Flight Operations Assistant Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Flight Operations Assistant Manager (FOAM) is responsible for the aviation operations of the Black Rock City Airport (88NV).  Through careful pre-playa and on-playa work as a part of the Airport Management Team, this person will ensure that Burning Man Project (BMP) operates a safe and efficient airport for each annual event in the Black Rock Desert.  They ensure flight and ground operations of aircraft and personnel comply with relevant BMP principles and policies, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Nevada Dept of Transportation - Aviation (NDOT-A) regulations, as well as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) policies and stipulations.

The FOAM oversees a team of staff and volunteers to plan and execute the airport’s primary mission of providing safe aircraft procedures, traffic patterns, and aircraft movement areas (AMAs) – runways, taxiways, and parking aprons, etc.  These operations occur in uncontrolled airspace, with radio service available to aviators flying to/from the event in their own aircraft or via the Burner Express Air (BxA) charter program.  The FOAM also supports the operation and development of procedures for other users of the 88NV airspace, including the ultralight, skydiving, scenic flight, and medevac programs.

As a member of the 88NV airport staff, the FOAM will also play an important role in setting and maintaining a positive, professional, fun, safe, welcoming, collaborative, and inclusive team culture for 88NV, Point 5, and the theme camps located in the area. 

The FOAM serves as the Airport Manager’s primary point of contact and subject-matter expert for the 88NV airspace and airport environment.  They also help hire and set policies for the flight operations team. This team, led by the FOAM, is responsible for supervising all categories of flight operations and coordinating with other airport team managers (e.g., safety, logistics, volunteers, etc.) and BMP departments as needed to successfully support the flight operations mission. 

This is a temporary, full-time, non-exempt role, based in Hybrid - SF, Reno or Gerlach Preferred running from March to October, 2026. This role is required to work on site in Black Rock City during the Burning Man Event, from 8/21/2026 to 9/9/2026.

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00 pm Pacific on 3/17/2026.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Operations

1. Perform regular risk assessments of flight and ground operations in the airspace and AMAs of 88NV to ensure policies and procedures promote safe operations
2. Create and document safe and efficient flight patterns and airborne/ground procedures for the various users of 88NV, including: Burner Express Air (BxA), MedEvac, Ultra-Light, Skydiving, Scenic Flights, and General Aviation (GA).
3. Review the unique needs of each aircraft category/class using 88NV and assign operating areas and policies/procedures to ensure safe concurrent operations
4. Ensure positive relations with government agencies, including the BLM and FAA.
5. Coordinate with Burner Express Air (BxA), MedEvac, ultra-light, and skydiving stakeholders regarding runway and ramp layout and shared resources & make final determinations, in collaboration with the Airport Management Team
6. Collaborate with the Airport Management Team on airport operational procedures and policies.
7. Work closely with other airport teams, BMP departments, and contractors to ensure that smooth operations and interactions are maintained between them 

Team Management and Support

1. Oversee the planning, scheduling, hiring, and performance of the Airport’s Flight Operations Team. 
2. Recruit to fill the critical roles of senior flight operations staff that require highly specialized skills and experience.  Improve the hiring process by maintaining updated job descriptions and training programs.
3. Maintain clear lines of communication and situational awareness of the status of the Flight Ops Team and their projects, assisting when needed to ensure team success
4. Assist and support the flight operations team by identifying talent, overseeing the development of training programs, and implementing succession planning. 
5. On-playa, supervise the work of the flight operations leads, ATC, and other functions as they handle day-to-day airport operations.  Fill in for open shifts as needed and serve as an escalation path when required. 
6. Model and cultivate a positive, healthy team culture that is closely integrated with the Airport Department and the broader 88NV community.
7. Proactively address and attempt to mediate/resolve any conflicts at the lowest possible level and elevate any concerns regarding social climate and/or protocol to the Airport Manager
8. Learn, share, and use the proper channels for escalating personnel issues. Document conflicts and personnel issues in accordance with the established Airport Department procedures.

Documentation and Tracking

1. Track the inventory of use of radios and other Airport equipment, both owned and rented, to minimize loss.
2. Manage the Flight Operations Asana project, ensuring that all tasks and progress are thoroughly documented, tracked, and completed
3. Proactively discuss any potential budget/expense adjustments or concerns with the Airport Manager as soon as possible
4. Oversee the creation, management, and documentation of all Flight Operations Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) following the established Airport department process.

