Director, Aircraft Programs

Standard Aero•Scottsdale, AZ

8d•Remote

About The Position

The Director of Aircraft Programs is responsible for the overall strategy of Business Aviation’s non-engine services segment. Under the direction of the VP – Airframe Programs, this role develops and implements plans to increase airframe revenue and margin across Business Aviation airframe sites in collaboration with Sales and Operations. The position manages new product introductions, monitors and acts on site KPIs, develops organic and inorganic strategies, and leads their implementation. It also provides direction for product-related marketing, account development, and business acquisitions. The role maximizes performance across non-engine services, including Airframe, Avionics, Paint, and Interior, while working with Sales and facilities to achieve results within each facility’s labor and hangar-space constraints. It evaluates growth and business-development opportunities, including acquisitions, and leads projects to expand capacity. The Director sets platform priorities and ensures the tooling, manuals, training, and other resources needed to execute are in place. The position establishes commercial strategies and pricing frameworks with Sales and site/business operations; develops sales strategies with the VP of Sales and sales team; and builds sustainable relationships with airframe OEMs. The Director manages airframe and avionics OEM ASC agreements, including cost-benefit analysis, negotiations, and contract compliance where agreements benefit StandardAero. The role coordinates facility audits to ensure staffing, training, tooling, and manuals support operational excellence and ASC compliance. It manages the Business Aviation Centralized Engineering and ODA team and helps develop capabilities and expand profitable Supplemental Type Certificate activity. In coordination with VPs, general managers, and airframe service managers, the Director balances labor capacity with forecast market demand to achieve the Annual Operating Plan. The position leads continuous-improvement projects to improve efficiency, profit, and customer experience; maintains a deep understanding of market and competitive forces and translates that knowledge into strategy and coordinated execution; and provides leadership for the Annual Operating Budget, Long-Range Plans, forecasting, and P&L insight and analysis. The work location may be remote, and travel availability of 25–50% is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aviation management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent combinations of education and directly related industry experience may be considered.
Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in the aviation maintenance industry, preferably in business or corporate aviation MRO.
Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience with responsibility for multiple operational functions, business units, service centers, or geographically dispersed teams.
Demonstrated experience overseeing or supporting multiple aviation maintenance service offerings, including airframe, avionics, paint, and/or interior services.
Experience developing and executing business growth strategies, including new platform introductions, expansion of maintenance capabilities, and/or acquisition evaluations.
Experience establishing commercial strategies, pricing structures, customer agreements, and negotiating OEM or other strategic business partnerships.
Experience with financial management, including P&L oversight, annual operating budgets, financial forecasting, and long-range business planning.
Experience managing operational capacity, including workforce planning, labor utilization, facility constraints, and resource allocation.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and driving operational improvements across multiple locations.
Strong market research and analysis skills.
Must be available to travel 25–50%.
Strong planning, organizational, analytical, interpersonal, decision-making, oral, and written communication skills.
Strong negotiation, conflict-resolution, and customer-service skills.
Strong product knowledge, including engine applications and technical knowledge of maintenance characteristics.
Strong financial analysis skills.
Thorough knowledge of PCs in the company operating-system environment.
Working knowledge of contract and program management.

Nice To Haves

A&P License with extensive experience on business aviation aircraft; a plus but not required.
Knowledge of or interest in leveraging AI.
Experience in a program management, sales, purchasing, negotiations, and/or related management role in an aerospace environment.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement strategy and plans to increase airframe revenue and margin across Business Aviation airframe sites.
Maximize performance of non-engine services, including Airframe, Avionics, Paint, and Interior, in collaboration with Sales and facilities and within labor and hangar-space constraints.
Evaluate growth and business-development opportunities, including acquisitions, and lead projects to expand labor and hangar capacity.
Establish platform priorities and ensure the tooling, manuals, training, and other resources needed to execute are in place.
Manage new product introductions, monitor and act on site KPIs, and develop and implement organic and inorganic strategies.
Establish commercial strategies and pricing frameworks in collaboration with Sales and site/business operations.
Coordinate with the VP of Sales and sales team to develop sales strategies and align product offerings with capabilities.
Build sustainable relationships with key airframe OEMs and evaluate potential new relationships as growth opportunities.
Manage airframe and avionics OEM ASC agreements, including cost-benefit analysis, negotiations, and contract compliance.
Coordinate facility audits to ensure staffing, training, tooling, and manuals are sufficient for operational excellence and ASC compliance.
Manage the Business Aviation Centralized Engineering and ODA team and help develop capabilities and expand profitable STC activity.
Coordinate with VPs, general managers, and airframe service managers to balance labor capacity with forecast market demand and achieve AOP.
Lead continuous-improvement projects to improve efficiency, profit, and customer experience.
Monitor market and competitive forces and translate market knowledge into strategy and coordinated execution.
Provide leadership for the Annual Operating Budget and Long-Range Plans, as well as forecasting and P&L insight and analysis.
Provide direction for product-related marketing and account development.