The Opportunity
We are seeking an Executive Director. This is a hands-on leadership role: overseeing daily operations, ensuring FAA Part 147 compliance, developing the team, driving enrollment growth, and leading the accreditation work that will determine the school's long-term trajectory.
Key Responsibilities
Safety and FAA Part 147 Compliance
Set the tone for a safety-first culture from day one. Strengthen the school's Safety Management System with active incident and near-miss reporting. Conduct a full FAA compliance audit, close any gaps identified, and establish the audit-ready rhythms that keep the school's certificate secure. Ensure student records, facilities, and equipment meet all 14 CFR Part 147 requirements.
Build a Strong Team
Clarify every role with written expectations. Establish a performance rhythm of regular oneon-ones, quarterly goals, and constructive feedback. Build instructor depth so no single person is irreplaceable. Cultivate a culture where staff feel supported, accountable, and heard, and where mistakes become learning opportunities.
Enrollment, Retention, and Career Placement
This is the school's growth engine. Audit recruiting channels to identify what actually drives student enrollment. Measure conversion at every stage from inquiry through start. Map the student experience to strengthen retention. Track completion rates, pass rates, and job placement. Build employer relationships that create demand for our graduates. Deliver a data-driven recruiting plan to the Board of Directors. Financial Sustainability
Publish a clear financial dashboard: cash on hand, budget versus actual, and forecast. Connect enrollment forecasts to the financial plan. Identify cost improvements that support net operating income. Ensure the school remains current on all nonprofit IRS, tax, insurance, and regulatory requirements.
COE Accreditation Progress
Complete a self-assessment against COE Handbook requirements. Build an accreditation calendar. Draft required policies and advance the candidacy application. Accreditation unlocks federal financial aid and represents the single most important strategic milestone for the school's future. Build Partnerships Work alongside the board to develop and deepen industry relationships. Lead through transparency, surfacing issues early and partnering with the Board on solutions. The Executive Director supports the Board; the Board sets governance.
Systems Stewardship
The school runs on platforms that serve as its institutional memory for compliance, student records, finances, and accountability. Assess system health, publish a Systems of Record policy, reconcile financial data across platforms, and evaluate the planned migration of the learning management system. Every staff member works through designated systems, not through email, texts, or personal workarounds.
Preferred Qualifications
Strong candidates will bring several of these in addition to the requirements above:
• Community college or private career school administration, including financial aid and enrollment management
• Direct aviation experience as a pilot, maintainer, or military aviation professional • A&P certification or hands-on aviation maintenance background
• FAA Part 147 experience (strong leaders with accreditation experience can learn Part 147 specifics quickly) • Military leadership experience, including budget management, personnel decisions, safety systems, and regulated environments
• Public speaking and relationship-building skills to represent the school at career fairs, industry events, and community functions
Required Qualifications
• Educational operations leadership. You have run a school, training program, or post-secondary department. You know how to hire and develop instructors, deliver curriculum, handle student services, and protect academic integrity.
• Accreditation experience. You have been through an accreditation process. You understand documentation, compliance cycles, and audit preparation. COE preferred, and any credible accrediting body counts.
• Management discipline. You build systems, run a tight operation, and treat people with professionalism and respect
• Systems discipline. You work through platforms and documented processes. You can inherit a technology stack, assess its health, update where required, and drive adoption across a team.
• Budget management. You have created and successfully managed an operating budget. You understand cash flow, unit economics, and what it means to lead an organization that earns every dollar.
• Track record growing programs. You have grown enrollment or program participation through outreach, relationships, and measurable results.
• Industry credibility. You bring credibility in a technically regulated training environment — through direct aviation experience (pilot, maintainer, or military aviation), through leadership in another regulated training environment (automotive, marine, industrial maintenance), and can create clear plan to earn fluency in aviation maintenance culture and terminology quickly.
• Learning orientation. You say "I don't know" and "I was wrong" out loud. You set the tone for a team that communicates openly and learns from mistakes.
Education
Bachelor's degree required. An advanced degree is valued but not required. Equivalent combinations of education and progressively responsible leadership experience will be considered.
Who Thrives in This Role
This role suits a disciplined operator with technical credibility who is energized by building something meaningful. You give honest feedback and welcome it. You are comfortable leading through ambiguity, and you find satisfaction in the steady accumulation of small wins that compound into real results. You will work with a small, committed team that cares deeply about students and takes pride in preparing them for real careers, not just certifications. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors. The Executive Director supervises the Program Director, Director of Student Services & Operations, and administrative staff.
Compensation and Benefits
• Salary range: $110,000 – $130,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Health, vision and dental
• 401(k) with employer match
• Professional development budget, including conference attendance (up to two per year)
• Paid time off and holidays
Location
This is an on-site position at the Legacy Aviation Learning Center at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan. Consistently ranked among the best small cities in the United States, Traverse City offers world-class outdoor recreation on the shores of Lake Michigan, a vibrant local economy, and a strong sense of community.
How to Apply
Submit your resume and a brief cover letter describing your interest in this role and your relevant experience to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed through June 30, 2026.