Executive Director of Maintenance Training Operations - Aeronautics

Liberty University; Lynchburg (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia seeks an Executive Director of Aviation Maintenance Training Operations to lead the School of Aeronautics’ maintenance programs, ensure FAA compliance, and align resources with enrollment and strategic priorities.

You will supervise two Directors and a Coordinator, oversee a $3.5M+ budget, and drive curriculum, instruction, and student outcomes while upholding LU's Christian mission and industry partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics, Aviation Management, Aerospace, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in aviation maintenance training or related aerospace field.
• Minimum 5 years in leadership of aviation maintenance training/operations.
• FAA Certification: A&P.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all aviation maintenance training operations.
• Oversee resource planning, budget development, and lifecycle management of maintenance training assets.
• Ensure FAA compliance and drive curriculum development in line with AMTS requirements.
• Lead a team of directors overseeing instructional quality, lab operations, and student evaluation.

Skills

Leadership

FAA compliance

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics/Aviation management/Aerospace

Master’s degree in Aeronautics/Aviation management/Aerospace (preferred)

Job description

The Executive Director of Aviation Maintenance Training Operationsis a key executive leadership role in advancing the School ofAeronautics’ mission to equip, mentor, and send Champions forChrist into the aerospace community. The position providesstrategic leadership, operational oversight, resource management,and regulatory compliance for all School of Aeronautics aviationmaintenance training programs. The Executive Director also overseesa $3.5M+ operational budget and lifecycle planning of maintenancetraining resources, including hangars, laboratories, andspecialized aircraft maintenance training equipment.

This role plans, organizes, and manages the execution of 14 CFRPart 147 aviation maintenance training operations to ensure a safe,compliant, and high-quality student training experience. Incoordination with other senior leadership, this position ensuresFAA compliance while driving continuous improvement in trainingperformance, student outcomes, and operational efficiency. The roleleads a team of directors who oversee maintenance training quality,technical instruction, lab operations, and student evaluation toensure students are prepared for FAA certification as part of theiroverall educational programs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides strategic leadership and direction for all aviationmaintenance training operations, establishing and executinglong-term plans aligned with the School of Aeronautics mission andinstitutional priorities.
• Provides executive oversight of all maintenance trainingfunctions through subordinate directors, ensuring the safe,efficient, and effective execution of laboratory operations, shopmanagement, maintenance training scheduling, instructorstandardization, and technical training delivery in full compliancewith FAA regulations Part 147) and university policies.
• Directs and oversees resource planning, budget development, andlifecycle management of maintenance training assets, includingfacilities, tooling, and instructional equipment, ensuringalignment with enrollment demand, operational requirements, andlong-term program growth.
• Ensures the establishment and sustainment of rigorous technicaltraining standards, directing leaders responsible for instructorqualification, currency, and evaluation. Oversees and aligns thedevelopment and continuous improvement of curriculum andinstructional materials, including FAA-approved AviationMaintenance Technician School (AMTS) curricula, in coordinationwith Associate Deans and Executive Directors to ensure alignmentwith degree program requirements and to enhance student success andcertification outcomes.

• Fosters strong working relationships with regulatory agenciesand industry partners, including the FAA, employers, and aviationmaintenance organizations, to ensure program relevance, compliance,and workforce alignment.
• Provides leadership support for recruitment, outreach, andindustry engagement, including career events, employerpartnerships, and high-visibility engagements, ensuring alignmentwith strategic priorities while promoting a high-quality studentexperience and career placement outcomes.
• Strictly adheres to Liberty University policies, representingthe University in an exemplary manner.
• Works effectively as a team member, embracing and fosteringLU’s Christian model and Mission – Training Champions forChrist.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises two (2) Directors and one (1) Coordinator.Indirectly supervises 30+ employees.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics, Aviation Management,Aerospace, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in aviationmaintenance training, maintenance operations, or a relatedaerospace field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the leadership of aviationmaintenance training or maintenance operations management.
• Demonstrated experience leading FAA-regulated programs.
• FAA Certification: A&P

Preferred:

• Master' degree in Aeronautics, Aviation Management, Aerospace,or a related field
• 10 years of experience in the leadership of aviationmaintenance training, or maintenance operations.
• Proven experience collaborating across academic, operational,and external stakeholder environments.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THEJOB

Communication and Comprehension

• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writingto convey clear, well articulated information.
• Ability to understand, speak, and write English in order toconvey messages and correspond in an articulate and professionalmanner.
• Possess public communication skills that allow professionalrepresentation of Liberty University.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Computer skills

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, andapply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine andcomplex nature.

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• May be required to travel locally and nationally.
• May be required to sit to perform deskwork or type on akeyboard.
• Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectivelycommunicate orally.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to moveabout the campus.
• Handle materials, reach overhead, kneel or stoop in order toconduct business.
• Regularly lift 10 or fewer pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment

The working environment in which one will typically perform theessential functions of this position is a climate-controlledsetting. It is well lighted, and the noise level is moderate. Theworking environment includes frequent operations on an activeflight and a maintenance training facility.

Driving Requirements

If the employee is required to travel in performing the duties andresponsibilities of the position, the use of one’s personal vehicle(or LU vehicles) may be required for travel. Proof of a validdriver’s license, an acceptable DMV record, LU Driving Approval,and liability insurance is required when driving in the performanceof the employee’s position

Time Type

Full time

Location

Onsite

Pay Range

Compensation is determined based on factors such as qualifications,experience, education, skills, and certifications, along withUniversity needs and external market conditions. Market benchmarksmay be used, as appropriate, in combination with internal equity toensure pay is fair and aligned with the broader compensationstructure.

The position may also be eligible for comprehensivebenefits , including health insurance, retirement plans, andtuition assistance.

$100,000.00 - $135,000.00

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe itis our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility offensuring that all management practices regarding employees areconducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with TitleVII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal andstate statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting forall job classifications will be administered without regard torace, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy orchildbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicablestatus protected by law, including state of employment protectedclasses. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate allemployees and prospective employees strictly according to therequirements of the job. All personnel related activities such ascompensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments, working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs,and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions andprivileges of employment will be administered without regard torace, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy orchildbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicablestatus protected by law, including all applicable state ofemployment protected classes. The University is a Christianreligious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject toreligious discrimination requirements. The University’s hiringpractices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliancewith both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exceptionto the “religion” component of the employment discrimination lawsfor religious organizations (including educational institutions),and permits them to give employment practice preference to membersof their own religious beliefs.