New Posting - Highland Helicopters

Director of Operations with Highland Helicopters - Exciting Opportunity!
Swim Recruiting - Vancouver, BC

Swim Recruiting is very excited and proud to present a rare opportunity to join Highland Helicopters as their new Director of Operations! Swim Recruiting has been engaged by Highland Helicopters to manage all initial screening, interviewing, and short-listing of qualified candidates to be presented to the executive team for consideration. There is a wealth of information contained in this posting, and we are happy to answer any other questions you may have. Swim Recruiting can also provide an even more comprehensive description of the role responsibilities and qualifications required. Candidate referrals are extremely welcome and much appreciated! Please feel free to call Swim Recruiting with any tips, leads, concerns, or questions. Company: Highland Helicopters www.highland.ca. This company is at a stage in its evolution that is really “the best of both worlds”…. They have the stability, reputation, and branding of a company that has been around since 1959, as well as the excitement of significant growth plans and strategies being put in place to further improve the company’s capabilities to meet its key stakeholders’ needs This is an opportune time to join a growing organization where you can affect positive change and help build a legacy. Role: Director of Operations (DOO). This exciting position is opening up as the incumbent Director is retiring in late 2015, after over 40 years in the aviation industry (7 of those years with Highland). The DOO is a key member of Highland’s Senior Management Team with responsibility for overseeing the Company’s Operations Group and for managing all aspects of the Company’s diverse flight operations. This is a dynamic and exciting opportunity, working with a great leadership team, and a talented and experienced team of flight personnel. Highland operates primarily in Western Canada, and currently has 17 operational bases located across Central and Northern British Columbia and Alberta. Highland’s pilot roster of approximately 30 to 35 consists of full-time Base Manager/Pilots, Base Pilots, Pool Pilots, and several Contract Pilots. Several bases have full-time Dispatchers to support local operations staff in meeting client needs. Dispatchers report to their local Base Manager. The Chief Pilot, Base Managers, and the Operations Assistant report directly to the DOO. The Chief Pilot and Operations Assistant are located at Highland’s Head Office. Location: Highland Helicopters’ Head Office in Richmond, British Columbia, near YVR International Airport. Responsibilities: We are looking for people who are adaptable, have a comprehensive skill-set, and a “can do” attitude. The main focus of the role is managing and constantly improving the company’s helicopter operations and flight procedures always maintaining the highest of safety standards and levels of client service, and generally contributing the overall success and growth of Highland Helicopters as a business. A true and natural leader is needed in this crucial position. Please note that the DOO role is dynamic and must be responsive to the ever-changing demands associated with managing Highland’s diverse flight operations. We have broken down the bulk of the responsibilities into 3 Categories… General Management Model the way by being an early adopter of innovation and 'walking the talk' of behaviours consistent with Highland values Develop cross training programs with defined actions and goals for all direct subordinates and coach to improved levels of performance. Ensure that all direct reports are scheduling their workload appropriately and maximizing productive time, as well as work with team to create forms, reports, metrics, and processes to improve work flow and to measure performance Distribute work among staff, assigning jobs to best utilize the talent in the department Work with the heads of all functional areas to solve inter-departmental problems and communicate with other managers on behalf of the department. Interview, hire, train, motivate, supervise, and discipline all direct reports as necessary. Identify issues that are holding the company back from optimal performance and record on the management issues list. Prepare for, and actively participate in, regularly scheduled meetings and complete resulting action items as assigned. Audit internal company procedures, policies and expenditures to protect against inefficient or fraudulent practices on an ongoing basis Report unsafe working conditions and resolve as appropriate in-line with the Safety Policy Commercial Air Service Standards & Canadian Aviation Regulations (CASS/CARs) Control operations and operational standards for all helicopters operated by the company. Set and confirm the qualifications of flight crew. Organize, supervise and maximize the efficiency of company flight safety, company flight watch, flight crew roster and scheduling, company pilot and flight follower training programs, and company participation in investigations into company aircraft incidents. Implement and maintain effective safety management policies and procedures for company flight operations, as well as policies and procedures ensuring effective coordination of crew scheduling, load control, aircraft scheduling, and maintenance Update and maintain the content, production, supervision, and amendment of the Company Operations Manual (COM). Liaise with all regulatory authorities having jurisdiction