Chief Pilot Jobs
Chief pilot jobs are open across commercial aviation, cargo carriers, charter operators, and corporate flight departments, from first officer pipelines to director of operations roles, with specializations in fixed-wing, rotor-wing, and Part 135 or Part 121 operations. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 4 of 17+ Chief Pilot jobs
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What do we believe?
Demonstrate Biblical Integrity
At Samaritan's Purse, the Gospel is the center of all we do! We start each day with a time of devotions and prayer for each other, our staff, and volunteers who serve around the world. As a faith-driven organization, our Statement of Faith shapes every aspect of our global work.
Please take time to review the following link as you consider working with us: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/statement-of-faith/
What is the opportunity?
Respond with Compassionate Action
We are seeking a Chief Pilot, Gulfstream G550 to join our Mission Aviation Services team in North Wilkesboro, NC. Through humanitarian work, the goal and purpose of Samaritan's Purse are to help people in Jesus' name and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the role of Chief Pilot, Gulfstream G550, you will have the opportunity to:
Maintain a personal, active relationship with Jesus Christ and be a consistent witness for Jesus Christ.
Perform Ministry Pilot duties as assigned in accordance with FAR's, policies, procedures, and Aircraft Flight Manuals to ensure safety of personnel/equipment on the ground and in-flight.
Schedule fixed-wing air crews for all air operations, domestic and international, including support and deployment of multi-week disaster relief missions. Work closely with the Director of MAS Wilkesboro on budgeting, staffing, and forecasting.
Oversee the development and implementation of flight operations policies and procedures to ensure the highest level of safety, encouraging active employee participation in the MAS Safety Management System (SMS).
Manage and ensure ongoing proficiency and compliance of pilots through training and required reviews. Oversee the scheduling of fixed-wing pilots for Flight Safety and/or other training activities. Ensure all pilots are current by tracking flight experience.
Ensure flight operations are conducted in accordance with established ministry policies and procedures and are following applicable government regulations. Actively support process improvements and establish best practices aligned with the ministry's mission objectives.
Work with Samaritan's Purse mechanics and contracted maintenance personnel to identify and resolve any maintenance discrepancies (Ministry Pilots are not authorized to conduct aircraft maintenance)
Other duties as assigned.
What are the qualifications?
Serve with Excellence
As a qualified candidate, you will have the following skills and experience:
Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
GV type rating and a minimum of 5,000 total flight hours, with 1,000 hours in type (current or recent) required. Must be able to act as PIC in the Gulfstream G550 aircraft. Currency must be maintained in all assigned aircraft as provided by the ministry.
FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with the appropriate AMEL rating, valid FAA First Class Aviation Medical Certificate, FCC Restricted Radio Permit, and current US Passport required.
International experience required.
King Air 350 (BE-300 type rating) highly preferred.
Chief Pilot leadership experience in a corporate flight department preferred.
What are the benefits?
Walk in Bold Faith
Samaritan's Purse is proud to offer a competitive benefits package, including:
On-site Medical Clinic (staff and dependents)
Medical, prescription, dental & vision insurance
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Long-term and Short-term disability insurance
Paid Family Medical Leave
Term Life Insurance
401(k) retirement savings plan
10 paid holidays
12 vacation/personal days
10 sick days
Type: Full-Time
Department: Mission Aviation Services
Location: North Wilkesboro, NC
Language Requirement: English
Travel: This position requires domestic and international travel of approximately 90 days per year; required travel documents and vaccinations for entry into foreign countries will be necessary.
Get Involved!
What do we believe?
Demonstrate Biblical Integrity
At Samaritan's Purse, the Gospel is the center of all we do! We start each day with a time of devotions and prayer for each other, our staff, and volunteers who serve around the world. As a faith-driven organization, our Statement of Faith shapes every aspect of our global work.
Please take time to review the following link as you consider working with us: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/statement-of-faith/
What is the opportunity?
Respond with Compassionate Action
We are seeking a Chief Pilot, Gulfstream G550 to join our Mission Aviation Services team in North Wilkesboro, NC. Through humanitarian work, the goal and purpose of Samaritan's Purse are to help people in Jesus' name and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the role of Chief Pilot, Gulfstream G550, you will have the opportunity to:
Maintain a personal, active relationship with Jesus Christ and be a consistent witness for Jesus Christ.
Perform Ministry Pilot duties as assigned in accordance with FAR's, policies, procedures, and Aircraft Flight Manuals to ensure safety of personnel/equipment on the ground and in-flight.
Schedule fixed-wing air crews for all air operations, domestic and international, including support and deployment of multi-week disaster relief missions. Work closely with the Director of MAS Wilkesboro on budgeting, staffing, and forecasting.
Oversee the development and implementation of flight operations policies and procedures to ensure the highest level of safety, encouraging active employee participation in the MAS Safety Management System (SMS).
Manage and ensure ongoing proficiency and compliance of pilots through training and required reviews. Oversee the scheduling of fixed-wing pilots for Flight Safety and/or other training activities. Ensure all pilots are current by tracking flight experience.
