Maintenance Operations Manager

D.O.M. magazine; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Vantage Aviation in Minnesota seeks an experienced Maintenance Operations Manager to lead the maintenance department, oversee scheduling, profitability, and SOP implementation for FAA compliance.

You will train and supervise technicians, negotiate vendor contracts, and ensure safety and quality across all aircraft maintenance activities, inspections, and documentation.

This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on attention to detail in a fast-paced aviation environment.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Minimum 5 Years aviation experience maintaining corporate/commercial Part 135 or Part 145 repair station operations.
• Piston experience
• Have a minimum of 2 years' experience as a Lead Mechanic or Inspector.
• Experience managing a team of technicians in a supervisory role.
• Thorough knowledge of aircraft mechanical component troubleshooting/repair procedures and replacement of components.
• Thorough knowledge of aircraft sheet metal/structural modification and repair and the ability to determine airworthiness status.
• Possess the experience and ability to provide technical support to staff and customers.
• Basic computer skills required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates with management to strategize new maintenance practices and assists in implementation.
• Works with maintenance department personnel to develop a cohesive work structure and is part of suggestive changes.
• Evaluates shop and customer's needs to determine if the company requires equipment or training to support business growth.
• Train and supervise employees of the maintenance department.
• Negotiate contracts with outside vendors for execution of maintenance work.
• Ensure operational efficiency of projects through timely inspections and repairs.
• Ensure that company premises and facilities are kept in a presentable condition.
• Implement workplace safety policies and standards.
• Ensure work assignments are in place for crew prior to start time to eliminate unproductive time.
• Ensures that crew members sign and document aircraft maintenance on appropriate work cards or forms when work is completed or turned into for turnover per company policies and procedures.
• Ensures that all work performed complies with applicable technical data, FAA regulations and company policies and procedures.
• Maintains cohesion of work crew and rectifies any issues impacting productivity.
• Tracks time spent on each work order and ensures the time is logged correctly and within the budgets.
• Manages technician "On Call" schedule to ensure coverage.
• Performs Maintenance and inspection tasks as required.
• Works closely with maintenance personnel and flight school coordinator to maintain the aircraft visibility of remaining and work-in-progress.
• Ensures that all aircraft parts/components removed from an aircraft in work, are documented, tagged, and protected.
• Performs Inspector functions as required.
• Procures parts for open project(s).
• Cooperates with the Safety Management System and is instrumental with corrective action plans and preventative measures.
• Throughout an inspection, review discrepancies with Customer Services to determine estimated costs and additional labor down time.
• Review all completed and partially completed tasks daily to ensure proper documentation and signoffs prior to turn-over to the next shift.

Skills

Aviation maintenance experience

Lead mechanic/Inspector experience

Team supervision

FAA regulations knowledge

Piston experience

Basic computer skills

Education

FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate

FAA IA preferred

Job description

About Vantage Aviation:
Monaco Air Duluth - A Vantage Aviation Company is a fully integrated, multi-vertical business aviation firm that specializes in all things' private aviation. Hangar leasing, fuel and ground handling support, aircraft management and charter services, flight training schools, and turbine maintenance services are all within our scope of capability and expertise. Vantage Aviation is a private equity backed, fully integrated business aviation firm pursuing FBO, MRO, and 135 charter acquisitions and development opportunities throughout North America.
We seek opportunities where airport sponsors and their aviation stakeholders can benefit from our highly integrated, full-service offering. Our menus of services meet the highest standards of service within the industry, allowing us to provide a better service for all those who enjoy the benefits of general and business aviation.

Position Summary:

The Maintenance Operations Manager plays a critical role in the leadership of the maintenance department. They manage activities such as scheduling, profitability, and assist with implementing Standard Operating Procedures.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Strategic

• Coordinates with management to strategize new maintenance practices and assists in implementation.
• Works with maintenance department personnel to develop a cohesive work structure and is part of suggestive changes.
• Evaluates shop and customer's needs to determine if the company requires equipment or training to support business growth.

