Director of Flight Safety

Company Overview

Since 1972, West Valley Flying Club has been a prominent not-for-profit flying club providing quality flight instruction and aircraft rental in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 1,300 member pilots, 60+ aircraft and 50+ independent flight instructors, we are deeply committed to fostering a culture of safety, continuous learning, and camaraderie.

Position Summary

The Director of Flight Safety directs the Safety Office team and establishes operational standards for the flying club with full accountability for the strategic design, continuous audit, and enforcement of the club’s safety policies, serving as the central authority for regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and operational integrity. The ideal candidate balances strict regulatory compliance and data-driven risk management with compassionate member support to foster a proactive, open safety culture.

Core Responsibilities

Safety Training and Education

● Create, manage, and promote safety and pilot education programs across all certificate and rating levels, from Student through ATP.

● Own instructor standardization across 50+ independent CFIs.

● Oversee remedial training programs with a considerate approach.

● Run safety seminars, briefings, member education, and maintain fleet standards.

Safety Culture and Processes

● Promote and protect a non-punitive, open reporting environment for members and pilots.

● Create, manage, and enforce club-wide safety standards covering operational, environmental, flight, and mechanical risk.

● Own accident and incident reporting and analysis end to end (intake, investigation, root-cause, corrective action), feeding findings back into club training.

● Maintain records sufficient to withstand FAA, insurer, and Board review.

Risk Management and Compliance

● Analyze flight activity, squawks, incident reports, and training records to identify operational, human-factors, and mechanical risks.

● Implement tracking systems that surface hazards before they cause accidents, identifying trends across both airports.

● Ensure club operations strictly follow FAA regulations, club rules, and local airport noise abatement procedures.

● Maintain audit readiness and serve as the principal point of contact on regulatory matters.

People Leadership and Stakeholder Management

● Onboard, standardize, evaluate, mentor, and release flight instructors.

● Partner with the Executive Director promoting and maintaining a safety culture.

● Represent the club with the FAA, airport management, the NTSB, AOPA, and neighboring communities.

● Deliver mentorship to members facing training roadblocks and resolve member concerns involving safety.

Qualifications & Requirements Required:

● 7+ years of general aviation experience.

● 5+ years of people management experience; independent contractor management preferred.

● Demonstrated ownership of safety standards, incident analysis, training programs, or regulatory compliance.

● Strong working command of 14 CFR Parts 61 and 91.

● Experience managing multiple priorities and maintaining orderly systems with minimal supervision in a high-volume environment.

Preferred:

● Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII) – strongest preference.

● Certificated pilot.

● Experience in busy, towered, airspace-constrained environments (Class D/Class B).

● Formal safety management experience (SMS design/administration or accident investigation).

● Familiarity with scheduling, dispatch, or maintenance tracking systems.

● Experience with member-based, not-for-profit organizations.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to candidate@wvfc.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.