Director of Safety - LUSOA

The Director of Safety oversees and directs the School of Aeronautics safety program, ensuring safety in support of technical training and a safe student training experience. The role involves establishing a safety management system, developing safety programs, and promoting a positive safety culture. The Director provides continuous safety oversight, analysis, and recommendations at the executive level, and works with other directors to manage operational safety across flight, simulator, maintenance, and UAS operations.

Responsibilities

• Promotes a culture of safety among faculty, staff and students. Through cooperation, communication, and training across all LUSOA departments, ensuring personnel at all levels of the organization understand their safety responsibilities and accountabilities.
• Ensures that LUSOA policies and procedures align with FAA, NTSB, and OSHA safety regulations, and assists in the revision of flight operations documentation, including safety procedures, training guides, and checklists.
• Serves as a safety liaison to the School of Aeronautics, providing regular briefings, analyses, and recommendations regarding SOA safety performance, emerging risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Manages the Safety Reporting System to confidentially and promptly address concerns, and analyzes safety risks using data from reports, surveys, and toolbox talks.
• Oversees the LUSOA Emergency Response Plan to ensure preparedness for aviation accidents, and leads investigations into accidents, serious incidents, and safety occurrences.
• Engages directly with directors of Flight, AMTP, UAS and Simulator Operations to ensure daily operational risk management. Addresses real-time safety concerns through identifying hazards, analyzing risk, and mitigating risk.
• Oversees SMS Safety Assurance Processes to ensure that the operational risk controls are working. Coordinates and supports both internal and external safety audits to ensure compliance and foster continuous safety improvement, while managing the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) program.
• Strictly adheres to Liberty University policies, representing the University in an exemplary manner.
• Works effectively as a team member, embracing and fostering LU’s Christian model and Mission – Training Champions for Christ.
• Perform other duties and tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Four-year college degree in aviation, safety, or a related field.
• Knowledge of appropriate regulatory requirements (14 CFR 60, 61, 91, 141, and 147).
• Proven ability to design and implement safety initiatives for complex multi-faceted operations.
• Hold and maintain a third-class medical or higher.

Nice to have

• FAA certificates (CFI, CFII, MEI, A&P, and/or IA).
• 141 flight training and/or 147 maintenance training experience.
• Master's degree in aviation, safety, or a related field.

Benefits

• The position may also be eligible for comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and tuition assistance.