job description

Thrust Institute is seeking an Operations Manager to drive day-to-day operations at our Burleson campus. You will oversee flight schedules, instructor and facility utilization, and ensure clear accountability across the operations team.

This role requires strategic planning for growth, staff coaching, and partnering with maintenance and leadership to maximize aircraft uptime and training continuity. You will also support hiring, onboarding, and development, while maintaining safety, quality, and