Director of Flight Operations

Responsibilities

Role

Summary:

• Reports to AOM; promotes and supports the highest standards of safety for aviation and aviation-based research operations.
• Oversees manned and unmanned platforms and science missions; provides oversight of pilots, ground crew, and operations support; leads mission/logistics planning for worldwide deployments. Travel up to 25%; deployments up to six weeks.
• Supports Challenger 850 modification/delivery as a science platform.

Core Responsibilities:

• Operational control: ensure safe, efficient, and legally compliant flight operations; oversee PNNL and contractor pilots/dispatchers/crew while maintaining regulatory standards.
• Training and standardization: develop a comprehensive pilot training syllabus meeting FAA standards and science-mission standards; oversee initial/recurrent/upgrade pilot training, certification, and qualification programs.
• Science-profile procedures: develop/revise crew coordination procedures for science-specific profiles.
• SMS and safety: implement Safety Management System (SMS) to manage operational risk; serve as (and be qualified as) an Aviation Safety Officer.
• Manuals and daily execution: review/update/enforce the General Operations Manual (GOM); manage daily flight schedules, crew assignments, and dispatch operations; manage disruptions due to weather, mechanical issues, or ATC.
• External interface and business operations: act as liaison to FAA/NTSB/airport authorities; develop/manage annual flight operations budget; negotiate vendor contracts; define hiring standards for flight crews.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 9 years of relevant experience –or– MS/MA or higher and 7 years of relevant experience.
• Flight experience: 2,500+ hours PIC (airplanes), including 1,000+ hours PIC in turbine multiengine land; 300+ PIC hours in turbine multiengine land conducting international flights.
• 3+ years as a Pilot in Command (PIC) of a multiengine airplane in civil government/military/FAA or equivalent certificated commercial operations.
• 3+ years in a senior flight-ops leadership role (Director of Operations/Chief Pilot or equivalent) in civil government/military/FAA or equivalent certificated commercial operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Type rating: able to complete an FAA-approved CL-65 type-rating course and earn the rating.
• Certificates/medical: unrestricted FAA ATP (AMEL); FAA CFI and CFII (AMEL); FAA Class II medical and ability to hold Class I (annual for international ops); hold or be eligible for unrestricted ATP for aircraft operated by PNNL.
• Government flight operations experience; special-mission modified transport-category PIC experience.
• Experience implementing/managing SMS, IS-BAO, and aviation safety programs; IS-BAO workshop completion or ASO program graduation; GSA ICAP Federal Aviation Safety Officer certification.
• Unrestricted FAA-issued CL-65 type rating; working knowledge of aviation operations and maintenance practices; experience leading/managing an aviation unit; basic understanding of FAA modification/approval; mishap investigation, emergency preparedness, aviation safety, and human factors; knowledge of public aircraft operations regulations/standards; strong written/verbal communication.
• Experience conducting and supervising Part 91 flight operations.

• Travel up to 25%; deployments up to six weeks.
• Physical requirements:
  
  stand up to 8 hours per day; bend, stretch, crawl, and climb ladders to access all aircraft areas.

This position involves access to sensitive systems and information. U.S. citizenship is required. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is subject to the Department of Energy Unclassified Foreign Visits & Assignments Program site, information, technologies, and equipment access requirements.

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The selected candidate will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.

Minimum Salary: USD $ per year.

Maximum Salary: USD $ per year.

Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers.