Aircraft Maintenance Manager

Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc; Watsonville (CA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and family leave

Job summary

Driscoll's Strawberry Associates, Inc. is seeking an Aircraft Maintenance Manager to oversee maintenance for the King Air 350 and Falcon 2000LX.

You will lead planning, recordkeeping, AOG response, and both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, coordinating with Solairus Aviation and third-party providers to ensure safe, compliant operations under FAR Part 91 and 135. The role requires FAA-issued A&P and IA licenses and 10+ years of heavy turbine maintenance experience, with travel up to 10%

Qualifications

• Requires FAA-issued A&P and IA licenses.
• 10+ years’ heavy maintenance experience on turbine aircraft.
• Background checks and drug testing as per Part 135.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams and projects to maintain fleet to the highest standards.
• Coordinate maintenance planning, recordkeeping, and AOG response.
• Represent Driscoll’s with partners, growers, suppliers, and customers.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Travel readiness

Problem solving

Education

A&P license

Inspector Aircraft IA license

Job description

About the OpportunityThe Aircraft Maintenance Manager at Driscoll's oversees all aspects of aircraft maintenance, including recordkeeping, maintenance planning, AOG response, and scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for the company fleet, which currently includes a King Air 350 and Falcon 2000LX. This role partners closely with Solairus Aviation and other third-party providers to ensure safe, compliant, and reliable operations. The position serves as the company's maintenance subject matter expert, providing technical guidance and aviation best practices to management and flight crews. Company aircraft primarily operate under FAR Part 91, with additional operations conducted under Solairus Aviation's Part 135 certificate.ResponsibilitiesThe Manager of Aircraft Maintenance will serve as the company's resident expert in aviation technology and will work independently, requiring guidance only in the most complex situations. This role will lead cross-functional teams and projects to ensure Driscoll's aircraft are maintained to the highest standards. Key objectives include minimizing unnecessary downtime, aircraft on ground (AOG) occurrences, and unplanned repair activities.Lead the identification and resolution of complex technical issues involving company aircraft, using a broad perspective to develop innovative solutions, concepts, methods, and techniques.Manage maintenance activities in collaboration with the Senior Manager, Aviation, to support operational objectives and planned growth.Contribute to the business unit's people priorities and objectives, including leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, and enabling team members to perform at their best.Domestic and international travel up to 10% may be required.Represent Driscoll's in an ethical, professional, and businesslike manner in all interactions with growers, colleagues, suppliers, customers, and the broader business community.Candidate ProfileFAA-issued Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) plus Inspector Aircraft (IA) licenses which have never been suspended or revoked.10+ years’ experience with heavy maintenance on turbine powered aircraft as well as general upkeep.Must pass a rigorous background check.Must possess a valid driver’s license with no serious violation history.Pre-employment as well as random drug/alcohol testing will be conducted in accordance with Part 135.Preferred Qualifications & Leadership CompetenciesThe perfect fit for Driscoll’s is a highly motivated team player who values creating and maintaining a positive work environment.The ideal candidate will reflect Driscoll’s core values of Trustworthiness, Humility and Passion.Ability to work well under time pressures, adapt to working outside the M-F daytime work hours when necessary, and communicate effectively with others are just some of the attributes we’re looking for.California driver’s license and the ability to be covered under company-sponsored vehicle insurance program.A valid passport and the ability to travel internationally without restrictions.Compensation & Benefits:The following information is provided in good faith as a general description of the salary range and benefits for the position posted. The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate is dependent upon experience, skills, education, work location, internal pay equity, and other objective job-related factors.Salary Range estimated for this role: $107,700 to $140,010 USD per year.Driscoll’s is committed to a culture of care and offers an attractive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week. Other benefits include: 401(k) with employer match, profit-sharing participation, paid sick time, paid vacation, paid personal and family care leave, and a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP). More detailed information regarding the benefits package will be shared during the application process.