Sr. Flight Operations Manager

ROLE SUMMARY

The Senior Flight Operations Manager is fully accountable for the safe, accurate, and disciplined execution of all charter flights at JetClass.

This role owns operational delivery end-to-end, leads the Flight Operations team, and acts as the final operational authority on feasibility, risk, and execution standards.

Operating within a digital charter brokerage model, the Senior Flight Ops Manager ensures that every flight sold can be executed properly, profitably, and in full compliance with operational, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

This role has full authority to approve, challenge, or reject charter activity that does not meet JetClass' operational or risk standards.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

FLIGHT OPERATIONS OWNERSHIP

• Own end-to-end charter execution from booking handover to flight completion.
• Act as final operational decision-maker on aircraft suitability, routing, crew legality, airport constraints, and execution feasibility.
• Ensure all flights are executed in line with JetClass safety, compliance, and service standards.
• Lead disruption management, AOG handling, delays, and operational escalations without dependency on Sales.
• Own post-flight operational review for disrupted, complex, or high-risk trips to identify root causes, cost variance, and corrective actions.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & STRUCTURE

• Manage, develop, and scale the Flight Operations team.
• Set clear responsibilities, coverage models, escalation paths, and shift / roster planning.
• Enforce operational discipline, accuracy, and accountability across the team.
• Establish and continuously improve SOPs, checklists, and workflows.

OPERATOR RELATIONS

• Own operator relationships, performance standards, and preferred supplier lists.
• Approve, review, or remove operators based on execution quality, reliability, and risk profile.
• Ensure proper vetting of AOCs, insurance, crew qualifications, and operational approvals.
• Maintain strong, professional relationships with operators to ensure responsiveness and priority handling.

RISK, COMPLIANCE & PAYMENT CONTROL

• Ensure full compliance with aviation regulations, duty time rules, insurance requirements, and operational limitations.
• Oversee payment flows, prepayment enforcement, and escalation of overdue or at-risk payments.
• Actively protect JetClass from financial, operational, and reputational exposure.
• Ensure no flight proceeds without contractual and payment security in place.

SALES COLLABORATION & DEAL GOVERNANCE

• Work closely with Commercial teams while maintaining independent operational authority.
• Provide clear, professional guidance to Sales on feasibility, risks, and execution constraints.
• Exercise veto power over deals that are operationally unsound, commercially reckless, or poorly structured.
• Support margin protection by preventing execution decisions that create avoidable cost leakage.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS CONTRIBUTION

• Strengthen JetClass' operational backbone in preparation for scale, automation, and AI-driven workflows.
• Identify inefficiencies, recurring errors, and risk patterns and drive corrective action.
• Provide operational input into internal tools, workflows, and automation initiatives to ensure systems reflect real-world charter execution.
• Serve as the operational counterpart to the CEO on delivery, execution, and risk matters.

GOVERNANCE & REPORTING

• Ensure all operational activity follows approved SOPs and internal controls.
• Maintain full visibility for the CEO on operational performance, risks, and escalations.
• Ensure clean handovers, documentation accuracy, and audit-ready records across all flights.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

A strong Senior Flight Ops Manager will bring:

• 10+ years of experience in business aviation operations within a charter brokerage or aircraft operator environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing and scaling flight operations teams.
• Deep, practical understanding of charter execution, aircraft categories, routing, crew legality, airport constraints, and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong operator network and the credibility to challenge, negotiate, and enforce standards.
• The confidence and authority to say no to bad deals, unrealistic requests, or risky execution.
• Clear, calm communication skills suitable for interacting with Sales, B2B partners, operators, and senior stakeholders.
• A disciplined, checklist-driven mindset with zero tolerance for sloppy execution.
• Comfort operating in a brokerage model (no owned fleet), balancing multiple operators and variables daily.
• A delivery-first mentality, focused on getting flights done properly, not just getting them sold.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to AED18,000.00 per month

Application Question(s):

• Are you currently based in the United Arab Emirates?