Sr Manager, Aircraft Certification & ODA Administrator

Piper Aircraft, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Piper Aircraft, Inc. is seeking a senior certification professional to serve as the primary liaison between the company, the FAA, and foreign civil aviation authorities.

You will oversee strategy, planning, and execution of aircraft certification projects to ensure timely certification, COS activities, and service support. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a technical field with extensive aircraft certification experience and expertise in FAA procedures and ODA

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering/technical discipline (Aeronautical or Aerospace preferred) with 8+ years of aircraft certification experience.
• Thorough knowledge of FAA procedures and regulations; familiarity with CAR and Part 11/21/23/34/36/39/43/45/91/183.
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Qualified, eligible, and able to acquire ODA Administrator authorized functions.

Responsibilities

• Obtain U.S. and foreign type certification approvals by government agreement of type design data.
• Monitor service problems and rulemaking; obtain FAA approval of Service Publications.
• Provide COS data to FAA; develop corrective actions with safety focus.
• Advise personnel on FAA/FCAA procedures; attend meetings for input.
• Maintain and oversee ODA files; initiate revisions to the ODA Procedures Manual.
• Review Federal Register; track regulatory changes affecting the Company.
• Interface with Records for litigation data; support production requests.
• Ensure training and audits meet FAA, FCAA, and ODA requirements.
• Manage List of ODA Unit Members; support planned certification activities.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Skills

Aircraft certification

Project management

FAA regulations

Regulatory liaison

Oda administration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/technical discipline

Tools

ERP systems

MS Office

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Serve as primary liaison between the Company, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Foreign Civil Aviation Authorities (FCAA) to assure continued operation under Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) and compliance with applicable regulations, policy for airworthiness and type certification and the ODA Procedures Manual. Oversees the strategy, planning and execution of aircraft certification projects to ensure timely certification of aircraft, aircraft repairs, service support requests and Continued Operational Safety (COS) activities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Obtain U.S. and foreign type certification approvals by acquiring government approval of Company type design data.
• Monitor service problems, proposed rulemaking and approval of new or derivative aircraft. Obtain FAA approval of Service Publications as required and confer and/or correspond with FAA and FCAA to keep company management aware of possible difficulties and the current status of approved aircraft.
• Ensures service difficulty (COS) reports are provided to the FAA and are processed to access risks and to develop corrective actions in a safe and timely manner.
• Propose strategies and advise Company personnel of procedures and requirements in situations pertaining to FAA and FCAA, by conferring with other members of the aviation industry and maintaining familiarity with Civil Air Regulation (CAR), FAA regulations/policies, and foreign certification requirements.
• Support industry and government organizational committees affecting the business, certification or regulatory structure of the Company.
• Advise personnel of anticipated FAA position relative to specific problems, attend engineering and/or management meetings and provide necessary input and guidance.
• Serve as custodian of all required FAA and ODA files.
• Initiate and obtain FAA approval of revisions to the ODA Procedures Manual.
• Alert appropriate personnel to changes affecting the Company by reviewing the Federal Register and monitor regulatory change proposals, to assure the Company meets all regulatory requirements.
• Interface with the Records department in the procurement of data necessary for litigation, to assure timely presentation as required by interrogatories and production requests.
• Ensures company training and audits are in compliance with FAA, FCAA and ODA requirements. Maintains and ensures compliance with ODA Procedures Manual, FAA Piper Partnership with Safety Plan (PSP), Company engineering and quality procedures, and maintains familiarity with FAA Order 8100.15, foreign country bi-lateral agreements/regulations and other applicable FAA/FCAA guidance orders and policies.
• Manages and maintains List of ODA Unit Members and Authorized Functions and required to support planned certification activities.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Responsibilities include managing activities, supervision, training and assisting employees.

Minimum Position Qualifications

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Education and Experience
• Requires a Bachelors degree in an engineering or technical discipline (preferably Aeronautical or Aerospace) and minimum of eight (8) years aircraft certification experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• General knowledge of all phases of aircraft design, testing, approval, FAA certification, manufacturing, inspection and service, as well as thorough knowledge of FAA procedures and regulations, is required to perform the duties of this position.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to plan and manage multiple projects concurrently, resolve conflict, influence resources, motivate and inspire project teams.
• Working knowledge of 14 CFR Parts 11, 21, 23, 34, 36, 39, 43, 45, 91 and 183 (Subpart D); with a general familiarity with Part 23 predecessor regulations (e.g. CAR 3).
• Knowledge of all life cycle phases of aircraft design, testing, approval, certification, manufacturing, inspection, export and service support.
• Considerable management skills are required to successfully perform the planning, directing, reporting and administrative responsibilities of this position.
• Must be qualified, eligible, and acquire ODA Administrator authorized functions as defined in the ODA Procedures Manual, and once acquired, maintain the authority.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Demonstrates physical and functional ability to perform and accomplish tasks. Regularly required to walk throughout Pipers campus and stoop, kneel, bend, crouch in and around aircraft while performing investigations. Uses hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Requires moderate physical effort consisting of occasionally lifting and/or moving light to moderately heavy weight material up to 35 lbs.

Mental Demands

• General understanding of ERP computer system.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, to include Excel proficiency, is required.
• General understanding of drawings, specifications, and units of measure.
• Ability to foster collaborative relationships, to work well under pressure, to organize and synthesize new information, and prioritize tasks. Possesses critical thinking, analytical skills and flexibility. Ability to multi-task.
• Required detailed attention to work in an environment where interruptions need to be controlled. Demonstrates sensitivity to customer needs and expectations.

Working Conditions

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to an office environment; and occasionally exposed to manufacturing environment. May be exposed to odors, chemical agents, dust, fumes, gases, sharp objects, hazardous or moving equipment, wet slippery floors, and extremes in temperature and humidity.
• Interacts regularly with various staff and employees, and occasionally with vendors, suppliers, community members and regulatory agency representatives.
• Travel and overtime are required when necessary.

Operational Excellence

• Supports all operational excellence initiatives ensuring full participation in all department services, continuous improvement efforts, and training programs.

Decision Quality

• Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving on-time with deliverables.

Optimizes Work Processes

• Knows and contributes the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.

Attention to Detail

• Takes responsibility for a thorough, accurate, and detailed method of completing work tasks.

Drives Results

• Overcomes adversity, consistently achieving quality results - even under demanding deadlines and unexpected operating circumstances.

Teamwork

• Interacts, partners, and collaborates effectively with others, positively contributing to overall department and organizational deliverables and results.

Quality Assurance

• Maintains a safe, orderly working environment including FOD compliance.
• Ensures adherence to Piper Aircraft, Inc. corporate compliance policies.
• Adheres to organization and department policies and procedures.

Compliance

• Responsible for ensuring compliance with laws, rules and regulations appropriate to job function.
• Comply with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.
• Work ethically and with integrity; upholds organizational values.
• Maintains compliance with company safety policies and procedures, OSHA, and EPA regulations including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), behaviors, physical space and hazardous waste disposal procedures.

Communicates Effectively

• Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills who understands how to develop and maintain external supplier and internal customer relations in both written and oral form.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism at all times during direct contact with employees, suppliers, and customers.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Work beyond 40 hours per week including mandatory overtime may be required.

American with Disability Act Requirements

External and Internal applicants, as well as position incumbents, must be able to perform the essential position responsibilities as listed in this position description either aided or unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.

All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees will be required to perform other job-related instructions given by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodations.