Operations Manager

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Job description:

POSITION SUMMARY

The Operations Manager is a systems-builder and leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and owning the operational infrastructure that enables Flight Stars to scale with consistency, predictability, and profitability. This is a business-builder position for a systems thinker who turns strategy into repeatable, trainable, and duplicable processes - mapping workflows, building dashboards, designing KPI frameworks, running SWOT analyses, coaching managers, and systematically eliminating the bottlenecks that cost the business time and money. The ideal candidate creates operational order from complexity, holds teams accountable through metrics and rhythms, and builds the foundation that allows growth to happen without chaos. This role is central to Flight Stars’ vision of scaling the world’s most strategic flight training center. If you thrive on building the machine behind the mission, this is your role.

ABOUT FLIGHT STARS

Flight Stars is a professional aviation training organization dedicated to helping pilots achieve their career goals through structured, high-quality flight instruction and advanced multi-engine training. Based at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, the company specializes in accelerated pilot development programs, commercial multi-engine training, instructor certifications, checkride preparation, and advanced flight proficiency using a modern fleet of Diamond aircraft. Built on its core values of Alignment, Accountability, Collaboration, Results, and Growth, Flight Stars is committed to efficient, results-driven training while maintaining the highest standards of safety and performance - a trusted partner for aspiring and professional pilots advancing their aviation careers.

SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• The operational playbook is fully documented, trained, and actively used - department leads run their areas by the system, not by individual instinct, and new team members ramp quickly because processes are clear, duplicable, and owned.
• Live scoreboards and dashboards exist for every role, and weekly/monthly accountability rhythms drive proactive problem-solving, early issue identification, and consistent, predictable results.
• A bench of systems-thinking leaders is developing - department heads identify issues early, bring solutions rather than just problems, and own outcomes.
• Operations, finance, and capacity planning are tightly aligned, tying daily execution directly to revenue growth and profitability.
• The business scales smoothly - bottlenecks are systematically removed, processes are continuously improved, and friction is replaced by clarity, momentum, and ownership at every level.
• Cross-functional execution is seamless - Sales, Flight Ops, Maintenance, and Admin move in sync through the meeting rhythms, shared language, and accountability you create.

OBJECTIVES & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Translate strategic goals into operational plans, processes, and scalable systems across the company.
• Develop, document, roll out, and train teams on SOPs, and maintain the Process Tracker to standardize and scale operations.
• Design and implement metric frameworks, KPI dashboards, OKRs, and performance trackers that drive data-informed decisions and revenue growth.
• Identify operational gaps across the Flight Stars ecosystem and lead corrective actions, standardization, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Identify, analyze, and eliminate operational bottlenecks and disruptions to enhance productivity, quality, and scalability.
• Build and manage capacity-planning systems for people, space, and resources while aligning financial and operational data.
• Partner with Finance to align KPIs, budgets, and cost efficiencies that drive profitability.
• Lead productive team meetings, one-on-ones, and accountability cadences that maximize alignment, ownership, and results across departments.
• Build and utilize MOI Scales and other performance systems to monitor, manage, and continuously refine key metrics and leader behaviors.
• Produce weekly operational reports covering metrics, project status, risks, and strategic recommendations for leadership.
• Attract, hire, develop, retain, and coach high-performing team members aligned with core values; lead timely, constructive performance management.
• Drive cross-departmental coordination with Rev Ops, Flight Operations, Maintenance, and Admin to ensure operational effectiveness and an exceptional customer experience.

COMPETENCIES

• Data-driven leadership - mastery in building dashboards, distinguishing KPIs from metrics, and cascading targets into individual accountability.
• Process architecture - expert ability to create structured processes, audit compliance, and drive organization-wide adoption.
• Systems thinking - identifies process breakdowns, eliminates waste, and builds scalable, people-independent operations.
• Financial acumen - links daily operations directly to revenue growth and profitability.
• Cross-functional leadership - holds department leads accountable while fostering collaboration across departments.
• Talent development - designs incentive plans and grows team members into independent high performers.
• Communication - produces concise, solution-focused reports and sets clear expectations.
• Authentic, resilient leadership - empowers teams with autonomy, transparency, and high standards in a growth-oriented environment.
• Leads through both metrics and people - building accountability rhythms that develop leaders and deliver consistent, scalable results.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• 3+ years of progressive operations or business-operations leadership experience in a scaling service, training, or high-growth small-business environment where you built systems from the ground up.
• Proven track record designing, documenting, and implementing operational systems, KPI frameworks, and accountability processes that delivered measurable improvements in efficiency, scalability, and profitability.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and holding department leads or managers accountable through metrics and coaching.
• Strong data fluency — experienced creating dashboards, analyzing performance data, identifying gaps, and driving corrective action through systems and people.
• Demonstrated success leading recurring meeting cadences, performance-management rhythms, and developing leaders across multiple departments.
• Aviation industry, flight-training, maintenance, or regulated (Part 141/61) environment experience preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to access and navigate the hangar and airport environment as needed for operational oversight and team support.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.

Employment Classification

Full-Time · On-site (Falcon Field, Mesa, AZ)

Additional benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Leadership investment - direct mentorship and personalized guidance toward personal, professional, and financial (PPF) goals.
• Aviation perks - flight hours tied to PPF goals.
• Continuous learning - access to business courses, workshops, skill labs, and company-supported certifications.
• Modern tools - hands-on experience with AI-powered systems.
• Team culture - regular corporate outings and team-building events.

Flight Stars is an equal opportunity employer committed to meeting the needs of a multigenerational and multicultural workforce, and actively fosters inclusion in all forms both within the company and across interactions with clients, candidates, and partners.