Key Lime Air Operations Manager
Key Lime Air is a growing regional airline based at Centennial Airport in Englewood, CO with over 27 years in the aviation industry as a Part 121 and Part 135 air carrier. Its operations include cargo, private/VIP charters, and scheduled passenger service under the Denver Air Connection brand.
Location: 13252 E. Control Tower Rd, Englewood, CO 80102
Salary: $100,000 - $110,000
Benefits
- Employer paid health, vision, dental, and life insurance for the employee
- Matching 401k up to 4%
- PTO days - a maximum of 18 days per year to start
- Flight benefits through ZED program
Position Summary
The Operations Manager is responsible for oversight of the airline’s flight operations support functions at the system-management level, setting expectations, supervising execution, resolving disruptions, and ensuring that operational controls function as designed. The role is well suited for a highly organized, self-directed professional who is comfortable prioritizing competing demands, maintaining situational awareness, and exercising sound judgment in a fast-paced operational environment.
The position provides leadership of Dispatch, short-term crew scheduling, and company travel, ensuring reliability, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional coordination with Operations and Maintenance Departments, especially during Irregular Operations (IROPS). IROPS refers to unplanned disruptions to normal operations - such as weather, maintenance, crew availability, or air traffic constraints - and focuses on maintaining safety, compliance, and operational continuity while minimizing system impacts.
Core Responsibilities
- Irregular Operations (IROPS) Leadership and Communication
- Assume primary responsibility for IROPS coordination and communication.
- Ensure IROPS-related issues are clearly identified, delegated to appropriate functional areas, and actively managed through resolution.
- Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of IROPS responses through post-event review, identification of systemic issues, and implementation of corrective actions.
· Operational Control and Execution
- Provide oversight of daily flight operations in accordance with 14 CFR Parts 121 and 135, Operations Specifications, and company manuals.
- Ensure decisions balance safety, compliance, operational integrity, and customer impact.
- Support the Daily Operations Review process and ensure issues are tracked and resolved.
· Dispatch Oversight
- Provide management oversight of the Dispatch function through the Dispatch Supervisor.
- Ensure dispatchers are trained, qualified, and compliant with regulatory and company requirements.
- Oversee dispatcher staffing, workload management, and backup dispatch capability.
· Short-Term Scheduling Oversight
- Oversee short-term crew scheduling by ensuring compliance with duty, rest, and qualification requirements.
- Ensure scheduling decisions align with operational priorities and safety risk controls.
· Company Travel Oversight
- Oversee company travel planning and execution for company personnel.
- Ensure travel arrangements are cost-effective, reliable, and operationally appropriate.
- Coordinate with Finance and Administration as required.
· Leadership and Coordination
- Serve as a central coordination point between Operations, Maintenance Control, Chief Pilot, Inflight, Stations, and Safety.
- Liaise with the FAA as required
- Provide leadership, accountability, and performance feedback to direct reports.
- Demonstrate initiative and strong organizational skills to anticipate needs and maintain continuity during periods of high workload.
· Safety, Compliance, and Continuous Improvement
- Support the Safety Management System by ensuring risk controls are effective.
- Identify hazards, trends, and systemic issues.
- Support audits, evaluations, and corrective actions.
Authority
The Operations Manager is delegated authority to direct day-to-day operational support functions, resolve operational issues, and recommend process improvements under the oversight of the Vice President of Operations.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in aviation, Operations Management, or related field, or equivalent experience.
- Five or more years of airline operational experience.
- Demonstrated leadership experience.
- Working knowledge of 14 CFR Parts 121, 135 and 117.
Preferred Qualifications
- Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate is strongly preferred.
- Prior experience as an Operations Manager, Dispatch Supervisor, or Operation Control Center Manager.
Key Competencies
- Operational judgment and decision-making
- Leadership and accountability
- Cross-departmental coordination
- Regulatory awareness
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills
- Ability to remain calm, focused, and effective during time-sensitive operational events
- Self-directed work style with the ability to identify issues and act proactively
- Systems-oriented thinking
