Manager Ardmore Maintenance

Airbus; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus Ardmore site in New Zealand seeks a senior Maintenance Manager to govern MR&O activities under Part 145. You will lead a multi-disciplinary team, ensure safety, quality, and on-time maintenance, and sponsor LEAN initiatives while driving commercial outcomes.

You will report to the Head of Maintenance Repair & Overhaul and manage budgets, resources, and delivery across base, operational, and flight-line contexts to maximise performance and value for customers.

Qualifications

• Part 66 AME Licence or equivalent with Diploma of Aeroskills/Engineering.
• 5–8+ years in aviation maintenance management.
• In-depth knowledge of Part 145 and NZ CAA/CASR/DASR/EASA regulations.
• LEAN methodologies experience and change management.

Responsibilities

• Lead authorised teams to deliver scheduled servicings, defect rectifications and complex modifications safely, on time and within budget.
• Direct workforce, tooling, equipment and facility allocation to meet servicing plans.
• Maintain adherence to Part 145 and continuing airworthiness standards, driving containment and root-cause for quality/safety findings.
• Champion Just Culture, manage fatigue and shift patterns to minimise human error and support wellbeing.
• Manage OPEX/CAPEX budgets, procurement, contractor support, and overtime to optimise gross margin.
• Act as Airbus Site Manager, drive LEAN improvements and support commercial growth in third-party/export markets.
• Lead succession planning, multi-skilling and apprenticeship programs to build long-term site capability.

Skills

LEAN methodologies

Conflict resolution

Matrix management

Mentoring

Zero-harm safety culture

Education

Part 66 AME Licence

Diploma of Aeroskills/Engineering

Job description

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As the Manager Ardmore Maintenance, you will have overarching governance, leadership, and operational accountability for all safe, on-quality, and on-time Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MR&O) services conducted under Airbus Part 145 certificates of approval in Ardmore, New Zealand.

In this senior operational role, you will be formally nominated as the NZ CAA Senior Person (Control and Direction of Maintenance) and BCAA Senior Person (Maintenance Manager). You will sponsor the key Airbus business process DEL-03 Manage Maintenance and act as the primary Airbus Site Manager for Ardmore.

Reporting to the Head of Maintenance Repair & Overhaul, you will lead a matrixed, multi-disciplinary team focused on continuous delivery, commercial viability, and safety excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead authorised teams to deliver scheduled servicings, defect rectifications, and complex modification programs safely, on-time, and within budget.
• Direct workforce, tooling, equipment, and facility allocation to consistently meet aircraft servicing plans.
• Maintain strict adherence to Part 145 and Continuing Airworthiness standards, driving immediate containment and root-cause analysis for quality/safety findings.
• Champion a strong Just Culture and proactive hazard identification, managing fatigue and shift patterns to minimise human error and support team well-being.
• Manage OPEX/CAPEX budgets, procurement, contractor support, and overtime to optimise Gross Margin.
• Act as Airbus Site Manager, driving LEAN continuous improvement initiatives and supporting commercial growth in third-party and export markets.
• Lead succession planning, multi-skilling, and apprenticeship programs to build long-term site capability.

Key Performance Metrics

You will be directly accountable for delivering measurable value across the site:

• Achieve component and aircraft maintenance timelines per contract PMFs and customer agreements.
• Execute maintenance within allocated material costs and Maintenance Man-Hours (MMHR).
• Minimise Customer Dissatisfaction and Cost of Non-Quality (CNQ) aligned with annual Top Company Objectives (TCO).
• Resolve Corrective Action Requests (CAR) and Non-Conformity Management (NCM) items promptly.

About you

To be successful in this role, you must bring high integrity, strategic vision, and visible, floor-level leadership. You are a forthright, confident communicator capable of managing competing priorities under pressure while balancing best-practice airworthiness standards with commercial and service requirements.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Part 66 AME Licence, Diploma of Aeroskills/Engineering, or equivalent high-level practical experience. (Post-graduate degrees or Chartered Engineer status are highly regarded).
• 5–8+ years in aviation maintenance management, with proven experience acting as a Responsible Manager or Senior Person.
• In-depth working knowledge of Part 145 and Continuing Airworthiness maintenance regulations (NZ CAA, CASR, DASR, EASA).
• Solid grasp of maintenance systems, planning, parts management, and delivery models (base, operational, flight line, component).
• Strong understanding of maintenance, engineering, and supply chain interdependencies, with proven OPEX/CAPEX control.
• Demonstrated track record applying LEAN methodologies and driving change management.
• Expert in conflict resolution, matrix management, mentoring, and fostering a zero-harm safety culture.

Why us

We seek to inspire our people to grow, so you have the right mindset, behaviours and skills to thrive and achieve the organisation goals whilst being focussed 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 program.

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.