Manager Safety & Quality Operations NZ

Airbus; Lockyer Valley Regional; On-site; AUD 145,000 - 226,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus New Zealand seeks a Manager Safety & Quality Operations to lead the NZ S&Q governance, practice, and SME across Health & Safety, Aviation Safety, and Quality Management for all NZ operations.

You will hold regulatory Form 4 / Senior Person status, with direct accountability to meet NZ regulations, supervise a team of professionals, and drive continuous improvement across programs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–8 years in SMS and QMS within an aviation organisation.
• 5–8 years in an aviation leadership role (Pilot, Engineer, or MRO).
• Regulatory Post Holder Experience: former Form 4 / Senior Person / FPP with knowledge of NZ Defence & Civil Aviation laws.
• Proven track record in developing, maintaining, and assuring SMS & QMS across multiple functions with audit methodologies (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001).
• A aviation-related degree; certifications in Project Management or Risk Management desirable.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Direct the NZ S&Q Operations team (7 direct reports) to meet operational requirements.
• Regulatory & Form 4 / Senior Person accountability for NZ authorities (CAA NZ, DAA, EASA) and NZ Expositions updates.
• Act as SME for SMS and QMS standards (EASA, CAA NZ, DAA, ISO 9001, AS9100) and NZ Health & Safety at Work Act.
• Lead audits, investigations, and Major Incident Boards; oversee safety inspections.
• Partner with Risk Specialists to drive local risks into ARM and support NZ Programs, Civil Helicopter Programs, MRO, Engineering, and Supply.

Skills

SMS & QMS

Regulatory leadership

ISO 9001/AS9100

Aviation safety

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Aviation-related degree

Regulatory Post Holder cert

Job description

Manager Safety & Quality Operations New Zealand

Location: New Zealand (Multiple Sites)

Airbus New Zealand is a leading aeronautical business employing people across multiple sites in Australia and New Zealand.

At Airbus, our people are the source of our strength. Our people work with passion and determination to make the world a more connected, safer, and smarter place in the air and on the ground. We celebrate diversity of thought, and we are committed to fostering a culture where our people are supported, our teams have the space and tools to be creative, and have the courage to challenge the norm.

Te Whiwhinga a mahi | The opportunity

As the Manager Safety & Quality Operations New Zealand, you will work closely with a large and inclusive team of technical experts focused on success. You will provide overarching governance, operational leadership, and Subject Matter Expertise (SME) across Health & Safety, Aviation Safety, and Quality Management for all New Zealand operations.

Reporting directly to the Head of Safety & Quality, with direct regulatory accountability to the Accountable Manager / Chief Executive, you will bridge high-level strategic governance with daily operational execution. Crucially, this role carries regulatory Form 4 / Senior Person status, taking direct legal responsibility for all regulatory requirements under applicable regulations and NZ Expositions.

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Directing, empowering, mentoring, and guiding the NZ S&Q Operations team (7 direct reports) to meet functional requirements and foster professional growth.
• Regulatory & Form 4 / Senior Person Accountability: Serving as the primary point of contact for civil and defence regulatory authorities (e.g., CAA NZ, DAA, EASA), maintaining Form 4 / Senior Person approvals, and directing updates to all NZ Expositions.
• Serving as SME for SMS and QMS standards (EASA, CAA NZ, DAA, ISO 9001, AS9100) and the NZ Health and Safety at Work Act; maintaining NZ-specific operational S&Q plans and interface manuals.
• Contributing to the Annual Master Audit Schedule, leading audits/investigations, managing site safety inspections, and participating in or chairing Major Incident Boards.
• Partnering with Risk Specialists to drive local operational risks into the Active Risk Management (ARM) system and providing S&Q focal point support across NZ Programs, Civil Helicopter Programs, MRO, Engineering, and Supply functions.

To be successful in this role, it is a requirement to be able to work in a team environment, have well-developed relationship skills, as well as good verbal and written communication skills. You will need to be someone who is able to work autonomously, handle competing priorities under pressure, and work comfortably in a continuous improvement work environment.

The skills and experience best suited to this role include:

• 5 to 8 years' minimum experience in SMS and QMS within an aviation organisation.
• 5 to 8 years' minimum experience in an aviation leadership role (Pilot, Engineer, or MRO).
• Regulatory Post Holder Experience: Previous experience as a regulatory post holder (e.g. Form 4 / Senior Person / FPP) with superior knowledge of NZ Defence & Civil Aviation legislation, regulations, standards, and governance.
• Proven track record in developing, maintaining, and assuring SMS and QMS across multiple functional lines, complemented by certification in recognized audit/investigation methodologies (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001).
• Tertiary qualification in an Aviation or related field (e.g. Aviation Management); certifications in Project Management or Risk Management are desirable.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and customer satisfaction.

We seek to inspire our people to grow, so you have the right mindset, behaviours, and skills to thrive and achieve the organisation's goals whilst being focused on your personal development through classroom and online learning.

We value the health and wellbeing of our employees and offer true flexibility that allows you to balance your career with what is important to you outside of work. We will celebrate your successes and achievements with a formal reward and recognition programme.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment and are continually striving to improve our gender balance. We welcome and encourage females to apply.

Applicants must be eligible to work in New Zealand and be able to obtain and maintain defence site clearance and have the capacity to satisfy pre-employment medical screening which may include drug and alcohol testing.