Leadership

• Train and supervise employees of the maintenance department.
• Negotiate contracts with outside vendors for execution of maintenance work.
• Ensure operational efficiency of projects through timely inspections and repairs.
• Ensure that company premises and facilities are kept in a presentable condition.
• Implement workplace safety policies and standards.

Management

• Ensure work assignments are in place for crew prior to start time to eliminate unproductive time.
• Ensures that crew members sign and document aircraft maintenance on appropriate work cards or forms when work is completed or turned into for turnover per company policies and procedures.
• Ensures that all work performed complies with applicable technical data, FAA regulations and company policies and procedures.
• Maintains cohesion of work crew and rectifies any issues impacting productivity.
• Tracks time spent on each work order and ensures the time is logged correctly and within the budgets.
• Manages technician "On Call" schedule to ensure coverage.

Operational

• Ensures that all work performed complies with applicable technical data, FAA regulations and company policies, and procedures.
• Performs Maintenance and inspection tasks as required.
• Works closely with maintenance personnel and flight school coordinator to maintain the aircraft visibility of remaining and work-in-progress.
• Ensures that all aircraft parts/components removed from an aircraft in work, are documented, tagged, and protected.
• Performs Inspector functions as required.
• Procures parts for open project(s).
• Cooperates with the Safety Management System and is instrumental with corrective action plans and preventative measures.
• Throughout an inspection, review discrepancies with Customer Services to determine estimated costs and additional labor down time.
• Review all completed and partially completed tasks daily to ensure proper documentation and signoffs prior to turn-over to the next shift.

Behaviors

• Acts as a mentor to team inspectors and other maintenance team members.
• Listen to team members and encourages growth through delegation, direction, and continuous education.
• Demonstrates empathy to team members, colleagues, and customers and foster accountability.
• Build trust and respect with team and between departments through clear and continuous communication.
• Strong desire to promote a quality - focused culture of safety.
• Willing, ready, and available to get the job done and stay on task.
• Lead by example.

Administrative

• Attend production meetings and discuss upcoming projects and participate with managing weekly/monthly schedule.
• Ensuring airworthiness as defined with 14 CFR by researching permanent records, maintenance tracking program, FAA Airworthiness Directives and Manufacture's Service Bulletins/Customer Bulletins and assigned aircraft.
• Open work orders, initiatives service orders, collects designated parts from parts department, and request outside services when required.
• Tracks time for technicians working on projects and provides input to schedule for adjustments.
• Updates and interfaces with computerized maintenance tracking program.

Requirements:

Preferred Job Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Minimum 5 Years aviation experience maintaining corporate/commercial Part 135 or Part 145 repair station operations.
• Piston experience
• Have a minimum of 2 years' experience as a Lead Mechanic or Inspector.
• Experience managing a team of technicians in a supervisory role.
• Thorough knowledge of aircraft mechanical component troubleshooting/repair procedures and replacement of components.
• Thorough knowledge of aircraft sheet metal/structural modification and repair and the ability to determine airworthiness status.
• Possess the experience and ability to provide technical support to staff and customers.
• Basic computer skills required.

Educational or Formal Training

• FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate is required.
• FAA IA preferred.

Working Environment/Physical Activities

• Must be able to work in and around an aviation hangar, and have knowledge of airport rules, including ramp and aircraft movement areas.
• The working environment includes the area of moving mechanical parts, equipment, and various chemicals and fumes.
• Occasional to frequent periods of lifting, pushing, or pulling over 25 to 100 pounds; frequent continuous standing, reaching, and stooping.
• Physical activity may require entering confined spaces.

D.O.M. magazine is the premier magazine for aviation maintenance management professionals. Its management-focused editorial provides information maintenance managers need and want including business best practices, professional development, regulatory, quality management, legal issues and more. The digital version of D.O.M. magazine is available for free on all devices (iOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle).