Director of Safety - Ground Handling Services

Aviation; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Grupo Eulen seeks a Director of Safety and Compliance to protect employee health and safety by identifying and mitigating risks across locations. You will oversee the SMS and QA programs, lead audits, and guide senior leadership on risk reduction strategies.

You will promote a proactive safety culture, manage investigations into injuries, aircraft damage, and GSE incidents, and coordinate with regulators and customers to ensure regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Minimum 5+ years of aviation industry experience.
• Proven experience managing IATA and ISAGO audits.
• Strong knowledge of aviation safety, security, and regulatory compliance.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead and maintain the Safety Management System (SMS) and Quality Assurance programs.
• Oversee audits, safety inspections, and risk mitigation across locations.
• Investigate and report on OJI incidents, aircraft damage, and GSE incidents.
• Drive safety training development and company-wide safety culture initiatives.
• Liaise with regulators, authorities, customers, and contractors as required.

Skills

Leadership

SMS oversight

Regulatory compliance

Audits (IATA/ISAGO)

Incident investigation

Training & development

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

SMS software

Job description

Job Summary

The Director of Safety and Compliance is responsible for protecting the health and safety of Eulen employees by ensuring workplace risks and operational exposures are effectively identified, controlled, and mitigated. Through daily oversight, ramp safety observations, audits, and continuous improvement of the Safety Management System (SMS) and Quality Assurance (QA) programs, this role ensures full compliance with applicable regulations, customer airline requirements, and Eulen standards.

This position plays a critical leadership role in preventing on-the-job injuries (OJI), aircraft damage, and ground support equipment (GSE) incidents while promoting a strong, proactive safety culture across all locations. The Director provides strategic guidance to Accountable Executives and senior leadership on company-wide safety initiatives and risk reduction strategies.

Key responsibilities

Safety, Compliance & Quality Programs

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Company’s Safety Management System (SMS) and Quality Assurance Program.
• Ensure SMS is properly implemented, monitored, and effective across all departments and locations.
• Establish and maintain company-wide safety policies, procedures, systems, and programs.
• Define clear lines of accountability for operational safety, compliance, quality assurance, and security, including senior management responsibility.
• Ensure outsourced services meet SMS and regulatory requirements.
• Remain current on aviation industry legislation, safety standards, and regulatory changes.

Operations Oversight

• Ensure ground operations at all stations are supervised, controlled, and compliant with company standards, regulatory requirements, and customer airline expectations.
• Verify stations have adequate resources to operate safely and efficiently.
• Inspect and observe under-wing and ramp operations to ensure best safety practices are followed.
• Conduct random safety inspections.
• Exercise authority to stop operations when unsafe conditions or practices are observed.

Risk Management & Incident Investigation

• Identify safety trends, hazards, and systemic risks; develop and monitor mitigation strategies.
• Oversee and participate in the investigation and reporting of:
• On-the-job injuries (OJI)
• Aircraft damage
• GSE incidents
• Near-miss events
• Conduct final reviews of accident and incident reports to ensure accuracy, completeness, and timely submission.
• Monitor corrective actions and follow-up through formal tracking and documentation processes.
• Conduct workplace safety inspections, audits, and exposure monitoring.

Training & Safety Culture

• Lead and promote a strong company-wide safety culture through consistent communication, including emails, meetings, calls, webinars, safety summits, and station visits.
• Review employee training records, MTRs, and OJT verifications to ensure compliance and currency.
• Manage development of safety training materials and syllabi based on operational needs and regulatory requirements.
• Actively participate in new-hire orientation, station safety briefings, and safety meetings.
• Provide coaching and counseling to employees who do not follow safe work practices.

Audits, Projects & External Relations

• Lead and manage IATA and ISAGO audits and corrective action programs.
• Support development of an assurance program, including site pre-work, station visits, follow-ups, and risk-based assessments.
• Lead safety and compliance projects from planning through execution and review.
• Serve as liaison with federal agencies, airport authorities, customers, and contractors as required.

Key qualification

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5+ years of aviation industry experience.
• Proven experience in business planning and airline industry operations.
• Direct experience managing IATA and ISAGO audits.
• Strong working knowledge of aviation safety, security, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and web-based business applications.

Skills and abilities

• Strong leadership, influence, and people-management capabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and motivational skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and make decisive recommendations.
• Ability to interpret regulatory documents, safety rules, operating manuals, and procedures.
• Strong written communication skills for reports, audits, and correspondence.
• Comfortable presenting to groups of employees, customers, and leadership teams.

Travel

Travel may be required on short notice to Eulen locations to conduct audits, inspections, and compliance reviews.

Physical Demands

• Ability to speak, hear, and comprehend English clearly.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.
• Must maintain a neat and professional appearance.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Work Environment

• Professional office environment with regular use of standard office equipment (computer, phone, copier, filing systems).
• Periodic exposure to airport, ramp, and operational environments.

EEOC

Grupo Eulen is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, and all other protected classes recognized or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law