Director of Air Medical Services

The Director of Air Medical Services provides executive-level leadership, clinical operational oversight, and strategic direction for Pafford Medical Services' air medical division. The Director is responsible for the development, implementation, staffing, operational readiness, and continuous improvement of Pafford's air medical programs, ensuring the delivery of safe, efficient, high-quality critical care transport. The Director leads and supports multidisciplinary flight teams, including flight paramedics, flight nurses, air medical supervisors, and other clinical personnel. This position works closely with Pafford executive leadership, Medical Directors, aviation partners, hospital and health-system partners, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to maintain an integrated and clinically exceptional air medical program. The Director is responsible for clinical operational readiness, personnel development, quality improvement, safety management, regulatory and accreditation readiness, resource management, and consistent standards across Pafford's air medical operations. The Director works collaboratively with the Medical Director regarding clinical standards and medical oversight and with aviation partners regarding aviation operations while maintaining appropriate separation between clinical responsibilities and aviation operational control.

Responsibilities

Provides executive-level leadership, clinical operational oversight, and strategic direction for Pafford Medical Services' air medical division; Directs the development, implementation, expansion, and ongoing operation of Pafford air medical bases and programs; Leads air medical program start-up and go-live activities, including staffing, credentialing, clinical readiness, medical equipment, aircraft medical configuration, policies and procedures, training, communications, and operational coordination; Provides leadership, mentorship, direction, and performance management for air medical supervisors and clinical personnel; Collaborates with the Medical Director on clinical protocols, standing orders, clinical guidelines, scope-of-practice requirements, and crew-configuration standards; Oversees and participates in safety-management activities and promotes a safety-focused and just culture; Coordinates with aviation partners while maintaining appropriate separation between clinical responsibilities and aviation operational control; Establishes and maintains a comprehensive clinical and operational quality-assurance and performance-improvement program; Monitors air medical utilization and transport appropriateness; Directs recruitment, selection, hiring, onboarding, orientation, and ongoing development of flight paramedics, flight nurses, air medical supervisors, and other assigned personnel; Ensures the air medical program maintains readiness for applicable regulatory, licensing, accreditation, and inspection requirements, including CAMTS standards; Oversees aircraft medical configurations, clinical equipment, medications, controlled substances, supplies, and clinical readiness; Serves as a primary operational liaison between Pafford Medical Services and hospital systems, healthcare partners, Medical Directors, aviation partners, EMS agencies; Develops and manages air medical budgets, staffing plans, resource allocation, equipment needs, and operational expenditures; Promotes Pafford EMS culture and maintains compliance with all Pafford policies and applicable state and federal laws

Requirements

Current, unrestricted licensure as a Paramedic or Registered Nurse required; Minimum of five (5) years of air medical and/or critical care transport experience, including significant direct air medical experience, with at least three (3) years of progressively responsible supervisory or leadership experience within an air medical or critical care transport program; Demonstrated knowledge of air medical operations, flight crew configuration, clinical quality management, safety principles, personnel credentialing, and air medical program development; Must possess and maintain BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification; Demonstrated understanding of clinical quality assurance, performance improvement, patient safety, risk management, and safety-management principles within an air medical environment; Demonstrated ability to work effectively with aviation operators while understanding the distinction between clinical/administrative responsibilities and aviation operational control; Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, Medical Directors, aviation partners, healthcare-system leadership, physicians, nurses, EMS agencies, regulatory representatives, and employees; Ability to develop and author policies, clinical and operational procedures, implementation plans, corrective-action plans, reports, presentations, and other professional documents; Excellent computer proficiency, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex operations, make sound decisions under pressure, and manage competing priorities while maintaining professionalism and exemplary customer service; Ability to travel as necessary to support air medical bases, implementation activities, meetings, training, inspections, and operational needs; Must possess and maintain an unrestricted state driver's license; Ability to work independently and carry assignments through completion within established policies, procedures, timelines, and organizational expectations; Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential functions of the position consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other applicable federal, state, and local standards; Must be able to lift and carry up to 100 lbs. and assist with patient movement, loading, and handling of air medical equipment; Must be able to communicate clearly in person, by telephone, through electronic communication systems, and by two-way radio; Must possess sufficient visual acuity to review clinical records and operational data, use computer systems, inspect equipment, and safely perform assigned duties in and around air medical operations; Must be able to work in and around aircraft and air medical environments, including confined spaces, elevated noise levels, rotor wash, varying temperatures, inclement weather, and other conditions associated with air medical operations; Must be able to travel between air medical bases and other Pafford locations and participate in operational activities outside normal business hours when necessary; Must be able to function effectively during extended operational periods, emergency situations, program implementations, and other circumstances requiring flexibility in work hours

Nice to have

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, Emergency Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; Equivalent clinical licensure combined with substantial air medical experience and progressive leadership experience may be considered; Prior management or leadership experience within an air medical transport program strongly preferred; Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, expanding, or managing an air medical transport service strongly preferred; Flight or critical care certification strongly preferred (FP-C, CCP-C, CFRN, CCRN, CTRN); NRP and specialty neonatal/pediatric transport education or credentials preferred when applicable; ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 certification preferred; Working knowledge of CAMTS standards and applicable state and federal EMS and air medical requirements preferred; Experience with ePCR, scheduling, quality-management, safety-reporting, and other healthcare or EMS technology platforms preferred