Job Title: Head of Engineering Operations
Location: Exeter
Employment Type: Permanent
Benefits:
- Competitive Basic Salary
- Company Quarterly Bonus Scheme (following successful completion of a probationary period)
- Company stretch bonus opportunities, offering up to an additional 25% bonus
- Full-time hours (8.30am – 5.30pm / 9.00am – 6.00pm)
- Team BBQs and staff days, incorporating family and partners
- A strong benefits package including:
- Private Healthcare
- Life Cover
- Income Protection
- Cycle to Work Scheme
About the Role
The Head of Engineering Operations is a senior leadership role, responsible for the overall management, operational delivery, compliance, and strategic development of the company’s global aircraft structural repair activities.
Key Responsibilities
The Role:
- Maintain overall responsibility for the planning, coordination, and execution of multiple concurrent aircraft fixed price projects.
- Oversee complex and time-critical repair, modification and routine maintenance activities, including AOG events.
- Ensure repairs are executed in accordance with approved maintenance data, customer requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Support, mentor, train, and coach Project Managers and Team Leaders (permanent and contract) in planning, execution, and customer engagement.
- Provide senior-level support during customer, engineering, and OEM coordination calls to define repair scope, schedules, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Ensure effective coordination of resources, tooling, materials, and third-party support to achieve on-time return-to-service.
- Act as the senior customer-facing authority for estimates, schedules, technical discussions, and repair progress updates.
- Ensure customer requests are converted into accurate estimates within defined timelines when required.
- Promote the company’s capabilities during emergent repair and AOG opportunities.
- Maintain and develop strong working relationships with customers, suppliers, OEMs, and third-party organisations.
- Support commercial decision-making to ensure repairs are delivered efficiently and profitably.
- Ensure full compliance with all applicable aviation regulatory requirements across operating regions.
- Maintain oversight of the Safety Management System (SMS), Quality Management System (QPulse), and relevant HR policies throughout projects.
- Promote a strong safety culture and ensure a safe working environment at all repair locations.
- Ensure discipline, professionalism, and punctuality are maintained across all teams.
- Oversee damage assessments, surveys, and repair scope evaluations as required.
- Provide strategic oversight of resource planning to ensure optimal deployment of personnel across multiple projects.
- Ensure effective utilisation of resources to support timely project delivery within estimated TAT.
- Guide and support Project Managers through delivery challenges, including capacity constraints, sickness, and other workforce-related issues.
- Align operational priorities across projects to maintain consistent delivery performance and organisational resilience.
Candidate Requirements
Essential:
- Educated to GCSE standard equivalent
- A minimum of 10 years’ experience of heavy maintenance tasks including component replacements, repairs and modifications.
- Demonstrable senior management and leadership experience in a customer-facing engineering environment.
- Strong understanding of aviation regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements.
- Proven ability to operate effectively under pressure in AOG and time-critical situations.
- Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and strategic planning skills.
Desirable
- B1/B2 licence desirable but not essential.
Why Work with JMC Aviation?
At JMC Aviation, we specialise in aviation recruitment across engineering services and training to airlines, MROs and OEMs, leasing and asset management companies, and component overhaul organisations. With deep industry knowledge and a global network, we match the right talent to the right roles — contract or permanent.
- Industry-leading compliance support
- Fast onboarding and documentation assistance
- Dedicated recruitment consultant
- Placements across the globe
- Extensive experience and knowledge of the aviation sector
How to Apply
Submit your up-to-date CV, along with copies of right to work documents to megan.collyer@jmc-aviation.com
Compliance & Equal Opportunities
JMC Aviation is committed to equal opportunity and diversity in the workplace. All applicants will be considered based on merit, qualification, and business need, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or background. We operate in full compliance with global aviation recruitment regulations.
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