General Manager, Safety Programs

Job Description:

The General Manager, Safety Programs, administers HAA’s SMS Program as an organization-wide (fixed and rotor wing), comprehensive, and preventive approach to ensuring system safety. An SMS includes a safety policy, promotion of a positive safety culture, formal methods for identifying hazards and mitigating risk, and assurance of the overall safety performance of aviation organizations.

The General Manager, Safety Programs, collects data, observes systems, and processes, performs follow-up audits, facilitates recommendations for improvements and champions a safety culture throughout the company. The role will lead HAA’s Safety program including working directly and proactively with internal and external stakeholders for all safety related topics.

A successful applicant will ensure that all processes needed for the SMS are established, implemented, and maintained. Applicants should have a thorough understanding of how to establish and maintain an effective safety culture, utilizing Just Culture concepts, and be skilled at balancing business needs with operational risk mitigation. This position can be based at any of the HAA campuses as an on-site position and may be combined with work as a current HAA CFI.

The duties include, but are not limited to:

• Administer the HAA SMS Program, based on guidance in Advisory Circular 120-92D, across all HAA campuses (both fixed wing and rotor wing, as applicable).
• Within the HAA SMS Program, administer the Confidential Reporting System, which also includes employees, students, and vendors/customers to self-report errors (Incidents) and any safety concerns (Hazards), insuring full confidence under HAA’s Just Culture program.
• Facilitates the safety risk assessment (SRA) process for new hazards or proposed future changes.
• Advise senior management and staff on safety and regulatory items including leading the various safety meetings.
• Investigate and report on incidents/accidents and facilitate recommendations to preclude a recurrence.
• Assist the department safety focals in the development of appropriate safety standard operating procedures and policies under HAA’s corrective and preventive action plans.
• Prepare reports and data required to keep management informed of the status and progress of OSHA and other safety compliance programs.
• Administer, review, and provide training on HAA’s Emergency Response Plan.
• Communicate to all employees and students the importance of hazard and error reporting.
• Create and communicate safety and risk mitigation related content to be presented to staff and students.
• Present safety data with trend information, focal items and case studies to line personnel (CFIs & students) on a periodic basis.
• Provide and/or coordinate presentation of safety instructional modules in various HAA classes.
• Coordinate and lead periodic safety roundtable sessions in support of safety assurance.
• Interface with external stakeholders, including FAA, Air Traffic Control, Airport Operations / Management and safety advocacy group to support the highest levels of HAA safety.
• Ensure IS-BAO Stage Three standards and best practices are maintained, including via managing the formal audit, and confirm that:
  • Safety management activities are appropriately targeted.
  • Safety risks are being effectively managed.
  • Safety culture is embodied.

Required skills/experience:

• Strong and proven leadership experience verifiable with references.
• Flexible schedule to allow for immediate safety concerns or incident resolution.
• Proficient in reading and interpretation of FAA regulations and guidance.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite.
• Strong judgement.
• Dedication to continuous improvement of process / procedures.
• Have poise and presence in delivering safety presentations to audiences.

Preferred skills/experience:

• SMS Program experience and training highly preferred.
• Commercial Pilot or CFI with 500 + PIC hours preferred.
• Academic qualifications in Aviation/Safety
• 2+ years in a supervisory position within a civil aviation company is desired or 3+ years in a comparable position in military aviation.

Organizational Structure

• This position leads the Safety Office presence and direction at HAA.
• As protocol within the aviation industry, this position reports to the President.
• This role will be supported by one or more Safety Leads who report to this role.

Benefits Offered: