Aviation Fleet Manager
Wildlife Conservation Society
17-Mar-2026
Aviation Fleet Manager
Rwanda
Global Conservation Full-Time
GLOBAL CONSERVATION
Job Description
Reports to: Safety and Compliance: Aviation Committee (Executive Committee)
Administration: Director of the Africa Protected Area Management Unit
Location: Kigali, Rwanda (Depending on Operations needs)
Country Program/Sector: Africa Protected Areas Management Unit (APAMU)
Capacity: Global
Position Type: Full-time
Coordinates with: Landscape/country/regional staff, Regional Directors, WCS landscape leads, landscape/country/regional staff, thematic/cross-cutting staff, WCS APAMU team,
About Us
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a private, nonprofit U.S. organisation founded in 1895. Its mission is to preserve wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, developing science-based solutions, and taking conservation action that benefits nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, a presence in more than 60 countries, and experience in creating more than 150 protected areas around the world, WCS has accumulated the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships necessary to ensure that wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organisations, this knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues that are critical to improving the quality of life for poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources.
Job Purpose:
The Aviation Fleet Manager (AFM) is a senior management role responsible for providing leadership to the WCS aviation team, with delegated responsibility bestowed by the Aviation Committee. The position interacts with the Aviation Committee members on relevant matters pertaining to aviation safety and compliance, and with operational personnel, senior managers and departmental heads throughout the organisation. The AFM is responsible for overseeing/managing and controlling all aspects of the WCS Flight Operations Department (flight crew, flight operations, flight crew and operations, training, maintenance, safety and compliance management, standard operating procedures, assets, etc.) to ensure all mission sets, positioning, maintenance and ferry flights and aviation support operations (both owned and non-owned) are conducted safely and efficiently while complying fully with all regulatory and company requirements.
Major Responsibilities:
- Accountable/responsible for the company's aircraft and related assets, equipment, handling and safety.
- Develops and implements aviation strategies, activities and budgets, including manpower, training, aircraft, equipment, and cost modelling to meet the organisation's aviation support requirements.
- Models and promotes a strong safety culture, encourages honesty and integrity within the workplace, fosters safety practices, and ensures effective safety reporting and continuous improvement.
- Establish and implement the flight operations department’s operational SOPs and safety management system to ensure implementation of industry-standard aviation operations for both owned and non-owned aircraft, including ensuring compliance with all company, Federal Aviation Authority, appropriate regulatory authority in the country of operations and international regulations, as well as aircraft insurers and manufacturer policies.
- Oversight of all flight operations to ensure the highest possible standards of flight safety are complied with by setting and monitoring the training, flight planning and operations, implementing risk management strategies, mission set delivery, security, and safety reporting.
- Ensures the implementation and oversight of the Safety Management System/Aviation Safety Action Group (ASAG), intending to inform and continually improve hazard identification and safety risk mitigation, assuring decisions are made to acceptable levels of aviation and corporate risk and corrective action procedures/processes are identified and implemented.
- Ensures the maintenance and airworthiness of all aircraft in accordance with regulations, compliance requirements and best practices.
- Handles the Emergency Response Plan and makes critical decisions under pressure.
- Provides overall staff supervision, performance management and capacity building for the flight operations staff with regular communication/feedback between sites and central management.
- Provides technical support to aviation conservation applications to strengthen aviation's impact on WCS conservation goals.
Qualification Requirements
Minimum Requirements and Job Skills (Required):
Holds a FAA Commercial Pilot License (CPL), relevant aircraft/ops ratings for the WCS fleet/operations, with a minimum of 2,000 hours Pilot in Command (PIC) and three years operating in a remote field operation setting.
A professional qualification in Aviation Management, preferably an accredited Certified Aviation Manager (CAM, NBAA) or similar.
University graduate.
Sound knowledge of safety management principles and practices, and a broad operational knowledge and experience in the functions of the organisation - training management, aircraft operations, air traffic management, aerodrome operations, and maintenance organisation management.
Proven knowledge of national and international aviation legislation.
General management - Budgeting, HR and Project Management skills.
Ability to work unsupervised.
How to apply
Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience should apply through the application tab below by March 23rd, 2026.
Please send a detailed application/cover letter and a detailed CV. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.
WCS is an equal opportunity employer. The organisation complies with all employment and labour laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and looking for future team members who share the same values. The organisation provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organisation does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, colour, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations/and similar categories.
It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS-sponsored recreational activities and facilities.
The organisation complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS’s employment policies.
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Salary Range
Competitive sakary commensurate with experience
