Chief Flight Instructor

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For assistance, please contact the recruitment team at 970-378-3720.

Minimum Hiring Annual Salary:
$102,385.00

Maximum Hiring Annual Salary:
$107,505.00

To attain the maximum annual salary, employee must meet all minimum qualifications plus:

• 5 (five) years of additional applicable work experience and/or degrees higher than minimum qualification degree. Degrees higher than the minimum qualification degree can be used in combination with additional work experience.
• A combination of related education, on-the-job work experience, certifications and/or licenses that results in a candidate successfully meeting the minimum qualifications of the position, may be considered.

The stated salary amounts are not guaranteed in the event employment ends with Aims during any fiscal year.

Included with Aims Full-time Employment is a generous package of Benefits, most are listed below:

• Benefits are effective immediately
• 100% employer provided medical & dental coverage employees (employee only option)
• 85% employer provided medical & dental coverage for employee's spouse and/or family
• Voluntary vision insurance
• Staff Annual Leave (minimum accrual of 15 days) & Sick (minimum accrual of 12 days)
• 17 paid holidays and 3 personal days each year
• Summer schedule: 4-day work week - Fridays Off
• Employer paid long-term disability and life insurance premiums
• Tuition waiver & reimbursement for employees
• Tuition waiver for dependents
• PERA employer (see www.copera.org for comprehensive benefits)
• Additional supplemental benefits & retirement programs available
• Access to the PERC (Aims gym) for employee & one guest
• Free parking on all campuses

Job Description:
The position fulfills the roles and responsibilities of the Chief Flight Instructor and Director of Flight Operations and ensures that all aviation program flight and ground training is operated as required by Federal Aviation Regulations. It is mandated and audited by the FAA to ensure compliance with all regulations governing flight schools.

The individual who occupies this position is responsible for establishing and maintaining a high degree of skill, knowledge, and judgment in all aspects of flight training/operations. This position has complete and sole accountability to the FAA as to flight and ground training operations conducted at Aims Flight Training Center. This individual collaborates with FAA on aviation safety concerns, and is designated by FAA as Safety Counselor. Ensures flight training activities are conducted in a safe and secure physical environment by guaranteeing the airworthiness of aircraft and safeguarding the facility.

This position reports to the Executive Director, Aviation Programs.

Educational Leadership:

• Curriculum Development & Assessment:
  
  • Design, review, and continuously improve flight training curriculum to meet regulatory standards and industry demands
  • Develop assessment tools to evaluate student performance and program effectiveness
  • Develop lesson plans, course materials, and assessment tools for flight training programs
  • For all academic courses that fall under FAA Part 141, ensure FAA compliance and be responsible for all curriculum (this includes faculty observations)
• Instructor Supervision & Development:
  
  • Recruit and oversee flight instructors, ensuring high-quality instruction and compliance with training standards
  • Implement instructor development programs, and conduct regular performance evaluations
  • Evaluate instructor performance, provide feedback, and offer professional development opportunities
• Student Progress Monitoring:
  
  • Monitor student training records and progression, intervening when necessary to provide additional support or remediation
  • Conduct stage checks and final check rides to assess student readiness for certification
  • Provide one-on-one instruction and mentorship to students as needed
  • Address student concerns and facilitate progress through the program
• Chief Instructor:
  
  • Represents the Flight Training center to the FAA's Principle Operating Inspector (POI) through oral, written, and e-mail correspondence
  • Receives and implements regulatory changes to Aims' approved Training Course Outline (TCO)
  • Informs the POI of changes to the TCO, including adding or deleting check instructors, and changes in procedures or operational considerations, with notification made by e-mail and/or via letter through U.S. mail
  • Ensure ground school quality and compliance through classroom observation; to be delegated to Check Instructors or Assistant Chiefs as appropriate
  • Act as the chief liaison with the FAA for matters related to flight training
• Director of Flight Operations / Chief Instructor:
  
