Operational Control Specialist

Specialist, Operations Control

Join Our Life-Saving Team!

Are you ready to elevate your career to new heights? PHI Health is looking for dynamic, driven individuals to join our team. We are committed to providing top-tier emergency medical services with unmatched speed and efficiency, saving lives when every second counts. By supporting our mission from the ground, you will play a crucial role in orchestrating the seamless operations that keep our advanced fleet soaring and our patients safe.

With PHI Health you'll collaborate with the best minds in the industry, driving initiatives that enhance our services and expand our reach to those who need it most. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive on challenges, PHI Health offers an extraordinary opportunity to impact lives and develop your professional career in a meaningful way.

PHI Health is the leading air ambulance provider in the United States. With an unmatched safety record and the best aviation, medical and communication specialists in the field, we set the standard in the air medical industry. We transport more than 22,000 patients each year from our more than 80 bases across the country, all while offering services and outreach education to local communities and leading healthcare systems. Our mission is simple: move communities to health while maintaining the highest standard of safety, period.

Job Summary:

The Operations Control Specialist (OCS) is responsible for monitoring and assisting air medical helicopter and fixed wing pilots. The position requires that the OCS has a comprehensive working knowledge of the EMS environment, local flying areas across the country, the PHI General Operations Manual, Federal Aviation Administration regulations and weather forecasting. The basic function includes communicating with pilots regarding their known and perceived risk in accepting or attempting an air medical flight – sometimes under marginal conditions. The OCS must use Air Medical Resource Management and Aviation Decision Making techniques to communicate with not only pilots, but also communication and dispatch personnel, air medical crewmembers and PHI supervisory and senior staff. The position requires a person to be computer proficient: a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word & Excel) and other custom software programs, while simultaneously interacting with pilots and others regarding flight decision-making. The OCS has limited Operational Control of the PHI Air Medical resources and must be able to exercise sound judgment in sometimes stressful situations. In all communications and all decisions, the OCS is expected to follow company rules and FAA regulations, support the PHI culture of safety and "do no harm."

Responsibilities Include:

• Coordinate with Communications Center personnel; Aviation Managers and Base Pilots with requests for PHI air medical staff, when conditions indicate that risk factors or weather place a base or area under risk that must be mitigated.
• Coordinate the resolution of operational control issues as they arise.
• Coordinate as above when conditions warrant a return to a "Green" status.
• Conference with pilots to confirm weather conditions reported by AWOS/ASOS systems.
• Assist pilots with weather updates as required or requested.
• Monitors and tracks aircraft utilizing "Satellite aircraft tracking systems" (if equipped) when operating in "Yellow" or "Green" conditions, workload permitting.
• Access current Aviation publications and reference materials on Web Manuals and via the internet.
• Notify Director of Operations Air Medical or On Call Manager (as appropriate) if OCC functions become degraded or systems fail due to equipment malfunctions.
• Place work orders to appropriate agencies for malfunctioning equipment and software interface.
• Responsible for supporting company Safety Management System activities.
• Complying with company HS&E policies and procedures.
• The scope of this work involves assisting other pilots in making difficult decisions about whether to fly IAW CFR 135.617 & 135.619
• The position requires a person with experience in the field and a strong working knowledge of the pressures that a typical air medical pilot faces.
• The Operations Control Specialist is not a "decision-maker" in the true sense; rather this person acts as a mentor, advisor, and council to pilots.
• The dimension of the work includes the ability to "think ahead" of the pilot, checking weather enroute, or using experience to anticipate situations that might arise.
• Then, being able to advise the EMS pilot about the conditions, teaching as well as protecting the pilot, the crew, the patient, public and the organization from possible bad outcomes.

The Successful Candidate Will Have:

• Experienced EMS helicopter pilot, possessing a Commercial and Helicopter instrument rating, ATP preferred.
• The position requires a minimum of 5 years of experience flying as an EMS pilot which includes 200 hours of night EMS and 100 actual instrument time.
• The pilot's license does not need to be active or current. A medical certificate is not required.
• If not an experienced EMS pilot, 24 months experience as either.
• In aircraft operations as an air traffic controller or a flight service specialist.
• In military aircraft operations as a pilot, flight navigator, or meteorologist; or
• In air carrier operations as a pilot, flight engineer, certified aircraft dispatcher, or meteorologist.
• Position is non-flying. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in Aviation Decision Making, and good working knowledge of Air Resource Management or Crew Resource Management.
• Excellent communicator and have strong computer skills.
• A good working knowledge of weather and forecasting is essential.
• A background in human factors and risk assessment is highly desirable.
• High school diploma or GED required.

Schedule/Location:

6&6

Lexington KY or Phoenix AZ

Compensation and Benefits:

• We offer a range of competitive pay and benefits package to keep our teams happy, healthy, and invested.

Our Core Competencies:

• Safe. We are absolute in our belief in the tenets of Destination Zero and that Zero is not only achievable, but the only acceptable outcome.
• Efficient. We are focused on outcomes that are smart and responsible by making the best use of our resources to maximize overall productivity and achieve sustainable profitability as a high performing organization.
• Quality. We are committed to ensuring excellent organizational performance which produces sustainable and reliable outcomes.
• Service. We are dedicated to the service of our customers, our communities and each other.

Behavioral Competencies:

• Drive & Energy – The ability to maintain a fast pace and continue to produce during exhausting circumstances.
• Functional & Technical Expertise – Allows the individual to add organizational value through unique expertise and serve as a resource to the organization within his/her area of expertise.
• High Standards – Sets the stage for continuous improvements, the adoption of best practices and ultimately influences organizational standards.
• Initiative – Takes a proactive approach and takes action without being prompted.
• Integrity – Acts ethically and honestly and applies those standards of behavior to daily work activities.

The PHI Health Advantage:

For more than 40 years, our company has been providing critical air medical transport services across the country. As an organization, we outfit each aircraft we fly with the most advanced technology, subject our crews to the most rigorous protocols and training and pioneer the most-forward thinking safety program in the country.

Everything that we do comes back to the safety of our crew and our patients. Our accident rate is well below the national average, and we were the first to receive the Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award. This belief has guided us towards a number of industry firsts and has given us the highest safety rating in the industry.