Job Title: Director of Maintenance
Location: Milan, IL
Job Summary
The Director of Maintenance serves as the on-site leader responsible for overseeing all aircraft maintenance and service operations to ensure aircraft safety, airworthiness, and operational readiness. This role ensures that all maintenance activities are performed in full compliance with FAA regulations, the Repair Station Manual (RSM), the Quality Control Manual (QCM), and approved maintenance documentation.
As a key leader within the organization, the Director of Maintenance provides strategic direction, operational leadership, and regulatory oversight to maintain high standards of performance and compliance. This position is responsible for leading and developing maintenance teams, overseeing maintenance planning, and ensuring efficient day-to-day service execution while promoting a strong culture of safety, quality, and operational excellence. All operations must align with the requirements of 14 CFR Part 145.
Key Responsibilities
1. Regulatory & Airworthiness Oversight
- Ensure full compliance with 14 CFR Part 145, the Repair Station Manual, Quality Manual, and all applicable FAA regulations and guidance.
- Verify that maintenance activities are performed using approved technical data and established procedures.
- Ensure accurate completion of return-to-service documentation.
- Support FAA, customer, and third-party audits, and ensure corrective actions are effectively implemented and sustained.
- Collaborate with Quality and Engineering teams on regulatory interpretations and compliance requirements.
2. Maintenance & Service Operations
- Oversee all maintenance, inspection, repair, and modification activities conducted at the facility.
- Ensure proper planning, coordination, and control of maintenance tasks.
- Confirm that personnel, tools, facilities, and materials are sufficient to support maintenance activities.
- Provide daily oversight of production operations to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with regulatory requirements.
3. Safety Management
- Promote and maintain a safety-focused culture aligned with the organization’s Safety Management System (SMS).
- Ensure hazards, incidents, and near-miss events are reported and addressed appropriately.
- Support investigations and corrective action processes related to maintenance incidents or operational deviations.
4. Personnel Leadership & Training
- Ensure maintenance personnel are properly trained, qualified, and authorized to perform assigned responsibilities.
- Monitor compliance with training programs, certification requirements, and recurring qualification standards.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and accountability to maintenance supervisors and team members.
5. Operational Performance Management
- Track and manage operational performance metrics such as schedule adherence, labor efficiency, and rework levels.
- Identify operational challenges that may impact safety, compliance, or delivery schedules and implement corrective measures.
- Coordinate with Planning, Parts, Quality, and Customer Experience teams to support efficient maintenance operations.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of aircraft maintenance experience.
- At least 5 years of leadership experience within a Part 145 maintenance environment.
Certifications:
- FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate required.
Technical Expertise & Skills:
- In-depth knowledge of business aviation aircraft structures, powerplants, and diagnostic processes.
- Strong understanding of FAA Part 145 regulations and interaction with Part 91 and Part 135 operations, along with safety management systems and quality assurance practices.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex maintenance issues and guide teams toward efficient, compliant solutions.
- Proficiency in maintenance planning, workflow optimization, scheduling, and resource management.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical issues into clear and customer-focused information.
- Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with aircraft owners, operators, and OEM partners through transparency and exceptional service delivery.
