MANAGER – TECHNICAL SAFETY

Gulf Air Group; Bahrain; On-site; BHD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gulf Air Group in Bahrain seeks an experienced Manager - Technical Safety to lead cross-functional safety oversight across Engineering, Maintenance, and CAMO. You will ensure regulatory compliance, manage the Safety Management System, and drive risk reduction in line with ANTR and EASA standards.

The role covers Deputy Post Holder SMS duties, coordinating audits with BCAA and IOSA, and guiding incident investigations, CAPA, and data integrity in avionics and maintenance systems.

Qualifications

• University degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
• AME license with Type Ratings on at least one fleet type.
• Formal Airline Safety Officer Certification or equivalent ICAO/IATA SMS qualification.
• BCAA/ EASA acceptance as Deputy Post Holder SMS (per AMC1 145.A.30(b))

Responsibilities

• Direct safety oversight across Engineering, Maintenance, and CAMO ensuring regulatory compliance and SMS integrity.
• Maintain the SMS framework, safety policies, hazard identification and change management per ANTR and EASA.
• Oversee AMO safety procedures and integration of CAMO safety systems into the corporate SMS.
• Maintain the operator's SMS, Safety Risk Register, and FDA/OPs data across maintenance software and avionics data.
• Formulate strategies to eliminate hazards and advise NPHs and managers on safety improvements.
• Act as Deputy to the Senior Manager Safety during absences and ensure continuity of SMS responsibilities.
• Manage reporting schemes and ensure timely submission of unsafe conditions and defects.
• Lead safety investigations, RCA, CAPA, and coordinate with QA and regulators.
• Represent safety governance in audits with Bahraini authorities and international bodies.

Education

University degree in Aeronautical Engineering

AME license with Type Ratings on fleet

Formal Airline Safety Officer Certification or SMS qualification

BCAA/EASA Deputy Post Holder SMS qualification

Job description

Direct technical safety oversight across Engineering, Maintenance (AMO), and CAMO functions, ensuring regulatory compliance, effective safety risk management, and the integrity of the Safety Management System (SMS).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Safety Governance & Post Holder Accountability

Maintain, align, and continually enhance the Technical Safety framework in accordance with BCAA regulations and EASA standards.

Administer the corporate SMS framework, safety policies, hazard identification, and change management alignment across maintenance operations in accordance with ANTR Vol. III Part 19 and EASA Part 145 / AMC1 145.A.30(b).

Oversee AMO maintenance safety procedures and integration of CAMO quality/safety systems into the overall corporate SMS in accordance with ANTR 145.A.65(d) and M.A.712(e).

Maintain the operator's SMS, Safety Risk Register, FDAP technical trend monitoring, and information security resilience across maintenance software, diagnostic tools, and avionics data infrastructure in accordance with ANTR OPS 1.037 and EASA Part-IS.

Formulate strategies to eliminate technical hazards and lower operational costs while advising Nominated Post Holders (NPHs) and operational managers on procedure enhancements and technical change management.

Post Holder SMS Deputization (EASA AMC1 145.A.30(b)(4) & BCAA)

Formally act as the designated Deputy to the Senior Manager Safety (Post Holder SMS) during periods of absence, as documented in the Maintenance Organization Exposition (MOE) and Safety Management System Manual (SMSM).

Ensure continuity of Safety Management System responsibilities and maintain compliance with approved regulatory requirements during delegated periods of authority.

Manage internal and regulatory reporting schemes pursuant to ANTR 145.A.60, ANTR M.A.202, and ANTR OPS 1.420, ensuring reportable unsafe conditions and technical defects are submitted within mandated statutory windows.

Oversee technical event processing, risk scoring, and hazard tracking within AMOS and the corporate aviation SMS Database.

Analyze trend data to identify weak areas and coordinate follow-up actions with Quality Assurance.
Lead independent safety investigations into technical accidents, serious incidents, and cyber-safety occurrences (ANTR Part VI).