  • Receives FAA advisory circulars that govern safety and procedural guidelines, and integrates them into the TCO, notifying FAA as required by regulations
  • Aids the POI by cooperating with and participating in audits
  • Ensures compliance with Federal Aviation regulations by precise recording of student training records, instructor records and student rosters
• Conduct meetings with college administration regarding Aviation Programmatic issues as needed
• Conduct meetings and participate in training events with the Denver Flight Standards District Office as needed
• Ensure appropriate manuals, handbooks, and policies are created and updated as needed
• Helps to ensure compliance with the VA regarding flight students

Flight Operations Management:

• Scheduling & Resource Allocation:
  
  • Oversee the scheduling of instructors, students, and aircraft to maximize efficiency and ensure timely completion of training programs
  • Manage allocation of simulators and other training aids to complement in-flight instruction
• Fleet Maintenance Management:
  
  • Collaborate with maintenance personnel to ensure aircraft are maintained according to FAA regulations and are available for scheduled training
  • Make recommendations on fleet composition, including the procurement and sale of aircraft, acquisition and disposition of aircraft and training devices
  • Oversee the operation of flight training facilities to ensure a conducive learning environment
  • Supervise the implementation of new technology or equipment into flight operations
  • Oversee the fleet's maintenance schedule to ensure all aircraft are in optimal condition and compliant with all maintenance requirements

Safety & Compliance Oversight:

• Regulatory Adherence:
  
  • Ensure all flight operations and training activities are in compliance with FAA regulations, TSA regulations, VA guidelines, and institutional policies
  • Stay current with changes in aviation and other related laws and implement necessary updates to operations and training
  • Develop and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all flight operations
• Safety Management:
  
  • Lead the Safety Management System, fostering a culture of safety among staff and students
  • Investigate and report safety incidents, and develop strategies to prevent future occurrences
• Quality Assurance:
  
  • Conduct regular audits of flight operations to ensure the quality and safety of the training environment
• Emergency Management:
  
  • Primary point of contact in the event of an emergency related to flight operations, Flight Training Center, and associated personnel/students
  • Maintain emergency management SOPs
  • Participate in emergency management drills with college leadership

Personnel & Resource Management:

• Supervise, manage hiring, onboarding, and retention strategies for flight operations and instructional staff
• Address personnel issues and facilitate professional development opportunities
• Budgeting and Financial Oversight
  
  • Help develop and make recommendations for the budget of the flight program, including forecasting and expense monitoring
  • Approve financial expenditures and seek ways to improve cost-efficiency
• Act in the stead of the Executive Director, Aviation pertaining to flight operations, in their absence

Strategic Planning & Development:

• Program Growth and Enhancement:
  
  • Make recommendations on strategic plans to expand and enhance the flight program's offerings and reputation
  • Establish and maintain partnerships with industry stakeholders, including airlines and aviation organizations
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  
  • Communicate with the school's administration, advisory boards, and industry partners to align the flight program with broader educational and business goals
• Represent the flight program at conferences, public events, and within the aviation community to promote the program
• Innovation and Technology Integration

Other Duties as Assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Aviation, Aerospace Science, Education, Business Administration, or another related field; plus three (3) years of flight instruction experience and aviation administration experience with one (1) year of ground instruction at a certified pilot school. Of the required three (3) years of work experience, two (2) years must be supervisory and/or demonstrated leadership experience.

OR

• Associate's degree in a related filed, plus five (5) years of flight instruction experience and aviation administration experience with one (1) year of ground instruction at a certified pilot school. Of the required five (5) years of work experience, two (2) years must be supervisory and/or demonstrated leadership experience.

OR

• No degree and seven (7) years of flight instruction experience and aviation administration experience with one (1) year of ground instruction at a certified pilot school. Of the required seven (7) years of work experience, two (2) years must be supervisory and/or demonstrated leadership experience.

OR

• No degree and seven (7) years of management level experience, with six (6) years of work experience in an aviation-related field. Of the required seven (7) years of work experience, two (2) years must be supervisory and/or demonstrated leadership experience.

