Director of Flight Operations

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments called Directorates, each focused on a specific area of scientific research or operational function. The Operational Systems Directorate (OSD) leads PNNL’s 10-year, $1.2 billion campus construction portfolio—the largest in the Laboratory’s history. OSD oversees operations, facility services, maintenance, and infrastructure planning, with nearly 800 staff spanning disciplines such as craftspeople, engineers, construction professionals, technicians, scientists, administrators, and specialists. The directorate manages over $250 million in annual budget authority, 2.5 million square feet of facility space across two campuses, approximately 200 regulatory program areas, and a multi-million-dollar facility and infrastructure project portfolio.

About the role

This position reports to the Aviation Operations Manager and supports the highest standards of safety for aviation and aviation-based research operations. The role oversees manned and unmanned platforms and science missions, provides oversight of pilots, ground crew, and operations support, and leads mission/logistics planning for worldwide deployments. Travel up to 25% and deployments up to six weeks may be required. The role also supports the modification and delivery of a Challenger 850 as a science platform.

Responsibilities

• Operational control: Ensure safe, efficient, and legally compliant flight operations; oversee PNNL and contractor pilots, dispatchers, and crew while maintaining regulatory standards.
• Training and standardization: Develop a comprehensive pilot training syllabus meeting FAA and science-mission standards (including sustained profiles and low-altitude operations); oversee initial, recurrent, and upgrade pilot training, certification, and qualification programs.
• Science-profile procedures: Develop and revise crew coordination procedures for science-specific flight profiles.
• SMS and safety: Implement a Safety Management System (SMS) to manage operational risk; serve as (and be qualified as) an Aviation Safety Officer.
• Manuals and daily execution: Review, update, and enforce the General Operations Manual (GOM); manage daily flight schedules, crew assignments, and dispatch operations; address disruptions due to weather, mechanical issues, or ATC.
• External interface and business operations: Act as liaison to FAA, NTSB, and airport authorities as assigned; develop and manage the annual flight operations budget; negotiate vendor contracts (fuel, ground handling, flight planning software) with Procurement; define hiring standards for flight crews.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 9+ years of relevant experience or MS/MA or higher and 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Flight experience: 2,500+ hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) (airplanes), including 1,000+ hours PIC in turbine multiengine land; 300+ PIC hours in turbine multiengine land conducting international flights.
• 3+ years as PIC of a multiengine airplane in civil government, military, or FAA (or equivalent)-certificated commercial operations.
• 3+ years in a senior flight-ops leadership role (Director of Operations, Chief Pilot, or equivalent) in civil government, military, or FAA (or equivalent)-certificated commercial operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Able to complete an FAA-approved CL-65 type-rating course and earn the type rating.
• Unrestricted FAA ATP (AMEL); FAA CFI and CFII (AMEL); FAA Class II medical with ability to hold Class I (annual for international ops); eligible for unrestricted ATP for aircraft operated by PNNL.
• Government flight operations experience; special-mission modified transport-category PIC experience.
• Experience implementing/managing SMS, IS-BAO, and aviation safety programs; IS-BAO workshop completion (or ASO program graduation); GSA ICAP Federal Aviation Safety Officer certification.
• Unrestricted FAA-issued CL-65 type rating; working knowledge of aviation operations and maintenance practices; experience leading/managing an aviation unit.
• Basic understanding of FAA modification/approval, mishap investigation, emergency preparedness, aviation safety, and human factors; knowledge of public aircraft operations regulations/standards.
• Strong written/verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentations.
• Experience conducting and supervising Part 91 (“general operating rules”) flight operations.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

• Travel up to 25%; deployments up to six weeks.
• Physical requirements: Stand up to 8 hours per day; bend, stretch, crawl, and climb ladders to access all aircraft areas.

Additional Information

• This position involves access to sensitive systems and information; U.S. Citizenship is required.
• This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP); the selected candidate will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and PNNL’s Workplace Substance Abuse Program.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including robust telehealth care options and mental health benefits.
• Free wellness coaching, health savings account, and flexible spending accounts.
• Basic life insurance, disability insurance, employee assistance program, and business travel insurance.
• Tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support.
• Company-funded pension plan (automatic enrollment) and 401(k) savings plan with company match (eligibility-dependent).
• Up to 120 vacation hours per year and 10 paid holidays per year (Research Associates excluded).

Pay

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual’s relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach applies to all positions, except those governed by collective bargaining agreements or certain limited-term positions with specific pay rules.