Director of Flight Program Operations

Position Summary

Big Bend Community College (BBCC), a rural college serving vibrant, culturally rich communities in the Columbia Basin of Central Washington invites applications for a Director of Flight Program Operations in the college's Aviation Department.  

Reporting to the Dean of Workforce Education, the Director of Flight Program Operations provides leadership, professional knowledge and expertise in the development, administration, and management of the operations of the flight program.  Our program has been training aviation professional since 1965 and has an excellent reputation for training career pilots to the highest standards.  The position is responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and efficiency of all flight operations. 

BBCC’s organizational strength is captured in our small but mighty spirit. A small college taking on BIG things to enact BIG change to lift our students and employees. We are dedicated to extending postsecondary access to all our service district members and providing an environment for all to grow personally and professionally, steered by our mission and vision.

Vision:   To become our communities’ first choice to dream, learn, and succeed.

Mission

Serve as a Bridge

Stand as a Leader

Support for Success

Our guiding principles are a call to action, establishing a standard for how we interact with each other, present BBCC in the community, serve students AND act upon areas of inequity.    

Guiding Principles

Honor our Role as a Hispanic-Serving Institution

Advocate for Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity

Embrace our Workplace Norms 

Innovate Proactively

Model Integrity

Educate All

If you share these values, we encourage you to come be a part of the movement happening at Big Bend Community College.  

This position is open until filled.  Priority consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by March 17, 2025.  Big Bend Community College reserves the right to offer this position to a qualified candidate at any time, so a prompt response is encouraged.  

Essential Job Duties

Essential Job Duties: 

Primary essential responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to, the following: 

• Ensures assigned personnel administer and comply with all applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and industry standards and BBCC policies and procedures.
• Supervise, support, and evaluate multiple aviation faculty and staff in accordance with institution policy; promptly investigate and resolves employee problems and complaints; provide oversight in recruitment, hiring, and training of department staff; provide support to the Chief Flight Instructor in the training of certified flight instructors. 
• Provides guidance and assistance to the Chief Flight Instructor in the management of the application process for the commercial pilot program.
• Provides oversight for records and reports to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements; ensures student and instructor pilot records are maintained by the appropriate personnel in accordance with applicable FARs and school policies. 
• Support the Chief Flight Instructor in the coordination and management of flight program operations-- flight schedules, instructor assignments, and aircraft utilization for optimal efficiency. 
• Provide guidance and support in the development and implementation of strategies for handling emergencies and disruptions to include contingency plans for unforeseen situations; responds to all aircraft incidents and assists as necessary. Communicates accurate and timely information to the Dean of Workforce Education.
• Provides flight and/or ground training as needed to ensure efficient program operations and quality assurance as qualified by FAA certification; ability to qualify as backup to the Assistant Chief Flight Instructor as needed. 
• Provides guidance and assistance in TCO development, implementation, and training standardization.
• Supervises and evaluate overall performance of training fleet, including the management of maintenance, as well as advising on all aspects of fleet improvement, utilization, and long-range planning. 
• Inspects and reports on the condition and state of repair of facilities and equipment; ensure equipment, aircraft, and other items are used in compliance with institutional policies and procedures.
• Oversee the development of standard operating procedures and practices; establishes, evaluates, coordinates, and maintains an overall safety and security plan; ensure compliance and safe practices are adhered to, which includes promoting an effective safety reporting culture.
• Work with Dean of Workforce Education to develop an Annual Operating Plan and ensure efficient Flight Operations are delivered within its constraints.
• Provides oversight of all program budgets; pursue grant opportunities as available and applicable for program development and growth.
• Work with Dean of Workforce Education to develop course schedule, program budget, departmental workplans, ad accurate catalog information, degree worksheets, and advising materials.
• Serves as program liaison to Port of Moses Lake Airport regarding closures, restrictions, and/or incidents; Serves as the spokesperson to external agencies. 
• Develop and maintain industry partnerships; schedule and host Advisory Committee meetings twice per year (at minimum).
• Represent the College to develop, promote and enhance workforce education activities including serving on college, community and statewide committees; participates in marketing, public relations, coordination of special events, community and program outreach, airport and aviation-related conferences, seminars, and educational organizations; oversee logistics and support to ensure events are conducted safely and efficiently, and is the primary point of contact for special events.

• Maintain the integrity of the instructional sequence in the Commercial Pilot program.  Work closely with aviation instructors to maintain curriculum to reflect current standards. 
• Develop and maintain competence in current aviation and educational technologies.

• Provide academic and program advising for the Commercial Pilot program.
• Assist in the recruitment, retention, and completion of students in the Aviation program; Participate in student recruiting events as needed.
• Work effectively with colleagues and students of various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and be a contributing member of the campus community; maintain positive and effective communications with students, faculty, administration, and staff.

• Demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and development activities.
• Assume other duties as assigned.

Minimum & Desirable Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

At the time of application, all applicants must possess the following:

• Minimum of four (4) years work experience in aviation operations and management; prior work experience in a management role required.
• Associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• U.S. Commercial Pilot Certificate or higher.