PLUS:

• Current FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate (or Current Airline Transport Pilot Certificate) Single and Multi-Engine Land that must meet recent pilot-in-command flight experience as listed in 14 CFR 61.56 and 61.57.
• Meet Chief Flight Instructor qualifications as outlined in 14 CFR 141.35.
• Certified Flight Instructor Instrument - Single and Multi-Engine Land.
• Hold a current FAA First, Second, or Third class Medical.
• 2,000 flight hours as pilot-in-command.
• 1,500 flight hours as flight instructor.
• 400 flight hours as an instrument flight instructor.
• 100 flight hours under actual or simulated instrument conditions.
• This position requires the use of a company vehicle for business travel. The selected candidate must successfully pass an MVR and be insurable under Aims insurance.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment post-offer urine analysis.
• Shall hold or qualify for a full-time, post-secondary vocational credential in Aviation Program or related field issued by Aims Community College CTE Office. Contact Landon Loyd for the application at landon.loyd@aims.edu.
• High level computer skills.
• Experience in aviation operations management, including scheduling, compliance, and fleet maintenance oversight.
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development, evaluation, and adherence to accreditation standards.
• Proven track record of managing budgets, resources, and personnel.
• Strong organizational, multitasking skills, leadership and team management skills, with the ability to mentor and develop instructional staff .
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively with students, faculty, maintenance personnel, and regulatory bodies.
• Expertise in risk management, safety programs, and the implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS).
• Ability to analyze and interpret data to make informed decisions regarding training effectiveness and operational efficiency,

Required Documents:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Current FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate (or Current Airline Transport Pilot Certificate) Single and Multi-Engine Land that must meet recent pilot-in-command flight experience as listed in 14 CFR 61.56 and 61.57.
• Certified Flight Instructor Instrument - Single and Multi-Engine Land.
• Hold a current FAA First, Second, or Third class Medical.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Aviation, Aerospace Science, Education, Business Administration, or another related field
• Two (2) years of industry pilot experience (FAA Part 135 or 121) and FAA Part 141 flight training experience.
• Four (4) years of FAA Part 141 experience or equivalent.
• Four (4) years of supervisory experience
• FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate.
• Additional certifications such as an Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI), Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI), Gold Seal Flight Instructor Certificate.
• Pilot evaluation experience.
• Working at a Community College.

All Applicants:

• Compare your previous work experience to the job duties listed on the job positing under job description. Enter the job duties you have performed under the "Work Experience" section on your job application. We evaluate your experience based on this information.
• Please make sure you state whether work experience (aka work history) is part time or full time employment by listing the average number of hours worked per week. This information is used to determine your new annual salary.
• Be sure to upload all the required documents listed at the above in "Additional Job Description" section. This can be uploaded as part of your application materials in the "My Experience" section. If there are missing documents, your incomplete application will not be considered. Per the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, you may redact information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

For information on our hiring practices, please visit our resource page: https://www.aims.edu/departments/human-resources/hiring-process.

Aims Community College is an equal opportunity employer. Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination based on age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or veteran's status. All application materials must be submitted by the closing date posted and become the property of Aims Community College. The screening committee will select finalists for interviews. The goal of Aims Community College is to enhance the diversity present in the district we serve. To comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, if hired, you will be required to provide documents within three (3) business days of hire date to show your identity and your authorization to work. This law applies to all persons hired.

Screening/Selection:

To be considered, please provide a thorough and complete application. Initial screening will be conducted by a committee based on completed application materials.

Employees in these positions may be asked to participate in temporary assignments lasting less than nine (9) months (such as curriculum development, short term projects, meetings and substitute duties) which could amount to additional temporary pay.

Upon hire, all positions at Aims Community College require a criminal background check and may require industry specific screenings such as an MVR, physical and/or drug screen. Keep in mind, a conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being employed. The nature of a conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.