Managing Director – Aviation & Transportation

Job Description: • Build relationships with key regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders to support operational readiness • Lead FAA certification and regulatory approval processes, ensuring full compliance with federal aviation standards • Establish and maintain robust safety, compliance, and operational frameworks that meet or exceed regulatory requirements • Serve as the primary executive liaison with FAA regulators and other government agencies, ensuring alignment and responsiveness throughout all regulatory milestones • Set performance culture, decision-making cadence, and accountability standards from day one • Define organizational structure, roles, accountabilities, and reporting relationships to support regulatory approval and operational scale • Foster a high-trust, high-performance culture aligned with both safety excellence and brand aspirations • Recruit, hire, and lead the foundational executive team across operations, safety, compliance, maintenance, and finance functions • Develop scalable standard operating procedures (SOPs), governance structures, and systems to support future expansion • Oversee strategy, operational partnerships, vendor relationships, and readiness milestones • Define and execute the operational roadmap from planning through launch and early-stage growth • Balance service delivery with disciplined cost management and uncompromising safety standards • Ensure operational delivery consistently reflects the positioning and brand promise • Partner with key stakeholders to shape service standards, service philosophy, and customer experience standards • Position the business competitively within the travel market • Integrate service excellence into operational processes, training programs, and frontline accountability • Maintain transparency and accountability in all board and investor communications • Present operational progress, regulatory milestones, and financial performance to investors and stakeholders • Participate in fundraising efforts and represent the company's vision and capability to current and prospective investors • Serve as the senior executive interface with the Board of Directors, providing strategic updates and seeking guidance on key decisions Requirements: • Proven experience overseeing organizational development and launch activities, including team formation, systems development, and regulatory processes • Exceptional judgment and credibility in navigating complex regulatory environments and building trust with government agencies • Deep commercial aviation regulatory experience, including significant involvement in FAA certification processes • Strategic and operational versatility: able to think big-picture while driving detailed execution • High credibility across diverse stakeholder groups, including technical teams, operational staff, board members, and investors • Ability to operate effectively in complex, high-ambiguity settings with changing priorities • Willingness to travel extensively and relocate as operational needs require • Strong command of FAA regulations, safety management systems (SMS), and compliance frameworks applicable to commercial aviation operations • Proven executive leadership as CEO, President, COO, VP Operations, or General Manager in aviation or similarly regulated, safety-critical industries**Preferred Qualifications** • Experience integrating brand vision with operational execution, ensuring service delivery aligns with market positioning • Background in aviation or service industries with a focus on customer experience and brand differentiation • Prior experience as CEO, President, or COO with ultimate P&L and operational accountability • Direct leadership experience in FAA certification processes for aviation operations • Experience in private aviation, charter operations, or emerging aviation business models • Investor-facing leadership experience, including fundraising, stakeholder management, and articulating vision to financial backers • Experience across multi-site or multi-certificate operating environments is highly valued • Track record in scaling organizations from startup to mature operational phases Benefits: • Flexible paid time off (PTO) policy • 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance (employee and family coverage)