Flight School Leadership

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Flight Program Director

Charleston Southern University Aeronautics (CSUA)

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Role Summary

The Flight Program Director is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational oversight, and financial performance of the flight school. The Flight Program Director ensures compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, university policies, and industry standards while fostering a culture of safety, professionalism, and excellence. As the primary representative of the flight school, the Flight Program Director maintains strong relationships with the university, regulatory agencies and airport management.

The Flight Program Director reports to the Chair of the Department of Aeronautics and the CSU CFO. The Flight Program Director supervises the Director of Maintenance, Director of Training, Chief Flight Instructor, Director of Operations, Safety Manager and the Flight School Administrator.

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About Us, CSUA’s Flight Program
CSUA delivers flight training for the Part 141, Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics – Professional Pilot program, operating out of Summerville and Moncks Corner airports in South Carolina. Our fleet includes Diamond and Tecnam aircraft, supported by Redbird and Frasca flight simulators. Established in 2021, CSUA is South Carolina’s first bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics that permits graduates to apply for a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certificate at 1,000 hours, preparing them for a career in aviation.

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Benefits and Compensation

1. Compensation: Full-time, $96,000 per year, exempt
2. Benefits: Employer subsidized Medical, Dental and Vision, 401(k) plan with 5% matching
3. Paid Time Off: 1 week per semester (3 semesters per year) and all CSU holidays

Overview:

• Strategic Vision: Define and execute the long-term mission and strategic goals of the flight school in alignment with university objectives.
• Resource Acquisition: Identify and secure critical infrastructure and capital assets, including aircraft, office space, and hangar facilities.
• Strategic Growth & Staffing: Direct comprehensive hiring plans to ensure all departments—flight, maintenance, and admin—are staffed to meet enrollment demands.
• Executive Oversight: Manage the performance of senior leadership, including Directors of Maintenance, Training, Operations, and the Chief Flight Instructor.
• Administrative Management: Directly supervise the full-time Flight School Administrator to ensure high-level operational synchronization and efficient workflows.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to FAA, TSA, VA, and university policies, overseeing all inspections, audits, and mandatory reporting.
• Safety Culture: Promote a top-down culture of safety, prioritizing the implementation and continuous monitoring of the Safety Management System (SMS).
• Operational Excellence: Establish and monitor organizational KPIs to maintain the highest industry standards for safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Student Success: Oversee student record management and progress reporting to university leadership, ensuring students meet both educational and FAA requirements.
• Financial Stewardship: Manage the flight school budget, including flight lab fee pricing, cost controls, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Leadership Development: Lead performance management and recruitment for all senior staff to foster a collaborative and professional work environment.

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Detailed Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Develop and execute the long-term vision, mission, and strategic goals of the flight school in alignment with university objectives.
• Provide leadership in establishing policies, procedures, and organizational priorities.
• Evaluate and adjust strategies to address changes in the aviation training industry, regulatory environment, and university goals.

Resource Acquisition

• Identify and secure resources, including the acquisition of aircraft, and office and hangar facilities.
• Direct the strategic hiring plan, ensuring the department is adequately staffed across flight, maintenance, and administrative functions to meet enrollment demands.

Operational Oversight

• Oversee the performance of the Director of Maintenance, Director of Training, Chief Flight Instructor, and Director of Operations, ensuring each department operates efficiently and effectively.
• Directly manage the full-time Flight School Administrator, delegating administrative workflows while ensuring high-level operational synchronization.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to ensure operational excellence and adherence to the highest standards of safety and quality.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and policies including FAA, TSA, VA, accreditation, and university policies.

Safety and Compliance

• Promote a culture of safety and ensure that all operations prioritize safety above all else.
• Ensure implementation and monitoring of SMS.
• Ensure regulatory compliance for all training and maintenance operations, including timely FAA inspections, audits, and reporting.

Student Progress and Success

• Supervise the Flight School Administrator in the management of student records and the timely reporting of progress to university leadership, ensuring seamless alignment between training objectives and FAA requirements.
• Provide guidance and support to the training department in addressing any barriers to student success, fostering an environment that prioritizes educational excellence and career readiness.

Financial and Business Management

• Prepare and manage the flight school’s budget, ensuring financial sustainability and alignment with university goals.
• Oversee flight lab fee pricing, cost controls, and financial reporting to the university.

Human Resources and Leadership Development

• Lead recruitment, retention, and performance management of senior staff, including department heads and direct reports.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and professional work environment across all teams
• Support the professional development of staff and cultivate leadership succession planning

Stakeholder Relations

• Serve as the primary liaison between the flight school and the University’s Department of Aeronautics.
• Represent the flight school at industry conferences, events, and partnerships to enhance its reputation and visibility.
• Establish and maintain relationships with aviation industry partners, alumni, and local community organizations.

Administrative Duties

• Oversee administrative functions, including scheduling, record-keeping, and compliance documentation.
• Provide regular reports to university leadership on operational performance, safety metrics, and financial health.
• Address escalated concerns from students, staff, or other stakeholders in a timely and professional manner

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in business, aviation, or a related field preferred.
• Proven leadership experience in the aviation or flight training industry.
• In-depth knowledge of FAA regulations (Parts 61, 91, and 141) and compliance requirements.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets and resources.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• (see the Statement of Purpose below for additional qualifications)

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Statement of Purpose

Charleston Southern University is a comprehensive institution affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. This suburban coeducational institution offers a liberal arts and professional curricula with degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The university was founded upon the principle that students should have an opportunity for a quality education under the guidance of Christian faculty. The university promotes academic excellence in a Christian environment.

The South Carolina Baptist Convention founded the institution in 1964 as the Baptist College at Charleston. The campus is located 16 miles from the city of Charleston within the city limits of North Charleston. The institution changed its name to Charleston Southern University in 1990 to reflect the offering of graduate programs.

Charleston Southern University forthrightly avers the validity and applicability of Christian truth and values to public, private, individual and corporate activities. Thus, the University seeks to employ only employees who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; who are committed to the Christian faith; whose faith is reflected in Christian witness through their employment, and their interaction with students, colleagues, and the general public; who will maintain active membership in a local Christian church; and who will be committed to the integration of faith and learning.

Founding Principle: Matthew 28:19-20
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Mission: Promoting Academic Excellence in a Christian Environment

Vision: To be a Christian university nationally recognized for the integration of faith in learning, leading, and serving

Learning: 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Leading: Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Serving: Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Biblical Core Values

Scripture
II Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The Bible is the inerrant and infallible record of God's revelation to humanity, and it is the only sufficient source of appeal on matters relating to the Christian faith.

God
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” John 1:3 “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” There is one and only one living true God. The historical account of Genesis decrees that He is the personal and direct Creator of all that exists, including the first human beings Adam and Eve. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.

Jesus Christ
John 14:6 “Jesus said unto them, `I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.'” God made provision through Christ for the redemption of sinful humanity by His substitutionary atonement on the cross, and He alone is sufficient as Savior.

Salvation
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Salvation involves God's gracious redemption of individuals and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior by repentance and faith.

Life of the Believer
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Christians are to be consistent with Scripture in their character and conduct.

Diversity
Genesis 1:27 “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Because all people are made in God’s divine image, they possess full dignity and are worthy of respect. Matthew 22:39 “‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus’ command for us to love others as ourselves extends to all people. Revelation 7:9 “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb . . .” Charleston Southern University defines diversity as people groups varying in ethnic makeup, cultural background, age, language, educational and professional experience, ability, veteran and/or socioeconomic status. Our commitment to diversity is biblically informed; therefore, the university engages and supports diversity-related matters as they are clearly defined in Scripture