Aviation Safety Officer

Job Title
Aviation Safety Officer

Agency
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Department
Autonomy Research Institute

Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate

Job Location
Corpus Christi, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

PURPOSE

The Aviation Safety Officer develops, administers, and continuously improves aviation, occupational safety, and environmental programs for the Autonomy Research Institute (ARI). The position promotes a proactive safety culture by identifying operational hazards, assessing risk, recommending mitigation measures, monitoring corrective actions, and supporting compliance with applicable federal, state, local, university, contractual, and sponsor requirements. The Aviation Safety Officer provides safety oversight and technical guidance for aviation, unmanned aircraft systems, research, testing, field operations, maintenance, and related technical activities. The position conducts inspections, audits, investigations, safety training, and operational risk assessments to reduce the potential for accidents, injuries, environmental incidents, property damage, and other safety-related losses.

The Aviation Safety Officer, under general direction, develops, implements, and administers ARI's aviation safety, occupational safety, and environmental compliance programs. The Aviation Safety Officer evaluates operational risks; conducts safety inspections, audits, and investigations; develops safety policies and procedures; delivers required training; and monitors corrective actions. The position supports safe and compliant aviation, Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), research, testing, maintenance, field, and facility operations conducted by or on behalf of ARI.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety Program Management: 60%

• Develop, administer, evaluate, and continuously improve ARI's aviation, occupational safety, and environmental compliance programs.
• Monitor 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.
• Serve as a technical member or advisor on aircraft accident, incident, or safety review boards when assigned.
• Prepare required safety reports, trend analyses, executive briefings, and other safety-related documentation.
• Develop and deliver safety training, quarterly safety meetings, safety stand-downs, and operational safety briefings, as required.
• Maintain accurate accident, incident, hazard, inspection, training, and corrective-action records in accordance with applicable reporting, confidentiality, and records-retention requirements.
• 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.
• Receive, evaluate, investigate, document, and track occupational and operational hazard reports and verify that appropriate mitigation and corrective actions are implemented and completed.
• Investigate accidents, incidents, injuries, environmental events, property damage, and near misses; identify contributing factors and root causes; and recommend preventive and corrective actions.
• Monitor corrective-action plans, evaluate the effectiveness of implemented controls, and escalate unresolved or recurring safety concerns to ARI leadership.
• Analyze safety data, operational trends, inspection findings, and incident information to identify recurring hazards and recommend program improvements.
• Recommend the modification, delay, or suspension of operations when an imminent or unacceptable safety risk is identified, consistent with established authority and procedures.

Safety Compliance, Documentation, and Training: 20%

• Develop, maintain, and control safety manuals, policies, procedures, inspection records, training records, regulatory publications, and other documentation required to support ARI operations and demonstrate compliance.
• Prepare clear, concise, and technically accurate reports, findings, recommendations, correspondence, and briefing materials addressing aviation, occupational safety, and environmental matters.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable aviation, occupational safety, environmental, emergency management, and reporting laws, regulations, standards, guidance, and university requirements.
• Supervise assigned student worker personnel, including assigning and reviewing work, providing training and guidance, monitoring performance, and ensuring the accurate and timely completion of safety-related administrative and program support activities.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive safety manuals, guides, checklists, presentations, procedures, training materials, and compliance tools.
• Maintain required employee and operational safety-training records and monitor recurring training, certification, and qualification deadlines.
• Develop and deliver safety orientations and recurring training for employees, students, researchers, contractors, flight personnel, and other operational participants.

Operational Safety Coordination and Risk Support: 20%

• Develop and maintain comprehensive safety manuals, guides, checklists, presentations, procedures, policies, and related program documentation.
• Review proposed research, sponsored projects, test plans, operational plans, and field activities to identify potential aviation, environmental, health, safety, and risk-management requirements.
• Coordinate with the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) Environmental Health and Safety Office, Risk Management, Emergency Management, Facilities, law enforcement, sponsors, contractors, regulatory agencies, and other internal or external partners regarding safety requirements, inspections, incident response, and corrective actions.
• Participate in operational planning meetings, test readiness reviews, mission briefings, after-action reviews, and other activities requiring safety and risk-management input.
• Coordinate safety requirements for field deployments, off-site operations, demonstrations, sponsored-project activities, and travel-related missions.
• Collaborate with Project Managers, Principal Investigators (PI), Researchers, Engineers, flight personnel, maintenance personnel, and other operational staff to integrate safety requirements into project planning and execution.
• Support emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities involving aviation, field, facility, or research operations.
• Safely operates university vehicles/machinery.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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, Aviation Safety Certificate, OSHA certification, or equivalent training.
• Formal training in aircraft accident investigation, incident investigation, root-cause analysis, safety management systems, or operational risk management.

SALARY: Up to $7,500.00 Monthly ($90,000.00 Annual, Approximately)

NOTE: Employment may be impacted by the Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025 and the moratorium issued by Texas Governor Abbott on January 27, 2026.

BENEFITS (rules, policies, eligibility apply)

From our generous benefits package and professional development opportunities, to our retirement programs and our commitment to service excellence, the Island University is an engaging and rewarding place to work.

INSURANCE:

• Medical
  
  • $0 - $30 per month for Employee Only coverage after university contribution ($920 value).
  • Up to 83% of premium covered by the university:
    
    • Employee and Spouse
    • Employee and Children
    • Employee and Family coverage
• Dental & Vision
• Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account and Day Care Spending Account

DUAL CAREER PARTNER PROGRAM

ON-CAMPUS WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES

Work Life Solutions:

• Counseling, Work Life Assistance, Financial Resources, and Legal Resources

Tuition Benefits:

• Public Loan Forgiveness
• Book scholarships
• 100% tuition coverage for up to 18 credit hours per fiscal year (other rules may apply).

Retirement:

• Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)
• Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation Plan

Time Off:

• 8+ hours of vacation paid time off every month.
• 8 hours of sick leave time off every month.
• 8 hours of paid time off for Birthday leave.
• 12-