Ground Operations Manager

Metrea Management LLC•Tampa, FL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

For this role, as an Aviation Ground Operations Manager (GOM), you will work out of our Tampa, Florida office location no less than three days per week. The GOM sits within the Special Air Missions (SAM) Group and reports to the Head of Maintenance, Maintenance (US) Capability Area. This role is focused on maintenance ground safety and is responsible for ensuring the safe execution of Part 145 maintenance and aircraft ground operations across both the Tampa home base and globally deployed ISR aircraft operations. The GOM plays a key role in fostering an organisational culture of effective safety management, risk awareness, and occurrence reporting, working across multiple project locations to promote safe behaviours and practical risk mitigation in a distributed and deployed operating environment. You will work closely with Maintenance and Operational leadership to embed safety into day-to-day activity and ensure compliance with: FAA Part 145 and applicable FARs, AS9100D (as applicable to operational safety), DCMA 8210-1D, ICAO Annex 19 Safety Management principles. This is a hands-on, operational role delivering real-world safety outcomes in support of aircraft maintenance operations both in Tampa and across globally deployed mission locations.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen
Must have a current Security Clearance (Secret or above)
Minimum 5+ years of aviation experience, including lead or supervisory roles
Demonstrated experience in: Aviation safety within maintenance or ground operations environments, Hazard identification, risk management, and incident investigation, Working in Part 91, Part 135, or Part 145 environments
Strong working knowledge of: FAA regulations, Safety Management Systems (SMS), Aviation operational risk management
OSHA 30-hour Certification (required)
Proven leadership with the ability to influence without authority across distributed and deployed teams
Clear and effective written/verbal communication skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office software platforms
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
Eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance

Nice To Haves

Previous military aviation or government contract experience
Experience operating under or supporting DCMA 8210-1D requirements
Experience supporting deployed, expeditionary, or austere aviation operations
OSHA 500 Outreach Trainer Certification
FAA Safety Training or equivalent aviation safety education
Experience coordinating emergency preparedness, fire prevention, and response resources
Background with FAA Part 91, Part 135, and Part 145 aviation activities and coordinating safety efforts for multi-site global organizations

Responsibilities

Ensure safe execution of aircraft ground operations and maintenance activities in accordance with approved procedures, technical data, and company Ground SOPs
Lead the continuous improvement of ground and maintenance safety programmes and site-specific safety plans across all locations
Perform periodic inspections, audits, and monitoring programmes to ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and company requirements
Identify safety hazards associated with maintenance activities, aircraft ground operations, and deployed environments, and collaborate with Maintenance Leads and Managers to develop and implement effective corrective actions
Develop and maintain safety policy, procedures, and risk assessments for all activities related to aircraft ground operations at home base and on global deployments
Translate corporate safety standards into practical Capability Area (CA) goals, objectives, and KPIs
Identify trends and proactively drive initiatives to eliminate incidents, including near-miss and hazard reporting programmes
Ensure effective occurrence and safety reporting, supporting a culture of transparency and continuous improvement
Oversee new-hire safety orientations, ensuring assignment of safety training and tracking of completion
Plan and facilitate OSHA-compliant safety training aligned with project phases, risks, and deployment environments
Lead incident and accident investigations, including root cause analysis and report generation, maintaining all required regulatory safety records
Coordinate emergency drills, equipment inspections, and fire prevention procedures across operational sites
Support deployed teams operating in austere or high-risk environments, ensuring safe execution of tasks
Coach and develop Site Safety Representatives (SSRs) through ongoing feedback and structured development plans
Work closely with Maintenance and Quality leadership to ensure safety is fully integrated into maintenance planning and execution
Support the implementation and continuous improvement of an FAA and ICAO Annex 19-compliant Safety Management System (SMS) for ground and flight operations
Support internal and external oversight activities, including FAA, DCMA, and customer audits, ensuring readiness and effective response