Ensure flight operations are conducted in accordance with established ministry policies and procedures and are following applicable government regulations. Actively support process improvements and establish best practices aligned with the ministry's mission objectives.
Work with Samaritan's Purse mechanics and contracted maintenance personnel to identify and resolve any maintenance discrepancies (Ministry Pilots are not authorized to conduct aircraft maintenance)
Other duties as assigned.
What are the qualifications?
Serve with Excellence
As a qualified candidate, you will have the following skills and experience:
Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
GV type rating and a minimum of 5,000 total flight hours, with 1,000 hours in type (current or recent) required. Must be able to act as PIC in the Gulfstream G550 aircraft. Currency must be maintained in all assigned aircraft as provided by the ministry.
FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with the appropriate AMEL rating, valid FAA First Class Aviation Medical Certificate, FCC Restricted Radio Permit, and current US Passport required.
International experience required.
King Air 350 (BE-300 type rating) highly preferred.
Chief Pilot leadership experience in a corporate flight department preferred.
What are the benefits?
Walk in Bold Faith
Samaritan's Purse is proud to offer a competitive benefits package, including:
On-site Medical Clinic (staff and dependents)
Medical, prescription, dental & vision insurance
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Long-term and Short-term disability insurance
Paid Family Medical Leave
Term Life Insurance
401(k) retirement savings plan
10 paid holidays
12 vacation/personal days
10 sick days
Type: Full-Time
Department: Mission Aviation Services
Location: North Wilkesboro, NC
Language Requirement: English
Travel: This position requires domestic and international travel of approximately 90 days per year; required travel documents and vaccinations for entry into foreign countries will be necessary.
See All 17 Chief Pilot Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Distribution & Wholesale
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chief pilot jobs.
- FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate with appropriate aircraft type ratings
- Minimum total flight hours with substantial pilot-in-command time
- FAA First Class medical certificate or ability to obtain one
- Experience managing or supervising pilots and flight operations staff
- Working knowledge of FAA Part 121, Part 135, or Part 91 regulations
- Proficiency with crew scheduling software and operations control systems
Tips for Your Chief Pilot Job Search
Lead your resume with certificate specifics
List your ATP certificate, type ratings, and total flight hours in the first section of your resume, not buried in a summary. Hiring managers for chief pilot roles scan for PIC time and specific aircraft types before reading anything else.
Highlight your safety management record
Chief pilot candidates who can point to concrete SMS implementation, audit outcomes, or FOQA program oversight move faster through screening. Document the programs you built or ran, not just that you participated in them.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists chief pilot openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by operating certificate type
Part 121, Part 135, and Part 91 chief pilot roles carry different regulatory responsibilities. Filter your search by certificate type so your cover letter and resume speak directly to the operational environment the employer actually runs.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
Expect interviewers to present crew resource management failures, enforcement actions, or scheduling conflicts and ask how you handled them. Prepare two or three real examples that show you managed up, down, and across the organization, not just flew the aircraft.
Negotiate total compensation, not just base pay
Chief pilot offers often include per-diem structures, type rating bonds, and schedule patterns that affect real take-home value. Know which elements are negotiable before your final conversation and ask about recurrent training coverage and upgrade timelines.
Chief Pilot Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most chief pilots?
The most active employers for chief pilots right now are Jet Aviation, Samaritan's Purse, and UPS, and the most openings are in Texas, New York, and North Carolina, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to concentrate at regional carriers, cargo operators, and large corporate flight departments.
How many chief pilot jobs are remote?
About 40% of chief pilot openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with most of that share coming from administrative, compliance, or director-of-operations roles rather than line-flying positions. Roles requiring active flying or base oversight are almost always on-site.
How do you become a chief pilot?
Start by earning your ATP certificate and accumulating substantial pilot-in-command time in commercial or charter operations. Build supervisory experience by taking on check airman, training captain, or assistant chief pilot roles. Develop working knowledge of FAA regulatory compliance, safety management systems, and operations specifications, since chief pilot responsibilities extend well beyond flying.
Can you get hired as a chief pilot without prior management experience?
Direct chief pilot roles without any management background are rare, but smaller Part 135 operators and corporate flight departments sometimes hire experienced captains who can grow into the administrative responsibilities. Your best path is to take on a check airman, standards captain, or lead pilot role first, then apply once you have documented leadership outcomes to point to.
What does the chief pilot interview process look like?
Most chief pilot interviews run in multiple stages, starting with a phone screen focused on your certificate history and flight time, followed by a panel interview with the director of operations or VP of aviation. Expect scenario questions on regulatory enforcement, crew discipline, and emergency response. Some operators also include a simulator evaluation or a review of your operations specifications knowledge before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to chief pilot jobs?
You can find and apply to chief pilot jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from operators, carriers, and corporate flight departments across the United States. Find the roles that match your certificate type, aircraft experience, and preferred location, then apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 17 Chief Pilot Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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