VP of Quality

First Class Air; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

First Class Air seeks a seasoned VP of Quality to lead enterprise quality strategy and regulatory compliance across FAA/EASA/UK operations. This executive role partners with senior leadership to embed quality into strategy, governance, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities include establishing QMS, driving audits, CAPA, airworthiness controls, and cross-company standards while ensuring regulatory readiness and executive reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aviation, Engineering, Quality, Business, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive aviation/aerospace/regulatory industry experience.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership in Quality, Regulatory Compliance, Safety, Inspection, or related functions.
• Experience leading Quality organizations across multiple departments/locations.
• Extensive knowledge of FAA regulations (Part 145, Part 43, Part 21) and familiarity with EASA/UK CAA requirements.
• Experience interacting with FAA, EASA, UK CAA, or other aviation regulators and auditors.
• Strong background in Quality Management Systems, CAPA, root cause analysis, risk management, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to influence across multiple companies and communicate effectively with executives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain enterprise quality strategy and leadership for all holdings.
• Oversee regulatory compliance and readiness across FAA/EASA/UK CAA/OSHA and other regulators.
• Establish and govern Quality Management System standards and documentation across entities.
• Oversee audits (internal, regulatory, customer, third-party) and enterprise CAPA processes.
• Ensure airworthiness controls and related documentation (8130-3, EASA Form 1) across repair/maintenance operations.
• Lead customer and supplier quality oversight and executive escalation of key quality issues.

Job description

First Class Air is seeking a detail oriented, strategic VP of Quality to join the team! The VP of Quality will serve as the organization's senior authority on quality and regulatory matters and will partner closely with executive leadership and operating company leaders to ensure quality is integrated into business strategy, operational decision-making, customer commitments, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The position will oversee quality functions across multiple companies and locations, including FAA/EBA-certified repair station operations, manufacturing, distribution, component repair, and other aviation aftermarket activities.

Essential Job Functions

Enterprise Quality Strategy & Leadership

• Establish consistent quality standards, policies, procedures, and performance expectations across all companies within the holdings group.
• Establish appropriate organizational structures, staffing models, and resources necessary to support Quality across the enterprise.
• Develop and maintain enterprise Quality objectives, KPIs, dashboards, and performance metrics.
• Regularly report quality performance, regulatory risks, significant findings, trends, and improvement initiatives to executive leadership.

Regulatory Compliance & Oversight

• Maintain executive oversight of compliance with applicable FAA, EASA, UK CAA, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Ensure operating companies maintain appropriate certifications, approvals, manuals, procedures, and quality systems.
• Maintain organizational readiness for regulatory, customer, and third-party audits.
• Monitor regulatory changes and ensure appropriate implementation across affected business units.

Quality Management Systems

• Establish and maintain an enterprise Quality Management System framework while allowing individual companies to maintain business-specific procedures where required.
• Standardize quality processes and best practices across operating companies where appropriate.
• Oversee development, revision, and implementation of quality manuals, procedures, inspection programs, and supporting documentation.
• Establish governance for document control, records management, inspection processes, calibration, personnel qualifications, and other critical quality systems.

Audits & Corrective Action

• Provide executive oversight of internal, external, regulatory, customer, and third-party audits.
• Establish an enterprise-wide audit strategy and risk-based audit schedule.
• Ensure significant audit findings are appropriately investigated, contained, corrected, and prevented from recurring.
• Oversee enterprise corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes.
• Ensure root cause analysis is appropriately performed and corrective actions are effective.
• Identify recurring issues and systemic trends across companies and implement enterprise-wide corrective actions when appropriate.

Airworthiness & Technical Quality

• Maintain executive oversight of airworthiness and return-to-service processes across applicable repair station operations.
• Ensure appropriate controls exist for FAA Form 8130-3, EASA Form 1, inspection, certification, and related airworthiness documentation.
• Ensure maintenance, repair, overhaul, and inspection activities are performed in accordance with approved technical data and applicable regulations.
• Establish enterprise expectations for receiving, in-process, and final inspections.
• Oversee management of capability lists, personnel authorizations, technician and inspector qualifications, stamps, and related controls.
• Ensure calibration programs and control of tools and test equipment meet applicable requirements.

Customer & Supplier Quality

• Provide executive oversight of significant customer quality concerns and escalations.
• Partner with Sales and Operations to ensure customer quality expectations are understood and consistently met.
• Monitor supplier-related quality trends and recurring issues.
• Serve as an executive escalation point for critical customer quality matters.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Aviation, Engineering, Quality, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in aviation, aerospace, MRO, manufacturing, or another highly regulated environment.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in Quality, Regulatory Compliance, Safety, Inspection, or related functions.
• Significant experience leading Quality organizations across multiple departments, locations, or business units.
• Extensive knowledge of FAA regulations, particularly Part 145, Part 43, and Part 21, as applicable to the organization's operations.
• Strong knowledge of EASA and/or UK CAA requirements preferred.
• Experience working directly with FAA, EASA, UK CAA, or other aviation regulatory authorities.
• Demonstrated experience leading regulatory and customer audits.
• Strong understanding of Quality Management Systems, CAPA, root cause analysis, risk management, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and implement enterprise-level policies and processes.
• Strong executive communication, leadership, and strategic planning skills.
• Ability to influence leaders across multiple companies without relying solely on direct authority.
• Ability to interpret technical data, regulatory requirements, manuals, procedures, and engineering documentation.