Manager, Field Operations

AeroVironment, Inc.; Alabama; On-site; USD 107,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Field Operations Manager to plan, coordinate and conduct SUAS, TMS, and UGV training, field demos, and CSV visits both domestically and internationally.

You will lead scheduling, asset tracking, budgeting, and staff development while coordinating with customers globally and ensuring safety standards are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in UAS, Engineering or Management or equivalent.
• 8+ years experience in UAS/TMS/UGV operations for commercial and military customers.
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience managing a team.
• 3+ years of formal instructor experience.

Responsibilities

• Manages staff scheduling, tracking of fielded assets, proposal writing, budget management and team development.
• Coordinates training, demonstrations and customer service visits with multiple customers worldwide.
• Interacts with Airworthiness & Safety authorities to ensure standards are followed.
• Identifies design and operational deficiencies and recommends improvements.
• Develops plans, monitors operations and advises leadership on field training and demos.

Skills

Strong communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Planning and scheduling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Engineering or Management

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

The Field Operations Manager plans, coordinates and conducts Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUAS), Tactical Missile System (TMS) and Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) training, field demonstrations, and customer service visits (CSV) both domestic and internationally.

Position Responsibilities

• Manages staff scheduling, tracking of fielded assets, proposal writing, budget management and team development
• Coordinates and works closely with multiple customers on training, demonstrations, and customer service visits, as well as various other operational requests worldwide
• Interacts with the Airworthiness & Safety authorities as required to ensure airworthiness and safety standards are implemented
• Identifies design and operational deficiencies and recommends improvements to Product Line Management
• Collaborates with Program Managers, Engineers, Business Development and Product Line Management to ensure Field Operations involvement during all phases of planning, development, and fielding
• Develops plans and policies, monitors operations, reports to and advises leadership team on all matters pertaining to field training and field demonstration events
• Develops rotation schedules for deployments and training and ensures that contract personnel number requirements are met
• Assists in development of operator manuals, checklists, FSR certification and currency programs as well as other internal and external training tools as required
• Able to plan and execute a dynamic schedule and solve rigorous and last-minute customer demands
• Coordinates with Trade Compliance on international training and demonstrations to ensure compliance

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Engineering or Management required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• 8 + years experience in Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Tactical Missile Systems operational use and training for commercial and military customers, including recent operational experience with SUAS, TMS or UGV products
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience managing a team
• 3+ years of formal instructor experience
• Military leadership experience preferred: Special Operations Forces, Infantry, Unmanned Aircraft Operations or maintenance background highly preferred

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Strong communication, active listening, judgement, decision-making, critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and presentation skills
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Assess the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity
• Inspires, motivates and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision; ensures that individuals and teams are working in a manner consistent with organizational values
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation, while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
• Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)
• Able to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions and traverse across uneven ground and varying terrain (Somewhat Frequent)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

Salary Range

$106,500 - $162,500

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment's determination that it will be able to obtain an e