WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors through the Board Chair and directly supervises the Program Director, Director of Student Services & Operations, and administrative staff. Your first-year priorities:

Safety and FAA Part 147 Compliance

Set the tone for a safety-first culture from day one. Monitor and improve a Safety Management System with incident and near-miss reporting. Conduct a full FAA compliance audit, close the gaps, and build the audit-ready rhythms that keep the school’s certificate secure. Ensure student records, facilities, and equipment meet 14 CFR Part 147 requirements.

Build a Strong Team

Clarify every role with written expectations. Start a performance rhythm of regular check-ins, quarterly goals, and honest feedback. Assess whether the right people are in the right seats and address gaps directly. Build instructor depth so no single person is irreplaceable. Create a culture where staff feel supported, accountable, and heard.

Fill Seats, Keep Students, Get Them Certified and Hired

This is the school’s survival engine. Audit recruiting channels to find what actually produces enrolled students—not just clicks. Measure conversion at every stage. Map the student experience and fix the reasons students leave. Track completion rates, pass rates, and job placement. Build employer relationships that create a pull for graduates. Deliver a data-driven recruiting plan to the board.

Achieve Financial Sustainability

Publish a clear financial dashboard: cash on hand, runway, budget versus actual, and risks. Connect enrollment forecasts to the financial plan. Track cash weekly. Identify cost improvements that support net operating income. Ensure the school is current on all not-for-profit IRS, tax, insurance, and regulatory requirements.

Advance COE Accreditation

Complete a self-assessment against COE Handbook requirements. Build an accreditation calendar with owners and evidence folders. Draft required policies. Move the candidacy application forward. Accreditation unlocks federal financial aid—it is the most important strategic milestone for the school’s future.

Strengthen the Board Partnership

Build and deliver a monthly board dashboard covering safety, enrollment, finances, accreditation, and team health. Establish a regular rhythm with the Board Chair. Lead through transparency—flag issues early, even when the news is hard. The Executive Director supports the board; the Executive Director does not run governance.

Own the School’s Systems

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, and evaluate the planned LMS migration. Every staff member works through designated systems—not email, texts, or personal workarounds.

WHAT WE REQUIRE

Every candidate must meet all of the following:

• Aviation background (strongly preferred). Direct experience as a pilot, maintainer, or military aviation professional. You need credibility with the FAA, instructors, industry partners, and students. If you do not have an aviation background, you must demonstrate equivalent experience in a technically regulated training environment—such as automotive, marine, or industrial maintenance education—combined with a solid plan to earn fluency in aviation maintenance culture and terminology.
• Educational operations leadership. You have run a school, training program, or post-secondary department. You know how to hire and develop instructors, deliver curriculum, and protect academic integrity.
• Accreditation experience. You have been through an accreditation process (COE preferred, but any credible accrediting body counts). You understand documentation, compliance cycles, and audit preparation.
• People leadership. You coach, develop, and hold people accountable with care. You build cultures where mistakes are learning opportunities and feedback is normal.
• 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—not personal workarounds. You can inherit a technology stack, assess its health, and enforce adoption.
• Budget management. You have managed an operating budget. You understand cash flow, unit economics, and what it means to run an organization that must earn every dollar.
• Track record growing programs. You have grown enrollment or program participation through outreach, relationships, and measurable results.

Education

Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree valued but not required. Equivalent combinations of education and progressively responsible leadership experience will be considered.

WHAT WE PREFER

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
• A&P certification or hands-on maintenance background
• Military leadership experience, including budget management, personnel decisions, safety systems, and regulated environments
• FAA Part 147 experience (strong leaders with accreditation experience can learn Part 147 specifics)
• Public speaking and relationship-building skills to represent the school at career fairs, industry events, and community functions. 

Who This Role is For

This role is for a disciplined operator with technical credibility who is energized by building something meaningful. You are comfortable leading in ambiguity. You do real work—you don’t just direct others. You give honest feedback and receive it. You say “I don’t know” and “I was wrong” out loud.

Year one will be demanding. Progress will show up in small wins before it shows up in big numbers. You will be working with a small, committed team that cares deeply about students and takes pride in preparing them for real careers—not just certifications.

This Role Is Not for You If:

• You prefer strategy over daily execution
• You avoid difficult conversations with staff, students, or board members
• You need large teams and established infrastructure to be effective
• You are looking for a title, not a workload

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience
• Health insurance
• 401(k) match
• Professional development budget, including conferences

LOCATION

This is an on-site position at Legacy Aviation Learning Center, located at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan. Traverse City is consistently ranked among the best small cities in the United States, offering world-class outdoor recreation, a vibrant local economy, and a strong sense of community.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Legacy Aviation Learning Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

ABOUT THE AVIATION MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY

The aviation maintenance industry has a workforce problem it cannot train its way out of fast enough. Retirements are outpacing new certifications. Airlines, MROs, and defense contractors are competing for the same shrinking pool of A&P technicians. The schools that produce these technicians are the bottleneck—and most of them are at capacity or struggling to grow.

Legacy Aviation Learning Center exists to widen that bottleneck. Our graduates enter a job market where demand far exceeds supply and career prospects are strong.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your resume and a brief cover letter describing your interest in this role and your relevant experience to careers@legacyaviation.org. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.