Director Flight Operations

Cirrus; Alcoa (TN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Coverage

401(k) Plan with match

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Cirrus Aircraft seeks a Director of Flight Operations to lead the flight operations and training function across locations, delivering a world-class experience to Cirrus customers. You will set strategy, budgets, and long-range plans, while guiding senior managers and teams with a data-driven approach.

The role requires extensive aviation leadership, flight training process development, and customer-service experience, with travel as needed to multiple Cirrus sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 5+ years' leadership experience overseeing flight training or flight operations teams.
• Minimum 12+ years' flight training or flight operations experience.
• FAA ASEL commercial pilot license with current FAA first or second class medical.
• FAA certified flight instructor with instrument privileges.

Responsibilities

• Establish a safety-first culture and drive continuous improvement across the operation.
• Recruit, onboard, and engage top talent to maximize team potential.
• Empower teams to apply Cirrus guiding principles and service standards for world-class training.
• Develop and execute strategy, plans, budgets, and day-to-day operations to hit goals and financial targets.
• Make timely decisions on complex challenges using data-driven insights to optimize outcomes.
• Use metrics to align strategies and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Data-driven decisions

Employee development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Overview

With flight safety as the highest priority, the Director-Flight Operations leads the flight operations function, providing leadership and direction through managers and senior individual contributors to deliver a world-class flight and flight-training experience to Cirrus Aircraft customers. Operating as a functional leader, the Director sets and executes the strategy for Flight Operations, is accountable for the performance and results of diverse teams across multiple locations, and serves as a thought leader who anticipates changing business and regulatory direction. As a leader at Cirrus Aircraft, the Director fosters a culture that values safety as a core business objective, identifies and hires top talent, and creates an environment that drives team-member engagement and growth. Cirrus Aircraft values the direct relationship with its customers, and the Director is instrumental in creating a customer-centered, world-class training experience. The Director develops and executes the annual operating plan, budget, and long-range strategy for the function. The role requires extensive aviation experience, demonstrated leadership across managers and teams, flight training and flight operations process development and implementation, and expansive flight-training customer-service experience.

Overview

With flight safety as the highest priority, the Director-Flight Operations leads the flight operations function, providing leadership and direction through managers and senior individual contributors to deliver a world-class flight and flight-training experience to Cirrus Aircraft customers. Operating as a functional leader, the Director sets and executes the strategy for Flight Operations, is accountable for the performance and results of diverse teams across multiple locations, and serves as a thought leader who anticipates changing business and regulatory direction. As a leader at Cirrus Aircraft, the Director fosters a culture that values safety as a core business objective, identifies and hires top talent, and creates an environment that drives team-member engagement and growth. Cirrus Aircraft values the direct relationship with its customers, and the Director is instrumental in creating a customer-centered, world-class training experience. The Director develops and executes the annual operating plan, budget, and long-range strategy for the function. The role requires extensive aviation experience, demonstrated leadership across managers and teams, flight training and flight operations process development and implementation, and expansive flight-training customer-service experience.

Responsibilities

• Establish a culture that values safety and continuous improvement.
• Recruit and onboard top talent and engage team members to reach their fullest potential.
• Engage and empower team members to leverage Cirrus Aircraft Guiding Principles and Service Essentials to create a world class flight training experience.
• Develop and execute functional strategy, plans, and budget, and drive day-to-day operations to achieve departmental and functional goals and financial targets.
• Make timely decisions to complex challenges using comprehensive industry and company knowledge with a data driven approach in order to achieve the best business outcome.
• Leverage data and department metrics to inform, align and prioritize department strategies and tactics in order to provide a world class customer experience, ensure the employee experience and achieve business objectives.

Reliable Attendance

• Cirrus employees are expected to maintain reliable and consistent attendance. Employees are expected to report to work as scheduled and maintain consistent attendance.

Work Schedule/Onsite Expectations

• This position is required to be performed in accordance with Cirrus’ Flexible Work Guidelines, including required in-office presence as outlined by Cirrus policy. Specific schedule expectations and onsite requirements may vary based on business needs and will be communicated by the manager.

Travel Requirements

• This role may require travel based on business needs. Specific travel expectations, including frequency, duration, and locations, may vary and will be communicated in advance when possible. Travel may include visits to one or more of the following locations: Duluth, MN; Knoxville, TN; Grand Forks, ND; Orlando/Kissimmee, FL; McKinney, TX; Benton Harbor, MI; Scottsdale/Chandler, AZ, as well as other regions as needed for events or additional business requirements. Travel frequency for this position: As needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 5+ year's leadership experience overseeing flight training or flight operations team member required.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to establish, implement and achieve departmental goals and objectives required.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to establish, implement and achieve financial targets required.
• Minimum 12+ year's flight training or flight operations experience required.
• Minimum FAA ASEL commercial pilot with current FAA 1st or 2nd class medical required.
• FAA certified flight instructor with instrument privileges required.
• Proven ability to drive employee development and engagement required.
• Proven ability to establish flight training business process and leverage technology that produce consistent and predictable business outcomes.

Our Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, vision, dental, with additional dependent coverage options
• Employer-Paid Coverages: Group term life, short- and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts: FSA and HSA offerings with company contributions to HSA
• Well-being: Calm Health, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness incentives through medical provider
• 401(k) Plan: Dollar-for-dollar match up to 5% after 90 days, with 100% vesting at 1 year of service
• PTO: Various PTO plans starting at 100 hours accrued within the first year
• Additional Time off Benefits: Paid holidays, 2 weeks of Paid Parental leave, paid time for funeral leave and jury duty
• Career Development: Tuition reimbursement program and professional growth opportunities
• Exclusive Discounts: Cirrus Store, partner and marketplace discounts available
• Community & Engagement: Company and employee clubs at various locations

These benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and enjoyment at Cirrus!

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Work beyond 40 hours per week may be required.

Cirrus is dedicated to a drug-free work environment promoting equal employment opportunity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, national origin, color, age, disability, religion, pregnancy, veteran status, marital and family status, sexual orientation, receipt of public assistance, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.