Conduct root-cause analyses (RCA) and human factors evaluations to establish viable, cost-effective Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).

Reporting, Governance & External Representation

Prepare periodic operational risk summaries, including Quarterly Safety Reports (QSR) and Safety Information Exchange (SIE), to fulfil ANTR OPS 1.965 mandates.

Exercise quality control over all technical safety documentation prior to release.
Direct the Technical Safety Action Group (TSAG) as Secretary, including setting agendas, tracking mitigation actions, and escalating unmitigated risks to the Safety Review Board (SRB) and Senior Manager Safety.

Safeguard company interests during joint investigations with BCAA, BAC, OEMs, and insurance underwriters.
Coordinate with Flight Safety, Cabin Safety, Ground Safety, and OHS on airside hazards, voluntary reports, and hazardous waste disposal compliance under Kingdom of Bahrain environmental standards.

Serve as the primary technical SMS subject matter expert during internal QA audits, regulatory audits conducted by the Bahrain CAA, and international/external evaluations including IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and EASA audits.

Foster a Just Culture, protecting personal data and investigation confidentiality. Control assigned technical safety budgets, establish team KPIs, and supervise the Technical Safety Specialist.

Working conditions

Environment: Normal office environment combined with frequent operational oversight in hangars, workshops, and ramp areas; requires flexibility for irregular working hours and duty travel during incident investigations.

Complexity: Highly complex role requiring multi-disciplinary expertise spanning mechanical reliability, airworthiness engineering, human factors, digital systems (EASA Part-IS, Flight Data Acquisition and Analysis), and regulatory compliance across diverse operational units.

Access to confidential & sensitive data

The Manager Technical Safety has direct access to high-level, restricted corporate and operational safety intelligence, including:

Mandatory and Voluntary Occurrence Reports (MORs, Air Safety Reports, Technical Occurrence Reports, Confidential Safety and Human Factors Reports).

Flight Data Analysis (FDA/FOQA) and Maintenance Operations Quality Assurance (MOQA) data streams.

Internal/External Safety Investigation Files, Root-Cause Analyses, and Just Culture disclosures.

Proprietary fleet reliability data, maintenance operating databases (AMOS, aviation SMS Database), and BCAA/EASA regulatory correspondence.

Personnel performance disclosures related to safety incidents and EASA Part-IS confidential cyber-threat intelligence.

Independent action and decision making

The post requires having an extensive knowledge to develop and implement a technical safety program. The management is entirely reliant on the advice given by the jobholder on all aspects of Technical safety.

The Manager -Technical Safety is required to work independently and has been fully delegated the functions outlined under the main duties subject to approved safety policies & procedures.

Accountability for actions/results

A wide range of decisions can be taken by the jobholder within agreed guidelines. Accident prevention measures must be practical, efficient and cost effective. Ineffective measures would result in loss of company assets & life. Most recommendations are implemented without reference to Senior Manager Safety Services.

The jobholder must ensure that the safety measures are in conformity with the regulations in order to avoid legal actions.

Wrong decision in respect of Technical Safety may result in substantial financial loss.

Improper / wrong safety precautions laid down by the Manager Technical Safety could jeopardize relations between management and the staff.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS

University degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Physical Sciences, or an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) License with Type Ratings on at least one fleet type operated by the airline.

Formal Airline Safety Officer Certification or equivalent ICAO/IATA Safety Management System (SMS) qualification.

Specialized training in Accident/Incident Investigation, Maintenance Human Factors/CRM, Flight Data Acquisition and Analysis, and EASA Part-IS framework implementation.

BCAA/ EASA acceptance as Deputy Post Holder SMS (per AMC1 145.A.30(b))

EXPERIENCE

Minimum of 6 years of experience in an Airline Safety Department, including technical, maintenance, quality, technical safety investigations, and/or MRO functions.

Direct working knowledge of AMOS, aviation SMS databases, Flight Data Analysis, Maintenance Operations Quality Assurance (MOQA), and BCAA/EASA MOR reporting protocols.