Operational Control Specialist

PHI Health•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

Specialist, Operations Control Join Our Life-Saving Team! Are you ready to elevate your career to new heights? PHI Health is looking for dynamic, driven individuals to join our team. We are committed to providing top-tier emergency medical services with unmatched speed and efficiency, saving lives when every second counts. By supporting our mission from the ground, you will play a crucial role in orchestrating the seamless operations that keep our advanced fleet soaring and our patients safe. With PHI Health you’ll collaborate with the best minds in the industry, driving initiatives that enhance our services and expand our reach to those who need it most. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive on challenges, PHI Health offers an extraordinary opportunity to impact lives and develop your professional career in a meaningful way. Who We Are: PHI Health is the leading air ambulance provider in the United States. With an unmatched safety record and the best aviation, medical and communication specialists in the field, we set the standard in the air medical industry. We transport more than 22,000 patients each year from our more than 80 bases across the country, all while offering services and outreach education to local communities and leading healthcare systems. Our mission is simple: move communities to health while maintaining the highest standard of safety, period. Job Summary: The Operations Control Specialist (OCS) is responsible for monitoring and assisting air medical helicopter and fixed wing pilots. The position requires that the OCS has a comprehensive working knowledge of the EMS environment, local flying areas across the country, the PHI General Operations Manual, Federal Aviation Administration regulations and weather forecasting. The basic function includes communicating with pilots regarding their known and perceived risk in accepting or attempting an air medical flight – sometimes under marginal conditions. The OCS must use Air Medical Resource Management and Aviation Decision Making techniques to communicate with not only pilots, but also communication and dispatch personnel, air medical crewmembers and PHI supervisory and senior staff. The position requires a person to be computer proficient: a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word & Excel) and other custom software programs, while simultaneously interacting with pilots and others regarding flight decision-making. The OCS has limited Operational Control of the PHI Air Medical resources and must be able to exercise sound judgment in sometimes stressful situations. In all communications and all decisions, the OCS is expected to follow company rules and FAA regulations, support the PHI culture of safety and “do no harm.”

Requirements

Experienced EMS helicopter pilot, possessing a Commercial and Helicopter instrument rating, ATP preferred.
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of experience flying as an EMS pilot which includes 200 hours of night EMS and 100 actual instrument time.
The pilot’s license does not need to be active or current.
A medical certificate is not required.
If not an experienced EMS pilot, 24 months experience as either.
In aircraft operations as an air traffic controller or a flight service specialist.
In military aircraft operations as a pilot, flight navigator, or meteorologist; or
In air carrier operations as a pilot, flight engineer, certified aircraft dispatcher, or meteorologist.
Position is non-flying.
The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in Aviation Decision Making, and good working knowledge of Air Resource Management or Crew Resource Management.
Excellent communicator and have strong computer skills.
A good working knowledge of weather and forecasting is essential.
A background in human factors and risk assessment is highly desirable.
High school diploma or GED required.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with Communications Center personnel; Aviation Managers and Base Pilots with requests for PHI air medical staff, when conditions indicate that risk factors or weather place a base or area under risk that must be mitigated.
Coordinate the resolution of operational control issues as they arise.
Coordinate as above when conditions warrant a return to a “Green” status.
Conference with pilots to confirm weather conditions reported by AWOS/ASOS systems.
Assist pilots with weather updates as required or requested.
Monitors and tracks aircraft utilizing “Satellite aircraft tracking systems” (if equipped) when operating in “Yellow” or “Green” conditions, workload permitting.
Access current Aviation publications and reference materials on Web Manuals and via the internet.
Notify Director of Operations Air Medical or On Call Manager (as appropriate) if OCC functions become degraded or systems fail due to equipment malfunctions.
Place work orders to appropriate agencies for malfunctioning equipment and software interface.
Responsible for supporting company Safety Management System activities.
Complying with company HS&E policies and procedures.
The scope of this work involves assisting other pilots in making difficult decisions about whether to fly IAW CFR 14 Part 135.617 & 135.619
The position requires a person with experience in the field and a strong working knowledge of the pressures that a typical air medical pilot faces.
The Operations Control Specialist is not a “decision-maker” in the true sense; rather this person acts as a mentor, advisor, and council to pilots.
The dimension of the work includes the ability to “think ahead” of the pilot, checking weather enroute, or using experience to anticipate situations that might arise. Then, being able to advise the EMS pilot about the conditions, teaching as well as protecting the pilot, the crew, the patient, public and the organization from possible bad outcomes.