Head of Flight Operations

Company Overview
Metrea is a defense company dedicated to translating commercial innovation into solutions for the hardest problems in national security. With deep mission expertise, Metrea focuses on delivering effects as-a-service across a spectrum of domains including Air & Space, Electromagnetic & Cyber, and Synthetic. Metrea Management provides central services to eleven (11) global capability units via Operations, Solutions, Strategy, Legal, and Finance teams 

Capability Unit 

Metrea Special Aerospace provides a full range of aerospace solutions, from integrated C5ISR to specialized rotary wing training to special mobility logistics. We own and operate a fleet of King Air and Challenger aircraft and support the U.S. and allies and partners around the globe.

Position Summary 

The Head of Flight Operations is responsible to the Accountable Manager (AM) for the delivery of safe, compliant and effective flight operations to meet the requirements of Metrea’s Manned Airborne ISR programs in accordance with applicable civil aviation regulations and Metrea operating procedures. This role is also responsible for ensuring close coordination between the various organizations within the Metrea Enterprise to ensure that the business meets internal and external requirements.    

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the MSA’s operations department in accordance with the Metrea Management System and company core values. 
• Coordinates across Metrea on behalf of MSA to ensure that MSA’s support requirements to product development, business development, customer engagement, and capability development are fully met.
• Recruit, retain, develop and manage sufficient qualified and competent air crew personnel within the flight operations department to deliver a deployable flight operations capability at a scale to meet the demands of the MAISR programs. 
• Oversee the development of standard operating procedures (SOP) ensuring that the implementation of any change is appropriately managed, understood, and acknowledged by all affected flight operations crew. 
• Maintain compliant Operations Manuals and procedures, including MEL, ensuring document control and supervision and approval of temporary revisions and staff notices. 
• Ensure the Flight Operations department is correctly resourced, and schedules are managed to adequately and efficiently supervise flight operations and ensure robust operational control, while meeting outputs consistent with program requirements. 
• Provide guidance and direction with respect to the selection and allocation of suitable Flight Crew to meet Metrea requirements.
• Liaise with the Competent Authority on all operational and regulatory matters and ensure compliance with current regulations and the terms of the AOC or other letter of authority; ensure that a constructive regulatory relationship is maintained.
• Coordinate with the Head of Crew Training (Chief Pilot), contribute to flight crew training programs, and ensure operational and training standards and developmental pathways are maintained and improved. 
• Coordinate with the Head of Airworthiness, contributing to efficient practices in the maintenance of airworthiness standards. 
• Coordinate with Quality & Compliance, Safety and Security, ensuring robust compliance and safe practices are adhered to both internally and with our contracted organizations and any deficiencies that affect the compliance or safety of operations are acted upon. This includes promoting an effective safety reporting culture and that a just culture is always adhered to. 
• Promote and actively implement the Safety Management System (SMS).
• Apply safety and risk management best practices to assess and manage operational risks in accordance with the SMS manual. 
• Attend Safety Review Board (SRB) meetings to monitor the safety performance of the Company and to implement improvement actions as required. 
• Attend or chair Safety Action Groups (SAG) and event review groups, assessing hazards, identifying and implementing risk mitigation as required and support decision making regarding acceptable levels of risk and actions in accordance with just culture. 
• Maintain Key Performance Indicators and routinely report to the AM on performance and metrics from Flight Operations. 
• Assist the Chief Pilot during the pilot hiring process through review of qualifications for applicable experience and participation in interviews as required. 
• Assist Program Managers in personnel allocation to ensure an equitable distribution of aircrew talent and experience. <