PERCENTAGE OF TIME SPENT

• Planning Flight Operations Procedures and Policies (20%)
• Team Management and Communication (30%)                                                                                                 
• On Playa Management (20%)
• Reporting and Government Relations (10%)
• Recruiting and Staffing (10%)                                                                                             
• Other Functions and Responsibilities as assigned (5%)

LEARNING AND TEACHING

• Documentation - Drives the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to assigned duties.
• Teaching – Takes a leadership role in the acculturation and training of staff. Teaches live or e-learning classes, as requested. Promotes a culture of teaching and learning throughout the community.
• Mentoring - Mentors subordinates in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and experience that will allow them to advance in the organization. Aids, encourages and inspires their team.
• Training development - Collaborates with the education team to develop training materials in their area of expertise, as requested.
• Learning – Pursues ongoing learning in their area of expertise, working to stay current on emergent knowledge, skills, and processes. Participates in conferences, forums, and networking events, where appropriate.
• Speaking – Represents Burning Man as a subject matter expert and culture-bearer, as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED

• Ability to adjust schedule seasonally to work at the Burning Man event held in Nevada
• Familiar with GA flight procedures, patterns, aircraft movement areas (AMA) and standard traffic patterns
• Demonstrated experience successfully guiding teams of experts toward a common goal
• Able to understand and act positively in an environment requiring multiple levels of government compliance with agencies such as the FAA, BLM and Law Enforcement
• Proven history of developing strong, positive relationships with project stakeholders.
• Ability to relate in meaningful ways to a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Clearly and effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent project management skills; proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines autonomously
• Strong communication skills including interpersonal communication, active listening, conflict resolution, mediation, writing and presentation skills
• Creative thinker with analytical abilities, collaboration and problem-solving skills 
• Capable of working in an extreme environment including drastic temperature changes, high winds, dust, and low to no visibility at times.
• Experienced and comfortable with using 2 way radios including aviation radios,
• Honest and ethical with a dedication to the Burning Man principles and behavioral standards.
• Open to change and to considerable variety in daily tasks.
• Able to accept feedback and remain calm and focused under pressure.
• Clearly and concisely communicates verbally and through written correspondence. Tailors message to the receiving party with appropriate professionalism.
• Sensitive to others' needs and feelings. Understanding and helpful.
• Inspires, motivates and encourages a collaborative work environment.
• Effectively manages own time, the time of individual team members, and the efforts of the team as a whole.
• Experience managing volunteers with a willingness to promote their strengths and respect their limitations.

PREFERRED

• Previous experience safely integrating the unique demands of different aviation categories in the airport environment including private, commercial, skydiving, medical evacuation and ultra-light operations
• Previous experience performing airport inspections and determining corrections to deficiencies.  (Pavements/soils, lighting, edge makers/signage, navigation aids)
• Airport and aircraft movement area layout/design experience in a multi-runway, multi-user environment
• Previous experience volunteering or working at 88NV/Black Rock City Municipal Airport strongly preferred
• Experience managing fixed wing and rotor-wing aircraft charter operations
• Experience managing events with a staff of 100+ volunteers

Note: If you have gained the necessary experience to succeed in this role and have acquired this experience in other ways, we encourage you to apply and share all relevant experience in your application.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• REQUIRED - Certificated powered airplane pilot, FAA PP-ASEL or above, or international equivalent.
• REQUIRED - Must have a valid state issued Driver’s License and a clean driving record
• PREFERRED - OSHA 10 Certification (within 6 months of hiring,  in house training available)
• REQUIRED - IS-15.B: Special Events Contingency Planning for Public Safety Agencies By FEMA.gov (within 6 months of hiring)
• Complete the BMP Volunteer Leadership Training within three months of hire date

COMPENSATION: 

Individual compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including prior experience and geographical location. The anticipated pay rate for this position is $25 per hour.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Off-playa:  Work is primarily sedentary in nature; no special demands are required.

On-playa:  This position requires periods of heavy lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting, and climbing. This position will be physically demanding, and requires individuals with good physical health, and endurance. Work will include the need to find and meet with department representatives who may not be in the vicinity therefore this could include walking or using some form of transportation. Much of the work will be in outside weather conditions and will be exposed to fumes or airborne particles as well as possible extremes in temperature.

NOTICE FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

• Burning Man Project celebrates the importance of creating a diverse environment and enthusiastically encourages Black, Indigenous, Peoples of Color, LGBTQIA+, Immigrant, women, and people with disabilities, of all ages, to apply.
• Burning Man Project provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
• Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.