About West Valley Flying Club (wvfc.org)
West Valley Flying Club (WVFC) is a leading non-profit flying club dedicated to promoting safe, accessible, and enjoyable aviation for its members and the wider San Francisco Bay Area community. The club has over 1300 members, 60+ aircraft, 50+ flight instructors and revenue in excess of $8M. We are committed to fostering a culture of safety, continuous learning, and camaraderie. WVFC operates as a 501(c)7 part 61 flying club.
Position Summary
The General Manager (GM) is the primary leader responsible for the overall strategic and operational success of WVFC. The GM will manage membership size, ensure the highest standards of safety and maintenance, manage club activities and events, oversee flight training programs, and maintain a robust aircraft rental fleet. This role requires a passionate, experienced leader with a strong background in non-profit management, aviation, and community engagement. The GM is a key people leader and the primary culture setter for the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Non-Profit Management
- Ensure the overall organizational structure reflects the operational needs of the club and maximizes operational efficiency.
- Develop and implement strategies to maintain the membership at an appropriate level dependent upon available resources such as fleet size and number of available flight instructors.
- Oversee all financial planning, budgeting, and fiscal management to ensure the club's financial health.
- Conduct financial oversight to include negotiation of all leases, major contracts, bank and brokerage accounts and capital budgeting.
- Employee hiring and termination as deemed necessary.
- Lead and manage the staff, fostering a positive, high-performance culture.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and the staff, ensuring effective communication and implementation of Board policies.
- Act as Government Liaison managing relationships with city, county, state, as well as the FAA.
- Act as liaison to other aviation business such as maintenance facilities, fuel suppliers, and parts suppliers.
- Act as liaison to other aviation organizations such as AOPA, EAA, CAP, etc.
Membership and Community Engagement
- Develop and implement strategies to manage membership enrollment and retention.
- Engage directly with members, including daily responses to email messages.
- Enhance member value through improved services, communications, and access to resources.
- Provide transparency and communications through:
o Briefing articles
o Reviews and Updates of Club Bylaws and Regulations
o Reviews and Updates of Handbooks and Agreements (Staff, Owner, CFI)
o Membership Survey
o Board-related items like elections, agendas, etc.
- Oversee the management and organization of club events such as flyouts, seminars, and social activities.
Technology Maintenance
- Manage all Google accounts, scheduling tools, W&B pages, and WVFC website.
- Troubleshoot general network issues, security issues, platform changes, etc.
Safety and Compliance
- Establish and enforce the highest standards for aviation safety across all operations, working closely with the club Safety Office Team.
- Ensure full compliance with all FAA regulations, local, state, and federal laws.
- Establish a collaborative relationship with the Safety Office Team to ensure transparency in the club safety culture including incident reporting and insurance claim processing.
- Partner with the Maintenance department to ensure all aircraft are maintained to the highest standards.
- Responsible for timely and appropriate handling of any emergency that may arise.
- Handle safety compliance resolution, conflict resolution, and grievance resolution (including Board as required).
Flight Training and Instructor Oversight
- Collaborate with the Safety Office in managing the "Learn to Fly" program, ensuring a positive and effective experience for students.
- Oversee the management of the flight training procedures used at the club to ensure a high level of safety and professionalism from those completing FAA certificates.
- Work closely with the Safety Office overseeing the recruitment, training, scheduling, and performance of independent flight instructors.
- Maintain a current understanding of best practices in flight instruction and curriculum development.
Aircraft Rental and Fleet Management
- Manage the operational and logistical aspects of the club's aircraft rental program.
- Work with the owner group to establish appropriate pricing and marketing to ensure the fleet accessibility to the membership and also overall financial viability.
- Manage club airplane acquisition, loans and direct ownership of a portion of the fleet.
- Plan for fleet expansion and replacement to meet member demand and technological advancements.
- Oversee the Maintenance department pertaining to the proper procedures required to maintain the fleet at the highest practical level.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management role (preferably with a non-profit organization).
- Experience in small to medium size business similar to WVFC is preferable.
- Strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets over $5M in a low margin business appropriate for a nonprofit.
- Proven experience in strategic planning, program development, and community building.
- Possession of a Pilot Certificate (Private Pilot or higher) is highly desired.
- Experience in the General Aviation field is required.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation abilities.
- Must be onsite at KPAO/KSQL at least 3-4 days per week.
Compensation Package
- $160-$200K annual salary/bonus plus a comprehensive benefits package.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to: candidate@wvfc.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