on matters concerning company flight operations, including any variation of the Air Operator Certificate. Coordinate operations logistics to support the crew schedule. Keep crew members informed of any changes to the regulations and standards. Participate in the company Health and Safety Committee. Sales Work with the Director of Marketing & Sales and the Director of Finance & Administration to prepare recommendations for the company's standard charter tariff. Assist the Director of Marketing & Sales with sales activities as required, including: analyzing contracts, establishing rates, preparing proposals and contracts, and preparing logistics for charters. Candidate Profile and Qualifications: Recent or current experience in a similar operations leadership role within the helicopter industry Past helicopter piloting experience is required Holding a valid pilot’s license is not essential, but would certainly be an asset 5 or more years’ progressive managerial experience in the helicopter industry, ideally with mid-size and growing companies Post-secondary education in business and/or aeronautics is highly preferred Comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of Canadian Aviation Regulations Experience in a senior management role in the helicopter industry is essential such as: Director of Operations; Director of Maintenance; Chief Pilot; Operations Manager; Base Manager; etc. Excellent leadership and mentorship abilities. The new Director of Operations will lead a very solid team of over 20 people, including: Chief Pilot, Base Managers, and other operations support staff. The Operations Team appreciates a Director who leads by example, and who will take the time to develop, coach, and train everyone to be at the top of their game. A strong communicator with excellent verbal and written communication skills. A “listen to understand” approach to business conversations is essential. In terms of personality, Highland is seeking candidates who are open to change, who see creative solutions not insurmountable problems, who have confidence but not entitlement, and who are strategic, yet appreciate that successful implementation requires hard hands-on work by a strong team with a unified vision. The new Director will embody Highland Helicopter’s values of safety, trust, integrity, teamwork, balance and hunger for success. The Director will work tirelessly to maintain Highland’s solid reputation for ensuring uncompromising safety in the field and for providing a balanced lifestyle for their employees. Highland Helicopters - Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Highland Helicopters is a successful company that has been around for over 50 years. They could very well rest on their laurels and continue on “business as usual” but they are not- the owners and leadership are eager to constantly improve the business. They have put an immense amount of time, money, and resources into this, and have proven that they will walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Swim Recruiting can provide interested candidates with many examples of Highland’s recent progress, growth, and modernization, including rationalization of the fleet and bases, newly created leadership positions, major brand and operations overhaul, etc. We are looking for a DOO who will work closely with the COO and the rest of Highland’s leadership and senior management team to continue to drive for positive change and business growth and to achieve their stated Vision to be Western Canada’s premier provider of helicopter transportation and speciality services. This is a very exciting time to join Highland Helicopters- the sky’s the limit! The Fleet: Highland Helicopters has 17 bases and (currently) 35 aircraft. Swim Recruiting can provide more details on the fleet. Compensation: This is highly dependent on level of experience and depth of skills & education; it will be a fair and competitive base salary. There is also an individual, incentive-based bonus. In addition to the salary and incentive bonus, the company also has a company-wide profit sharing program that all full-time employees are eligible to participate in. The benefits plan is also excellent and among the best in the industry. Please reach out to Swim Recruiting to discuss in further detail. Lifestyle: Highland’s believes a balanced approach to work, career, health, and community is essential to improved productivity and long-term sustainability. Highland is seeking someone who is passionate about their chosen career and is interested in growing steadily and organically with the organization over the years. Applying and Interview Process: Swim Recruiting has been engaged exclusively on this search at this time. Please note that Swim will be highly respectful of confidentiality and we are happy to address any concerns or questions you may have about partnering with a recruitment firm. Please email your resume to 3000-29-MH845 (@) apply.maxhire.net . In addition to your updated resume, please write to us describing WHY you feel this could be a great match for you- we want to present Highland with people who are really excited about the opportunity! (This can be in a short email or in a cover letter, your choice). First interviews will be with the COO and retiring Director of Operations and second interviews will be with other Executives and probably some of the key pilots and/or base managers. We’d like to have the new DOO start with Highland in the spring of 2015, prior to the heart of the operational summer season.