Founding Program Director - Aviation

Job Title

Founding Program Director, Aviation

Agency

Texas A&M University - Victoria

Department

College of Natural & Applied Science

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Victoria, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

Texas A&M University–Victoria seeks a full-time, 12-month faculty member for an appointment as a tenure-track Associate or Full Professor or a non-tenure-track Professor of Practice to serve as the Founding Director of the new Bachelor of Science in Aviation program to promote and enhance the degree and teach within the program.

Qualifications: Aviation is a new Bachelor of Science (BS) degree designed to serve the community in the Coastal Bend region of Texas. The Founding Director will serve as a primary point of contact for Texas A&M University-Victoria (A&M-Victoria), with a primary focus on developing and supporting the BS in Aviation. The Aviation Science Program offers Professional Pilot and Aviation Management pathways. Flight training through a contracted provider will be conducted at the Victoria Regional Airport. The Founding Director will be employed by A&M-Victoria and will teach face-to-face courses within the University’s academic programs.

Victoria is about two hours driving time from Houston, Corpus Christi, Austin, and San Antonio. The Victoria region offers great flying weather throughout the year, Class D airspace, a tower-controlled airport, and vast airspace for flight training. The Founding Program Director reports to Dean of the College of Natural and Applied Science, working within the Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences, and has both administrative and instructional responsibilities, which may include classroom, flight, or ground school instruction. The proportions of each will be negotiated upon hire.

The successful candidate should demonstrate the following qualifications:

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage professional, community, industry, and student audiences.

· Ability to plan and implement activities that increase the visibility and profile of the A&M-Victoria Agribusiness concentration within the regional community and agricultural industry.

· Demonstrated commitment to supporting and working effectively with students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, as well as students with disabilities.

Responsibilities: The individual in this position will be expected to:

· Plan and direct all aspects of the aviation program including curriculum development, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulatory compliance, flight operations, scheduling, and accreditation.

· Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the College’s policies and applicable laws.

· Oversee all operations of the aviation degree program including the flight training contractor.

· Oversee all operations of the aviation degree program including the flight training contractor.

· Teach courses within the aviation program, including ground school and other subjects as appropriate. Teaching assignments will include face-to-face classes in Victoria, Texas.

· Plan and conduct activities that raise the profile of the A&M-Victoria Aviation Science Program within the community and industry.

· Actively participate in student recruitment and coordinating with the Division of Enrollment Management to develop recruiting material.

· Facilitate mentoring for aviation students with industry professionals and fostering graduate placement.

· Identify resource requirements and managing Aviation Program budgets.

· Oversee compliance with Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) requirements.

· Supervise and administer Aviation Program extra-curricular activities and engage with professional organizations, including the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA).

· Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Because of the University’s outreach mission to serve the broader Texas Gulf Coast region, the position may require travel and occasional work outside of normal business hours.

For more information about Texas A&M University-Victoria’s programs and mission, visit www.tamuv.edu.

Education and Experience: The position requires an earned master’s degree in aviation or an equivalent degree or relevant field. Because this is a professional-track appointment, relevant industry experience in aviation and/or flight operations and aviation management is expected (e.g., service as a commercial or military pilot). The position also requires Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instrument and single-engine land or multi-engine land commercial pilot ratings. Experience as a flight and/or ground school instructor, previous classroom teaching experience in a higher education setting, Single-engine land and multi-engine land pilot ratings, and CFI/Instrument rating is preferred.

Texas A&M University-Victoria Values: Together We Rise

Wisdom

Excellence

Respect

Integrity

Students

Empathy

Setting: Texas A&M University-Victoria is the most recent addition to the Texas A&M University System. The University was founded in 1973 as part of the University of Houston System and was transferred to the Texas A&M University System during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. A&M-Victoria is the only four-year university in a 100-mile radius and is just 30 miles from the Texas Gulf Coast. The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution located in the Coastal Bend region of Texas. It serves the educational needs, promotes economic well-being, and advances the community and region's quality of life through teaching, research, and service excellence. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and it offers more than 50 academic programs, as well as concentrations and certificates. The university also has several accreditations for specific areas and programs, including from the AACSB, ABET, CACREP and CCNE. In addition to its recent transition into The Texas A&M University System, A&M-Victoria is in the process of adding academic programs in three major areas: aviation, agribusiness, and engineering. In addition to academic excellence, A&M-Victoria has a thriving Athletics program that offers six competitive teams: baseball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s golf. The Jaguars are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the baseball, softball and soccer teams compete in the Red River Athletic Conference. The golf teams compete in the Association of Independent Institutions Conference. Learn more about Texas A&M University-Victoria's history, academic programs, and campus facilities here.

Application: Review of applications will begin September 15, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. Applications should include a letter of application addressing qualifications, curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy, and contact information for three references. If you have any questions related to the search, please contact Dolores Guerrero ([email protected])

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.