How to hire an air operations manager

How to hire an air operations manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step air operations manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an air operations manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new air operations manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the air operations manager you need to hire. Certain air operations manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An air operations manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, air operations managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents air operations manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Air Operations Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Air Operations Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$25-58
   General Manager Of Operations	General managers of operations are employed to oversee the overall operations of businesses. Their responsibilities include the improvement of the efficiency of the operations and overall management... Show more	$23-79
   Manager, Center Operations	The duties of a manager of center operations depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing business operations, setting targets, assessing the workforce's performance, and performing corrective measures on any issues or concerns... Show more	$18-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Logistics
   • DOT
   • Air Operations
   • DOD
   • TSA
   • Air Freight
   • Flight Operations
   • AOC
   • ACC
   • Combat
   • Federal Aviation Administration
   • Dangerous Goods
   • Mission Planning
   • Master Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage security with C-TPAT and TSA.
   • Finance and billing accountability across Medicaid, manage care commercial insurance, insurance verification, contract management, and benefits administration.
   • Coordinate flight operations logistics, base on aircraft availability, maintenance, flight crew availability and mission priority.
   • Check in and weigh shipments according to TSA standards and regulations.
   • Demonstrate a keen understanding of FAA regulations and policies as per flight publications.
   • Reduce costs by combining lane shipments and lowering fees with forwarders on spot rates.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your air operations manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An air operations manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, air operations managers' average salary in florida is 41% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level air operations managers earn 56% less than senior-level air operations managers.
   • Certifications. An air operations manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an air operations manager's salary.

   Average air operations manager salary

   $80,744yearly

   $38.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level air operations manager salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

4. Writing an air operations manager job description

   An air operations manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an air operations manager job description:

   Air operations manager job description example

   Required Travel: 11 - 25%
   
   Employment Type: Full Time/Hourly/Non-Exempt
   
   Hours Per Week: 40
   
   Security Clearance: TS/SCI
   
   Level of Experience: Senior
   
   HII
   
   Job Description
   
   HII-Mission Technologies is currently seeking a Tactical Air Manager to support our government customers. Are you a strategic thinker who enjoys working on complex issues and are you looking to use your skills and talents to support dynamic customers with challenging missions? Then we would like to talk to you about working on tomorrow's challenges today. The Tactical Air Manager will be instrumental in the planning, development, and operations of a tactical air training capability in support of US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). This position will encompass multiple aspects of planning and executing international air operations, including military airworthiness certification, regulatory oversight, sortie programming, operational coordination, and the daily oversight of tactical air operations management.
   
   The selected candidate will be able to work remotely and it is preferred that they live either in the Eastern or Central time zones.
   
   Essential Job Responsibilities
   
   * Responsible for working with a team to develop an implementation strategy for Theater-Level Management of tactical air training capability in support of USAFE
   * Coordinates necessary procedures and clearances for the authorization and operation of pilots and aircraft across multi-national borders in the USAFE AOR
   * Coordinates military airworthiness certification processes with multiple agencies and operational partners
   * Ensures smooth Flight Operations through oversight of multiple subcontractors' performance in compliance of host nation and command requirements
   * Responsible for daily air operations in the execution of adversary air sorties meeting the customer's requirements and maintaining situational awareness of all operations
   * Participates in planning conferences to establish rapport and educate theater participants on the HII-TSD adversary air training capability
   * Plans and forecast operations in conjunction with aircraft maintenance requirements to ensure sufficient adversary air sorties to meet the customer's forecasted requirement
   * Ensures appropriate standardized flight and ground operational procedures are developed for adversary air training activities across the USAFE AOR.
   * Develops a process to ensure all required aircrew evaluations and certifications are current and maintained
   * Leads a diverse organization with multiple subcontractors, each providing a mix of flight crews, maintainers, technicians, and staff all supporting adversary flight operations and training
   * Responsible for the overall effective management of multiple high-performance aircraft
   * Maintains a full understanding of the operational status of all HII aircraft deployed in theater
   * Coordinates with the Logistics supervisor on matters pertaining to entrusted resources, facilities, GFE, and stewardship of company and Government loaned and or rental equipment
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   * 10 years relevant progressive experience with a Bachelors in a related field; 6 years relevant progressive experience with Masters a in related field.
   * Former military fighter aircraft flight instructor
   * Ability to interface at all levels of command and leadership on a regular basis
   * Effective interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations
   * Strong written and oral communication skills
   * Clearance: Must possess and maintain TS clearance with SCI eligibility based on a Single Source Background Investigation (SSBI)
   
   Preferred Requirements
   
   * Former military aggressor squadron experience
   * USAF Fighter Weapons School or US Navy Top Gun Graduate
   * USAFE/NATO experience in fighter operations
   * Threat Avionics and Electronics knowledge
   * Extensive writing and oral communication skills
   * Demonstrated flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational needs
   * Reside in Eastern or Central time zones
   
   #LI-NM1
   
   This opportunity resides with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, a business group within HII's Mission Technologies division. From towers to processors, we design, develop, integrate and manage the sensors, systems and other assets necessary to support integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, exploitation and analysis for the Intelligence Community, the military services, geographic and functional combatant commands and DoD agencies.
   
   HII is a global engineering and defense technologies provider. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable a networked, all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's skilled workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, please visit:

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right air operations manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your air operations manager job on Zippia to find and recruit air operations manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting air operations managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new air operations manager

   Once you've selected the best air operations manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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