Head of Aviation Safety and Quality

Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA); Western Australia; On-site; AUD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct access to CEO

NFP salary packaging

Relocation assistance

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Royal Flying Doctor Service WA is seeking a leader to establish and run the safety and quality function. You will hold CASA posts under Part 119, 42 and 145, with independence and authority to guide the organisation's SMS across flight operations, maintenance and continuing airworthiness.

You will lead the Aviation Safety Manager and Engineering Quality Manager, delivering independent advice to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, shaping decisions at the highest level.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading aviation safety, quality, audit or assurance functions in a CASA-regulated or equivalent environment.
• Operational, engineering or continuing airworthiness background to cover Safety and Quality Manager responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of CASR Parts 119, 42 and 145, Manuals of Standards and expositions.
• Formal training in SMS, auditing and investigation; Lead Auditor qualification is highly regarded.
• Ability to brief executives, Boards and regulators independently.
• Experience in aeromedical, charter, emergency services or remote operations is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Act as CASA post holder for Part 119 Safety Manager, Part 42 Quality Manager and Part 145 Safety and Quality Manager.
• Set the safety, quality and assurance strategy and audit program.
• Lead the Aviation Safety Manager and Engineering Quality Manager and shape the team’s future structure.
• Report to the CEO, ELT and Board on safety, quality and risk performance.
• Oversee investigations and corrective actions through to closure.
• Build a just culture across operations, engineering and continuing airworthiness

Skills

Aviation safety leadership

Quality management

Audit/assurance

Executive briefing

Education

Lead Auditor qualification

Job description

• Direct access to the CEO and Accountable Manager
• Build and lead a newly established safety and quality function
• CASA post holder across CASR Parts 119, 42 and 145
• NFP salary packaging, relocation assistance and free onsite parking

Few aviation operations ask more of their safety system than RFDS WA. We fly 17 Pilatus PC-12s, the new PC-12 PRO, three PC-24 jets and two EC145 helicopters around the clock, into remote airstrips across 2.5 million square kilometres. We're now bringing aviation safety, quality and assurance together under one leader, with direct access to the CEO and Accountable Manager.

About the role

This is the leading safety and quality role in RFDS WA aviation. You'll be the CASA-nominated Safety Manager under Part 119, Quality Manager under Part 42 and Safety and Quality Manager under Part 145, with the independence and authority those roles require.

You’ll lead the Aviation Safety Manager and Engineering Quality Manager, set the assurance strategy across flight operations, maintenance and continuing airworthiness, and act as our principal contact with CASA. Just as importantly, you’ll give the CEO and Executive Leadership Team clear, independent advice that shapes decisions at the highest level.

The opportunity

Part 145 and other CASA changes are reshaping how we operate. Leading a newly established function, you’ll guide the continued growth and development of our SMS, further embedding it across our operations and driving best practice, continuous improvement and high standards of aviation safety across RFDS WA.

Key responsibilities

• Act as CASA post holder for Part 119 Safety Manager, Part 42 Quality Manager and Part 145 Safety and Quality Manager
• Set the safety, quality and assurance strategy and audit program
• Lead the Aviation Safety Manager and Engineering Quality Manager and shape the team's future structure
• Report to the CEO, ELT and Board on safety, quality and risk performance
• Oversee investigations and corrective actions through to closure
• Build a just culture across operations, engineering and continuing airworthiness

About you

• Significant experience leading aviation safety, quality, audit or assurance functions in a CASA-regulated or equivalent environment
• An operational, engineering or continuing airworthiness background that equips you to carry out Safety Manager and Quality Manager responsibilities
• Strong knowledge of CASR Parts 119, 42 and 145, the relevant Manuals of Standards and organisational expositions
• Previous CASA acceptance as a Safety Manager or Quality Manager, or the experience to be accepted
• Formal training in SMS, auditing and investigation, with a Lead Auditor qualification highly regarded
• The confidence to brief executives, Boards and regulators, and the independence to hold your position

Experience in aeromedical, charter, emergency services or remote operations, fatigue risk management, aviation security or supplier assurance is highly regarded.

Why RFDS WA

• Direct access to the CEO and Accountable Manager, with the independence and authority this role needs
• A mixed fleet of turboprops, jets and helicopters in one of the world's most remote operating environments
• Purpose: every improvement you make protects the crews and patients who rely on us
• Competitive salary, NFP salary packaging, relocation assistance and free onsite parking at Jandakot

Appointment is subject to RFDS WA's employment checks and CASA approval. You'll need to be eligible to work in Australia.

About us

The Royal Flying Doctor Service WA cares for more than 16,000 patients each year, including over 10,000 aeromedical retrievals across Western Australia, the nation's largest health jurisdiction. From five bases, our aircraft and dedicated teams deliver emergency retrievals, remote healthcare, 24/7 telehealth and industrial health services.

RFDS WA is an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds. If you need adjustments during the application process, please let us know.