1. Single-engine land (indicate dates of first issue).
2. Instrument Airplane (or Airline Transport Certificate).
3. High-performance endorsement unless logged high-performance flight time as P.I.C. in a high-performance airplane prior to August 4, 1997.
4. Commercial certificate with multi-engine rating.
5. Complex endorsement unless logged flight time as P.I.C. in a complex airplane prior to August 4, 1997.
6. Meet the recent flight experience requirements of 61.56 and 61.57 to carry passengers and hold the minimum required instrument experience listed in 61.57 (c) or completed an instrument proficiency check within the last six (6) months.

• Current Flight Instructor Certificate

1. Single engine (indicate dates of first issue)
2. Instrument Airplane

• FAA Medical Certificate 

1. Current (indicate date of current issue)
2. No restrictions that would prevent performance of flight duties assigned by the college or performance of normal non-flying flight line activities.

• At least 2,000 total flight hours experience.
• 50 hours of flight time under actual or simulated instrument conditions.

Other requirements:

1. Finalists will be required to satisfactorily complete an evaluation/standardization check flight with the college's chief flight instructor or designee. 
2. Applicants must be willing to become a check pilot for both stage and end of course checks. 
3. Applicants must provide an authorized release permitting the college's chief pilot to examine the applicant’s FAA Accident/incident file.

Additional Desirable Qualifications:

• BBCC Commercial Pilot program graduate.
• Experience with aviation maintenance, an A&P license is helpful but not required.
• Prior experience in the following aircraft:  Beechcraft Sport, Sundowner, Bonanza F-33A; Piper Archer, Warrior, and Seminole; Cessna 180 floatplane, Citabria and Frasca simulators.
• Tail-wheel endorsement unless logged flight time as P.I.C. in a tail-wheel airplane prior to April 15, 1991.
• Experience with Garmin 650/750, G500/1000 equipment.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience using technology in the classroom.
• International flight experience.
• Experienced in the subject of meteorology.
• Prior experience in turbo-prop aircraft.
• Prior experience in jet aircraft.
• Prior experience in aircraft capable of flight over 25,000 feet.
• Prior experience with recruiting. 
• Experience implementing strategies to improve student success and retention.
• Experience with data-driven assessment.
• Experience with educational and/or career planning.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with students and colleagues.
• Demonstrated multicultural experience (fluency in other languages, work experience, or literary/cultural/travel experience) which add breadth and depth to teaching.

Application Instructions

This position is open until filled.  Priority consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by March 17, 2025.  Big Bend Community College reserves the right to offer this position to a qualified candidate at any time, so a prompt response is encouraged.  To qualify for consideration, applicants must meet required qualifications and submit a complete application packet, which includes the following:

1. BBCC Online application.
2. Cover letter, addressing why you are interested in this position and how your qualifications make you the ideal candidate.*
3. Comprehensive resume or CV.*
4. Response(s) to the questions found in the Supplemental Questions Tab above.*  Supplemental questions are designed to address the Additional Desirable qualifications listed in the job posting. 
5. Unofficial transcripts documenting undergraduate and graduate course work and degrees.  Official transcripts required upon employment.*
6. Copies of required certifications.

NOTE: You must complete the online application in full and respond to the required supplemental questions.  Failure to provide this information or responses of "See Resume" may eliminate you from consideration for this position. The college reserves the right to remove documents, submitted but not requested, by BBCC as part of the application process.  These documents include, but are not limited to statements of teaching philosophy, diversity statement, letters of recommendation, student evaluations, performance evaluations, etc. 

BBCC reserves the right to not fill this position, reject all applicants, reopen the position, or make a direct appointment.  Applications received during this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies at the College's discretion.

This posting does not reflect the entire job description and may be changed and/or modified, at any time, without notice.  

If you have difficulty logging into your account, attaching documents, submitting your application, etc., please contact NEOGOV Customer Service at 1-8************

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:  

Pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080, applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or are currently being investigated for, or have left a position during an investigation into, a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicant’s current or past employers. By law, post-secondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who does not complete the questions.  

Prior to employment, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.   Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform the position.  

An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of Big Bend Community College to sponsor an H-1B visa.   In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire.  

Official transcripts must be provided to the college upon hire. 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:  

Big Bend provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Please direct all inquiries regarding compliance with access, equal opportunity, and/or grievances to the Vice President of Human Resources & Labor/Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator/Section 504 Coordinator, BBCC 7662 Chanute Street NE, Moses Lake, WA  98837; 509********* or via email at .  

DRUG AND ALCOHOL-FREE CAMPUS:

In compliance with state and federal regulations, BBCC is committed to a safe and drug and alcohol-free campus.  Employees are expected to comply with BBCC’s policy prohibiting illegal drug use or activity, including notifications of criminal drug convictions and the use of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications that are likely to affect job safety.  The complete policy and procedure are available to view on the  of the BBCC website.  Printed copies of the policy and procedure are available by contacting the Human Resources Office at 509**********

BBCC ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT:

BBCC strives to be a safe and secure campus for our students, employees, and community.  Detailed information regarding campus security, crime statistics for the most recent-three year period, and other information is available on the  of the BBCC website.  If you have questions or would like a printed copy of the materials please contact Campus Safety and Security at 509**********

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: 

Big Bend Community College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical, mental or sensory disability, use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, marital status, pregnancy status or families with children, a mother breastfeeding her child, AIDS/HIV or hepatitis C, genetic information, and/or status as a veteran or any other legally protected classification.