CAF Careers

The CAF has the below positions available:

These job descriptions in no way state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employees occupying these positions. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. These job descriptions may be revised upon development of other duties and changes in responsibilities.

The Commemorative Air Force is an equal opportunity employer.

These jobs are civilian positions and do not require military service (including commission and enlistment).

Must meet training and background check qualifications and comply with the Protection of Minors policy. A pre-employment background investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.

The CAF offers a generous benefit package that includes health, vision, dental, life and disability at a cost of $50 per month for the employee, and a retirement plan that is matched up to 3%. The value of this package is over $13,000.

The Commemorative Air Force is the world’s largest World War II Flying Museum with over 175 historic military aircraft and 87 units in 29 states throughout the U.S. The headquarters offices are location in Dallas at Dallas Executive Airport. Information concerning our organization can be obtained at www.commemorativeairforce.org.

The Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center's (NAEC) mission is to Honor the Past, Empower the Future by designing and operating programs that provide hands-on learning opportunities and activities for all ages. Located at Dallas Executive Airport, the NAEC is the flagship of the American Airpower Heritage Museum (AAHM), an affiliate of the Commemorative Air Force.

TO APPLY

Looking for further opportunities? Discover available positions at the CAF Headquarters here!

Grants & Development Specialist (Full-Time)

Department: Development

Job Summary:
Join the CAF’s dynamic Development team as the Development & Grants Specialist. Your contributions will directly impact the CAF’s annual fundraising campaigns; donor communication strategies; foundation and corporate giving initiatives; and digital fundraising outcomes. You will primarily support fundraising efforts by implementing a comprehensive institutional giving and stewardship plan, in addition to developing grant proposals to submit to private, community, and corporate foundations. You may also write and/or edit email appeals, social media copy, magazine articles, prospect profiles, and more. The ability to write persuasively and clearly communicate the organization’s mission and programs is key. This role is also instrumental in supporting the development of the CAF’s affiliate museum, the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (NAEC), and its educational programs. This position is ideal for a passionate, data-driven individual with a strong writing and/or communications background and a commitment to advancing the CAF’s mission through strategic grant acquisition and donor engagement. The Grants & Development Specialist reports directly to the Chief Relationship Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Lead all stages of the grant lifecycle by crafting compelling proposals, reporting on programmatic impact and outcomes, and ensuring financial due diligence and stewardship.
· Coordinate prospecting research and assessment to identify and profile potential donors, foundations, corporations, or sponsorship opportunities.
· Build and support relationships with key individuals at various institutions to enhance fundraising outcomes.
· Oversee CAF’s grants program to ensure timely submissions and reporting per foundation and/or corporate guidelines, while also coordinating internal reviews with staff and volunteers.
· Manage grant pipeline by maintaining data related to grants (timelines, reports, etc.) and other organizational records using shared resources, such as Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and Research Point.
· Maintain organized electronic and paper records of all grant-related materials, ensuring comprehensive documentation and easy retrieval.
· Partner with the Development team to devise and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies, leveraging data to enhance donor relationships and identify new opportunities.
· Work closely with the Chief Relationship Officer, Philanthropy Director, Marketing department, and other team members to write, proofread, and edit persuasive fundraising materials, including presentations, brochures, and other collateral that effectively communicate the CAF’s mission, goals, and funding needs.
· Perform other duties and special projects as assigned, like supporting annual events such as The Victory Ball, Aviation Discovery Fest, or Warbird Weekend.

Qualifications:
· Bachelor’s degree required; background in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Non-profit Management and/or Development a plus.
· Minimum 2 years of experience writing and editing in a professional setting required; 3+ years of experience in a non-profit setting preferred.
· Minimum 2 years of experience in development/fundraising required.
· Demonstrated knowledge of the grant lifecycle required.
· Demonstrated ability and success in writing persuasive, clear, and concise fundraising/grant proposals required.
· Demonstrated interest or experience in aviation, STEM education, and/or WWII history a plus.

Required Skills & Abilities:
• Excellent persuasive writing and communication skills.
• High level of poise and professionalism, including follow-through and attention to detail.
• Familiarity and intermediate knowledge of grant/proposal writing and/or fundraising.
• Ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects concurrently, and meet deadlines in a time-constrained environment.
• Familiarity with industry tools, databases, and CRM software (e.g., Candid, Blackbaud, Mailchimp, Instrumentl, etc.), preferably Raiser’s Edge.
• High level of enthusiasm, initiative, motivation, and self-direction.
• Solid understanding of budgets as they relate to proposals and grants.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong computer literacy.
• Must be knowledgeable about, and capable of articulating verbally and in writing, the CAF’s mission, vision, and priorities.

· Team oriented; works well within group situations.
· Must be very organized, analytical and able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
· Proficient user of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and donor databases, preferably Raiser’s Edge.
· Computer literacy.
· High level of enthusiasm, initiative, motivation and self-direction.
· Must be knowledgeable about, and capable of articulating verbally and in writing, the CAF’s mission, vision, and priorities.
· Must meet training and background check qualifications and comply with the Protection of Minors policy. A pre-employment background investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

If interested, please send a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Apply/2597804/Commemorative-Air-Force/Grants-Development-Specialist. No phone calls please.

Director of Operation (Full-Time)

Department: Operation

General Summary
The CAF Director of Operations reports to the Chief Aviation Officer. This position is responsible for all 175 aircraft, flight operations, airshow events, and operational activities that happen within the CAF and its 80 CAF units. Modeling and leadership of a safety culture is paramount. Duties include:
- Promote a safety culture first and foremost.
- Provide management and oversight of the Operations Office Manager.
- Oversight of the online flight management software ‘Rally Point’ for aircraft operations.
- Leadership of the CAF Stan Eval Committee and their safety charter.
- Oversight of the CAF pilot proficiency and evaluation program.
- Work directly with the members, volunteers, and pilots to assist them with all operational needs.
- Management of the LHFE 6802 exemption and 91.147 Rides for Hire Programs.
- Oversight of the CAF Drug and Alcohol abatement program.
- Oversight of the CAFR regulation documents including 60-1, 55-7, 66-1.
- Work closely with FAA and other industry partnerships.
- Reviews and approves pilot transition letters, FEB, and pilot fit to fly evaluations.

Employment Type:
Full-Time

Qualifications:
• Current CFI (required).
• Class 2 Medical (required, or highly desirable).
• Must be eligible to enroll in the CAF’s managed Drug and Alcohol testing program.
• Warbird, Vintage, and Flight Training experience (highly desirable).
• A&P preferred but not required.
• Experience and ability to work with volunteers is a required skill.

Benefits:
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance available.
• Life insurance, long-term and short-term disability available.
• Up to 3% employer matched Retirement plan.
• Paid vacation time available for first year employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description may be revised upon development of other duties and changes in responsibilities.

If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to jlasche@cafhq.org. No phone calls please.

Looking for further opportunities? Discover available positions at the CAF Headquarters here!