LIFT Academy - Chief Flight Instructor

POSITION PURPOSE
Directs flight instructors, department managers, and administrative team members in maintaining a culture of safety, efficiency, and operational excellence. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Ensures quality and standardization of flight training operations across the LIFT academy network of training campuses.
• Works alongside student advisory team to ensure efficient training and drive successful program outcomes for students.
• Performs flight instructor duties authorized by the Federal Aviation Regulations in accordance with the approved Training Course Outline.
• Coaches, mentors, develops, and disciplines reporting associates.
• Ensures that course standards, training requirements, and objectives are met by all assigned students as required by the Training Course Outline.
• Delegates tasks and projects to team members, monitors successful, on-time, on-budget completion.
• Recommends and develops curriculum and courseware improvements when appropriate.
• Attends administrative, standardization, in-service training, and instructor development meetings as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE.

• FAA certificated flight instructor: airplane single-engine land, airplane multi-engine land, instrument.
• Must meet the requirements for chief instructor per 14 CFR 141.35 to include:
  • At least 2000 hours as pilot in command; and
  • Flight training experience, acquired as either a certificated flight instructor or an instructor in a military pilot flight training program, or a combination thereof, consisting of at least
    • 3 years and a total of 1000 flight hours; or
    • 1,500 flight hours
• Must hold a current FAA First Class Medical Certificate
• Knowledge of and the ability to apply effective instructional technique in the classroom and in flight.
• Aircraft piloting skills, including familiarity with and ability to perform required flight maneuvers and procedures.
• Knowledge of appropriate Federal Aviation Regulations and related administrative and operational procedures and requirements.
• Strong customer service skills.

PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Experience as a people-leader managing and coaching direct-reports in an operations-focused, fast-paced environment.
• G1000 experience is preferred.
• DA40 NG and/or DA42-VI experience is preferred.

REGULATORY

• Must be able to pass an initial and on-going drug and alcohol testing program.
• Must pass a background check.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

DECISION MAKING

Makes day to day decisions used to support strategic and tactical direction.  Decisions often require significant thought and leadership and are somewhat structured.  Decisions will have significant business impact.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Able to stand at least 70% of the time.
• Able to lift or move up to 25 pounds up to 35% of the time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Potential need to work flexible hours and be available to respond on short-notice.
• Ability to work well under pressure in fast-paced and noisy environment while exercising sound judgement at all times.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel up to 25% of the time, including overnight and weekend travel.