Director of Maintenance - B777 Conversions Program
Job Description
It's your career... give it wings!
Who we are and where we are going:
Ascent Aviation Services is one of the largest aviation maintenance, repair, overhaul, storage and reclamation operations in the world. Our strength comes from our talented and professional employees who excel through teamwork and enthusiasm. Ascent Aviation Services continues to grow and are continually looking for motivated and career-minded aviation professionals who will support our vision and goals.
Lead the heavy aircraft modification team as the Director of Maintenance for our B777 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) Conversion Program. This role requires a proven leader with extensive experience in aircraft structures, heavy maintenance, and FAA Part 145 MRO operations. Reporting to the President, you will oversee all maintenance activities for the program, ensuring compliance with FAA regulations, company standards, and customer requirements while driving safety, quality, and operational performance.
This is a career-defining opportunity to lead high-performance teams, elevate maintenance standards, and reinforce a culture grounded in Respect, Safety, Quality, and Results. With the launch of our 777 program and two new hangars, Ascent is experiencing rapid growth. This position is instrumental in achieving our goals and fulfilling our mission of becoming the most trusted aerospace solutions provider in North America.
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provides strategic leadership over all maintenance operations, ensuring full compliance with FAA regulations, technical data, and company policies across all assigned business units.
- Champions a high-performance culture aligned with the company’s mission, vision, and core values, promoting collaboration, accountability, and employee engagement.
- Oversees Maintenance Control, Line Stations, and Technical Support teams, ensuring operational excellence and consistent service delivery.
- Builds and maintains strong customer relationships, serving as the primary point of contact for maintenance-related performance and satisfaction.
- Ensures the availability of skilled labor, tooling, equipment, and support services to meet current and future operational demands.
- Drives workforce readiness by ensuring all technical personnel maintain required training, certifications, and regulatory qualifications.
- Collaborates with executive leadership and department heads to establish priorities, streamline workflows, and resolve complex operational issues.
- Develops and executes long and short-term maintenance strategies, plans, and schedules to meet customer commitments in a timely and cost-effective manner.
- Leads budget planning and financial oversight for maintenance departments, authorizing expenditures and managing fiscal performance.
- Provides mentorship and performance management for subordinate leaders, delivering coaching, development, and corrective action as needed.
- Serves as the principal FAA liaison for all maintenance operations, ensuring regulatory integrity and audit readiness.
- Ensures aircraft, engine, and component maintenance operations, ensuring regulatory integrity and audit readiness.
- Ensures aircraft, engine, and component maintenance adheres to all regulatory standards, manuals, service bulletins, and quality requirements.
- Advises senior leadership on policy enhancements, operational improvements, and strategic initiatives.
- Acts with full authority within corporate guidelines, implementing innovative methods to achieve organizational goals and elevate maintenance standards.
YOU WILL GET MORE THAN JUST COMPENSATION:
- 401K with Company Match
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
- PTO - Eligible for 3 Weeks in your First Year, in Addition to 7 Paid Company Holidays
- Company-Provided Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
- Development and Career Growth Opportunities
REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:
- Proven leadership and management skills within aviation maintenance or aerospace operations.
- Strong analytical and organizational abilities, including experience generating forecasts, managing inventory, and interpreting technical data.
- Exceptional attention to detail with a high level of accuracy and strong mathematical aptitude.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to read, write, and comprehend complex technical and regulatory documentation.
- Ability to plan, prioritize, and execute work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Self-directed, target-oriented mindset with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
- Comfortable with business travel and participation in industry conferences or trade events.
- Aerospace background preferred, with experience in engineering, maintenance, or fabrication projects, ideally involving landing gear or similar complex systems.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum of at least 10 years of maintenance experience, including at least 5 years in aviation management or a related leadership discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Five plus years of structures modification experience (sheet metal)
- Valid FAA Airframe or Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Certificate required.
- High school diploma or equivalent required; advanced education or technical training preferred.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Requires sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods of time.
- Requires frequent bending, stopping, squatting, climbing, and reaching above shoulder level.
- Requires occasional crawling, crouching, kneeling, and balancing.
- Requires frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling weight up to 10 pounds.
- Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity.
- Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.
EQUIPMENT OPERATED:
- Telephone, personal computer, multiple printers, copy machine, and shredder.
- May be required to operate additional office equipment not explicitly listed.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work primarily in the Main Hangar and the Maintenance Office.
- Potential hazards include exposure to materials listed on Material Safety Data Sheets, exposure to high intensity noise levels, extreme changes in temperature, and working around moving machinery.
- Protective Equipment Required: Goggles, safety glasses, face shields, ear protection, aprons, gloves, respirators, dust masks, and protective clothing as required.
OTHER DUTIES:
- May be required to work at Marana and Tucson locations as business needs dictate.
- This job description is intended to convey essential information about the position and its duties. It is not an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, or responsibilities. Ascent Aviation Services reserves the right to modify, supplement, or eliminate duties over time or based on business needs.
SMS REQUIREMENTS:
- Employees are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with company policies and government regulations. These rules are written in the interest of preserving the lives and the resources entrusted to each employee, and when the rules are violated, the risk of a mishap is usually increased.
- Employees shall participate in safety education programs and train to recognize hazards on the job and how to report them promptly. As a condition of employment, each member of Ascent Aviation agrees to report errors, incidents, and accidents honestly.
- An employee who observes an unsafe action or condition should bring it to the attention of supervisors and managers. Certain conditions may allow the employee to easily correct or condition a situation.
Ascent Aviation Services is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment. We provide equal employment opportunities and are committed to making reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job.
If you require any accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know. EEO/AA/F/M/VET/DIS