Senior Vice President, Carrier Operations

Company: DronazonReports to: Chief Executive Officer / Chief Operating Officer

Location: Flexible, with significant travel to Puerto Rico and operating locationsAbout DronazonDronazon is building an autonomous cargo carrier designed to move freight across routes that are expensive, difficult or inefficient for traditional transportation networks.We are an operator, not an aircraft manufacturer.

Our model combines autonomous air and maritime platforms with the regulatory authority, operating infrastructure and commercial relationships required to provide reliable cargo transportation.Our initial focus is Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, with longer-term opportunities across underserved U.S. markets and defense logistics.The OpportunityDronazon is seeking a Senior Vice President of Carrier Operations to help build the company from a certification-stage startup into a commercial cargo carrier.This is a hands-on operating role.We are looking for someone who has actually run complex aviation, cargo or logistics operations—someone who has managed people, launched routes or facilities, owned budgets and operating metrics, solved problems in real time and been accountable for results.Dronazon already has dedicated leadership focused on regulatory strategy and FAA certification. The SVP, Carrier Operations will work closely with that team while taking primary responsibility for building the infrastructure, organization and processes required to operate a safe, reliable and economically disciplined cargo network.ResponsibilitiesThe SVP, Carrier Operations will:* Build the operating plan for Dronazon’s initial Puerto Rico and Caribbean network.* Develop the staffing, facilities, systems, vendors and processes required to launch commercial operations.* Recruit and lead the core carrier operations team.* Establish operating KPIs around safety, reliability, utilization, aircraft availability, cost and customer service.* Translate customer commitments into executable operating plans, including routes, schedules, service levels, staffing and economics.* Coordinate aircraft introduction, ground operations, maintenance support, facilities and customer implementation.* Work closely with Dronazon’s regulatory leadership to ensure operational plans align with Part 135, §44807 and other applicable requirements.* Build scalable processes for launching additional routes, stations and markets.* Own operating budgets and drive disciplined management of cost and capital.* Develop contingency, irregular-operations and business-continuity procedures.* Evaluate the operating capabilities, personnel and infrastructure of potential acquisition targets.* Work directly with aircraft manufacturers, logistics partners, customers, government agencies and other strategic partners.* Create an operating organization capable of scaling without dependence on the CEO for day-to-day execution.Ideal BackgroundWe are particularly interested in candidates with meaningful operating experience at cargo airlines, regional carriers, feeder networks, Part 135 operators, integrated logistics companies or comparable transportation businesses.Relevant backgrounds could include organizations such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, Amazon Air, Atlas Air, Amerijet and other commercial or military logistics operations.Direct autonomous-aircraft experience is not required. Proven operating ability is more important.The strongest candidates will have:* 15+ years of progressively responsible aviation, cargo, airline or logistics experience.* Significant hands-on operating leadership experience.* Experience managing geographically distributed teams and operations.* P&L, budgeting or substantial cost-center responsibility.* Experience launching routes, stations, facilities or new operating markets.* Strong understanding of aviation safety, maintenance, operational control and regulatory environments.* Experience within FAA-regulated operations; Part 135 experience is particularly valuable.* Demonstrated ability to turn strategy into measurable execution.* Strong financial and analytical discipline.* Experience working with major enterprise or government customers.* A track record of recruiting and developing strong operating teams.* Comfort operating in an entrepreneurial environment where systems and processes are still being built.Leadership ProfileThe right person will be an operator first.We are looking for someone who gets into the details when necessary but knows how to build an organization that does not depend on any single individual.This person should be comfortable challenging assumptions, identifying problems early and saying no when safety, economics or operational realities require it.Low ego, high accountability and a bias toward execution are essential.What Success Looks LikeFirst 90 days: Develop a comprehensive carrier launch plan covering personnel, facilities, aircraft readiness, maintenance support, ground operations, systems, vendors, customer implementation, operating economics and launch milestones.First 12 months: Build the organization and operating infrastructure necessary to transition Dronazon from development and certification into safe, reliable commercial cargo operations.Longer term: Turn Dronazon’s initial Caribbean network into a repeatable operating model capable of expanding into additional markets and supporting multiple autonomous transportation platforms.Why DronazonDronazon is attempting something that has not previously been done at scale: building a cargo carrier designed around autonomous transportation from its inception.We don’t need another person to tell us what the future of autonomous logistics might look like.We need someone who can help us build and operate it.