Aviation Program Manager

Position Details

Position Information

Position Title
Aviation Program Manager

Classification Title
Administrator

Position Number
B1243PD

Grade Level
M3

Starting Wage/Salary
$85,000-$126,000 plus exceptional benefits

Close Date
11/08/2026

Open Until Filled
No

Open Until Filled Notes

Position Type/Employee Class
Administrative

Faculty Status
Not applicable

FTE
1.0

Contract Months
12.0

Overtime Eligible
Exempt

Location
Bend

Hybrid Remote Work Eligible?
No

Exceptional COCC Benefits Summary

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Primary Purpose

The Aviation Program Manager provides operational and academic leadership for one of COCC's most dynamic career-technical programs, serving 250+ students seeking careers in aviation. This role builds and sustains the College's partnership with Leading Edge Flight Academy (LEFA) and the Bend airport, oversees compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Veterans Administration (VA) requirements, and leads a team of faculty, flight instructors, and staff supporting a fast-paced, year-round training environment. While the role is administrator-first, it also instructing lecture courses and leading periodic program assessment and review, combining administrative leadership with classroom instruction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Management and Supervision

• Responsible for developing and maintaining aviation external partnerships, which requires weekly coordination meetings with LEFA leadership, monthly meetings with the LEFA flight instructor group, and troubleshooting as needed. This also includes working with the Instructional Dean to ensure the program meets the needs of industry and the College.
• Responsible for establishing and maintaining affiliation agreements with LEFA.
• Responsible for leadership, management, and oversight of all COCC aviation courses. Includes scheduling courses within the College's year-long scheduling process and ensuring required materials are available.
• Supervision and mentoring of certified flight instructors, full-time, adjunct, and part-time aviation faculty, and student Aviation tutors (recruiting, hiring, orienting, supervising, training, scheduling, finding subs for, and evaluating).
• Coordinate classroom observations for part-time instructors and facilitate peer-team observations for full-time faculty.
• Supervision of the Aviation department classified employees (an operations specialist and a support specialist).
• Partner with the Aviation Operations Specialist/Administrative Assistant to streamline and modernize program processes (e.g., wait list management, invoicing, and flight lab scheduling), including transitioning manual processes to digital systems.
• Collaborate with other departments on campus as required for operations of the program.
• Collaborate on the transition of UAS (drone) program oversight, providing leadership and curriculum continuity during the transition period.
• Create and maintain a program (student) handbook and a faculty handbook, conduct new student orientations, and new student onboarding.
• Responsible for website updates, catalog review, and marketing/recruitment for the program
• Represents the aviation program CTE Council, to the College administration, and at the local, state, and national levels.
• Responsible for oversight of all work related to flight simulators owned by the College (maintenance, purchasing, administration).
• Maintain availability to respond under the College's Emergency Response Plan in the event of a flight-training accident or incident.

Instruction and Advising

• Design, coordinate, update, schedule and maintain Aviation courses/curriculum in accordance with the FAA and other regulations.
• Instruct lecture courses (in-person, remote, or online) as needed and conduct periodic program assessment and program review.
• Coordinate with full-time faculty on assessment of program and course-level outcomes.
• Advise Aviation students.
• Ensure COCC Aviation webpage and promotional materials are up to date.
• Serve as the first contact and response for student issues, including disciplinary meetings when necessary.

Reporting, Compliance and Partnerships

• Maintain VA and FAA compliance and reporting requirements for the program, partnering with the Office of Student Financial Aid on VA-related compliance.
• Act as COCC Aviation Program Administrator/Liaison to the Veteran's Affairs department, maintaining reporting compliance at all times.
• Facilitate regular Aviation Advisory Board meetings, holding required number of meetings per academic year. Responsible for recruiting board members and using board feedback to determine curriculum delivery and emphasis.
• Monitor and work with the Instructional Dean on Aviation budget annually; review and approve weekly invoices and payments to Leading Edge Flight Academy.
• Participate in College committees, as assigned.
• Perform other essential functions as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

Department Specific

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the duties and responsibilities of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities. The individual is expected to follow College work rules and policies.

• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with the Instructional Dean to maintain existing partnerships with external groups and seek new ones where needed.
• Ability to work independently and to use good judgment with respect to priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to communicate information effectively regarding College policies and procedures to students.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to manage conflicts within and/or between groups and to work in a team environment.
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with people from different cultural backgrounds and other aspects of human diversity.
• Ability to monitor budgets and other administrative processes in a timely and professional manner.
• Ability to meet deadlines, set work priorities, and manage workload.
• Ability to use software programs and database systems which include Microsoft Office Suite, email, website editing, basic desktop publishing, and modern office equipment.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and integrate information and knowledge to make critical judgments and program management decisions that promote safety and student success.

Ergonomic Requirements

• Regular 40-hour work week which may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and/or additional hours due to the nature of the responsibilities. Incumbent must be able to function effectively indoors in an office environment engaged in work of primarily a sedentary nature. Requires the ability to work at a workstation for extended periods. Requires to write, read written materials and computer screens, and ability to use telephonic conversations. Occasional lifting up to 25lbs.
• Ability to work in classroom and office environments using computers, white boards, projectors, and other basic office equipment.
• Duties are carried out primarily on the Bend campus of COCC and at the Bend airport.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree and/or credential appropriate in the field of primary teaching assignment.

Experience:

• Two years relevant experience working in the field of aviation, such as extensive piloting in commercial or military aviation environment.
• Two years of managerial experience with supervision of employees and budgetary responsibilities in a complex organization

Required Certificates:

• Commercial Pilot Certificate and Certified Flight Instructor certificate required.

Required Special Qualifications:

• Two years of experience in an Aviation industry position outside of flight instruction, i.e. Aviation Management, Professional Pilot (other than CFI), etc.
• Evidence of excellence, or promise of excellence, in instruction, minimum of 1,000 hours of aviation instruction.

Equivalency Statement

The College recognizes the value of skills and knowledge gained outside of formal higher education and paid employment. Applicants who do not meet minimum qualifications (other than the required FAA certificates) but present other qualifications or experience equivalent to those required will be considered and are encouraged to apply. To qualify under equivalency, applicants must indicate how they qualify under equivalency by responding to the supplemental question presented during the application process.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business or other related field.
• More than two years of teaching, coaching, training or supervising others.