Aviation Safety Officer

About the role

The Aviation Safety Officer develops, administers, and continuously improves aviation, occupational safety, and environmental programs for the Autonomy Research Institute (ARI).

Responsibilities

• Safety Program Management: Develop, administer, evaluate, and continuously improve ARI's aviation, occupational safety, and environmental compliance programs.
• Maintain aviation, occupational safety, and environmental activities for compliance with applicable federal, state, local, university, contractual, sponsor, and operational requirements.
• Provide technical guidance regarding aviation safety, occupational safety, environmental compliance, hazard identification, risk mitigation, safety training, regulatory interpretation, and corrective-action management.
• Develop and deliver safety training, quarterly safety meetings, safety stand-downs, and operational safety briefings, as required.
• Conduct operational risk assessments and participate in mission planning, test readiness reviews, preflight briefings, maintenance reviews, and other safety-critical operational activities.
• Conduct scheduled and unscheduled safety inspections and audits of facilities, work areas, aircraft-related operations, field activities, emergency equipment, first-aid supplies, fire extinguishers, and other safety-related equipment.
• Evaluate safety data, operational trends, inspection findings, and incident information to identify recurring hazards and recommend program improvements.
• Support safe and compliant aviation, UAS, research, testing, maintenance, field, and facility operations conducted by or on behalf of ARI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aviation safety, occupational safety, environmental health, industrial hygiene, aviation management, or related field.
• Seven (7) years of experience in aviation safety, safety management, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, environmental compliance, accident prevention, or related experience.
• Additional education may be considered as substitution for the minimum experience qualifications: Master's degree in aviation safety, occupational safety, environmental health, industrial hygiene, aviation management, or related field, and five (5) years of experience in aviation safety, safety management, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, environmental compliance, accident prevention, or related experience.
• Maintain Valid Driver's License.
• Experience conducting safety inspections, audits, hazard assessments, incident investigations, risk assessments, safety training, or corrective-action monitoring.
• Knowledge of applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), state, local, university, and sponsor requirements.
• Knowledge of how to acquire Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and understand regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of safety management systems, hazard identification, operational risk management, accident prevention, incident investigation, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action management.
• Knowledge of aviation, UAS, occupational safety, environmental compliance, emergency preparedness, and safety-recordkeeping principles.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• High level of articulation and professionalism.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Critical thinking and proactive problem solving.
• Ability to take initiative and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to either work in a team environment or independently with minimal guidance.
• Ability to manage and prioritize tasks, resources, and time effectively.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, standards, contracts, sponsor requirements, university policies, and operational procedures.
• Ability to develop and deliver safety training, briefings, reports, policies, procedures, manuals, and technical recommendations.
• Ability to appropriately handle sensitive, confidential, and legally protected safety and personnel information.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and influence safe work practices among individuals who may not report directly to the position.
• Ability to travel up to 20% to support aviation missions, field operations, inspections, investigations, meetings, and training.
• Ability to lift and move objects weighing up to 50 pounds and occasionally work outdoors, in field environments, and under variable weather or operational conditions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting or supporting aircraft, UAS, occupational, or operational accident and incident investigations, reporting, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action development.
• Experience in aviation safety and accident prevention, including the use of safety management systems, hazard-reporting systems, operational risk-management tools, safety databases, or aviation occurrence-reporting systems.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) preferred.
• Experience supporting UAS, flight operations, aviation maintenance, research testing, test ranges, or other safety-critical technical operations.
• Experience developing or administering an organizational safety management system or comprehensive safety program.
• Experience reviewing research protocols, test plans, mission plans, or sponsored-project requirements for safety and environmental risk.
• Experience providing work direction or supervision to student workers, interns, or support personnel.
• Professional safety certification, such as Certified Safety Professional, Associate Safety Professional, Certified Industrial Hygienist.

Pay

Commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Varies based on project needs and operational requirements.