SVP Flight Ops & 119 Director of Ops

Gridiron Air•Fort Worth, TX

About The Position

Serve as the FAA-designated Director of Operations on the carrier's Operations Specifications (OpSpecs), maintaining currency and compliance with all applicable 14 CFR Part 121 regulations and company operations manual requirements. Develop, implement, and continuously improve the carrier's Operations Manual, General Operations Manual (GOM), and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to reflect current regulations, best practices, and lessons learned. Oversee all flight department personnel including Chief Pilots, line pilots, dispatchers, and crew schedulers — managing hiring, training oversight, performance standards, and succession planning. Ensure compliance with FAR Part 121 crew qualification, training, and rest/duty time requirements, coordinating with the Director of Training to maintain AAIP or approved training program standards. Act as the primary point of contact for FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) for all operational matters, audits, and certificate actions. Lead the carrier's Safety Management System (SMS) operational components, serving as a key member of the Safety Review Board and championing a proactive, just-culture safety environment. Monitor operational performance metrics including on-time performance, dispatch reliability, fuel efficiency, and irregular operations, identifying trends and driving corrective action. Manage operational budgets including crew costs, trip support, ground handling contracts, and operational tools and technology systems. Coordinate with the Director of Maintenance to ensure aircraft airworthiness, MEL management, and maintenance release practices align with operational needs and regulatory requirements. Provide decisive leadership during irregular operations (IROPs), weather events, AOG situations, and other operational disruptions to minimize impact on passengers and company resources.

Requirements

FAA-designated Director of Operations on the carrier's Operations Specifications (OpSpecs)
Compliance with all applicable 14 CFR Part 121 regulations
Experience developing, implementing, and improving Operations Manuals, General Operations Manuals (GOM), and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Experience overseeing flight department personnel (Chief Pilots, line pilots, dispatchers, crew schedulers)
Experience managing hiring, training oversight, performance standards, and succession planning for flight personnel
Knowledge of FAR Part 121 crew qualification, training, and rest/duty time requirements
Experience coordinating with Directors of Training
Experience as a primary point of contact for FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs)
Experience leading Safety Management System (SMS) operational components
Experience as a member of a Safety Review Board
Experience monitoring operational performance metrics (on-time performance, dispatch reliability, fuel efficiency, irregular operations)
Experience identifying trends and driving corrective action
Experience managing operational budgets (crew costs, trip support, ground handling contracts, operational tools and technology systems)
Experience coordinating with Director of Maintenance
Experience ensuring aircraft airworthiness, MEL management, and maintenance release practices
Experience providing leadership during irregular operations (IROPs), weather events, AOG situations, and other operational disruptions

Responsibilities

Serve as the FAA-designated Director of Operations on the carrier's Operations Specifications (OpSpecs), maintaining currency and compliance with all applicable 14 CFR Part 121 regulations and company operations manual requirements.
Develop, implement, and continuously improve the carrier's Operations Manual, General Operations Manual (GOM), and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to reflect current regulations, best practices, and lessons learned.
Oversee all flight department personnel including Chief Pilots, line pilots, dispatchers, and crew schedulers — managing hiring, training oversight, performance standards, and succession planning.
Ensure compliance with FAR Part 121 crew qualification, training, and rest/duty time requirements, coordinating with the Director of Training to maintain AAIP or approved training program standards.
Act as the primary point of contact for FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) for all operational matters, audits, and certificate actions.
Lead the carrier's Safety Management System (SMS) operational components, serving as a key member of the Safety Review Board and championing a proactive, just-culture safety environment.
Monitor operational performance metrics including on-time performance, dispatch reliability, fuel efficiency, and irregular operations, identifying trends and driving corrective action.
Manage operational budgets including crew costs, trip support, ground handling contracts, and operational tools and technology systems.
Coordinate with the Director of Maintenance to ensure aircraft airworthiness, MEL management, and maintenance release practices align with operational needs and regulatory requirements.
Provide decisive leadership during irregular operations (IROPs), weather events, AOG situations, and other operational disruptions to minimize impact on passengers and company resources.