Manager, Fleet Modernization

Westerkirk•Calgary, AB

1d•Onsite

About The Position

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (DHC) is a storied name in the aerospace industry, recognized worldwide for its pioneering contributions to aviation and its unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and reliability. Headquartered in Calgary, AB, DHC currently has approximately 2,400 employees across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, as well as in markets and distribution hubs world-wide. Established in 1928, De Havilland Canada has a rich history marked by the development of some of the most iconic and versatile aircraft ever built. These aircraft have served a variety of roles—from bush flying to commercial aviation—and are celebrated for their rugged durability, operational versatility, and excellence in performance. Over the decades, De Havilland Canada has evolved to meet the changing needs of the aviation industry. Today, we are more than just an aircraft manufacturer; we are a comprehensive aerospace company with capabilities that span design, production, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. Our operations are supported by a team of skilled engineers, technicians, and industry professionals who are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of craftsmanship and innovation. POSITION TITLE: Manager, Firefighting Avionics Programs (FAP) Position Summary Reporting to the Senior Director, Aircraft Programs, the Manager, Fleet Modernization is responsible and accountable for the successful execution of avionics programs and work packages supporting De Havilland Canada's Aerial Firefighting (AFF) aircraft programs. The incumbent is accountable for ensuring assigned avionics program scope is delivered on schedule, on cost, and within scope, while meeting applicable technical, quality, certification, and contractual requirements. This includes providing integrated program leadership across Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Certification, Finance, Customer Support, suppliers, and other internal and external stakeholders. The incumbent owns the integrated execution of the avionics program plan, including program schedules, budgets, risks and opportunities, supplier performance, technical dependencies, certification deliverables, and key program milestones. The role is expected to proactively identify deviations from plan and lead the development and implementation of recovery and mitigation actions. The incumbent will establish and maintain appropriate program management governance and operating rhythms, including Integrated Program Team (IPT) meetings, Rolling Action Item Lists (RAILs), risk and opportunity reviews, schedule reviews, Program Monthly Reviews (PMRs), executive program reviews, and other program performance forums as required. The Manager is also responsible for maintaining effective relationships with customers, suppliers, contractors, regulatory authorities, and other key stakeholders associated with the firefighting avionics program. The role supports the development and implementation of avionics strategies required to meet current program commitments as well as future aircraft capability and business requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Avionics, Business, Program Management, or a related technical discipline.
A combination of relevant education and significant aerospace industry experience may be considered in lieu of a specific degree.
Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in aerospace, aviation, avionics, aircraft systems, or a related complex technical industry, including experience in program or project management.
Minimum 3 years of experience in a leadership or management capacity, preferably within an aerospace program, engineering, manufacturing, or aircraft development environment.
Demonstrated experience managing complex programs or major work packages with accountability for scope, schedule, cost, risk, and delivery performance.
Experience working within a cross-functional aircraft program environment, including collaboration with Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Certification, Finance, and Customer Support.
Experience with aircraft avionics development, integration, testing, certification, production introduction, or in-service modification programs is strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of aircraft development and certification processes and familiarity with applicable TCCA, FAA, EASA, and aviation regulatory requirements is considered a strong asset.
Experience working in an OEM, aircraft development, aircraft modification, or aerospace manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
Experience supporting a new aircraft development or production program is considered a strong asset.

Nice To Haves

PMP, MBA, P.Eng., or equivalent professional designation is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the execution of all assigned firefighting avionics program activities, including requirements definition, design, development, integration, testing, certification, production introduction, aircraft integration, and delivery.
Own the integrated avionics program plan and ensure alignment between technical scope, schedule, budget, resources, certification requirements, supplier commitments, and overall aircraft program milestones.
Maintain accountability for program performance against approved scope, schedule, cost, quality, and technical objectives, proactively identifying deviations and implementing corrective and recovery actions.
Develop, maintain, and manage integrated program schedules, key milestones, budgets, forecasts, resource requirements, and program performance metrics.
Establish and maintain effective program governance, including IPT meetings, RAIL management, risk and opportunity reviews, schedule reviews, PMRs, internal operating reviews, and executive-level program reporting.
Act as the primary program interface for firefighting avionics matters between Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Certification, Finance, Customer Support, Contracts, Program Management, and other functional organizations.
Serve as a key point of contact for customers, suppliers, contractors, and external stakeholders regarding avionics program execution, commitments, risks, issues, and recovery plans.
Lead cross-functional resolution of technical, integration, certification, supplier, production, cost, and schedule issues that may impact aircraft program objectives.
Proactively identify, assess, document, communicate, and mitigate program risks and opportunities, ensuring clear ownership, action plans, due dates, and escalation paths.
Develop and execute recovery plans where program performance is not meeting established commitments, including identification of root causes, required resources, mitigation actions, and decision requirements.
Manage avionics supplier performance in collaboration with Supply Chain and Engineering, including schedule adherence, technical deliverables, qualification and certification activities, commercial dependencies, and recovery actions where required.
Ensure avionics suppliers and internal teams are aligned with aircraft-level priorities, configuration requirements, certification plans, production schedules, and delivery commitments.
Support configuration management and change control processes to ensure changes to avionics scope, requirements, cost, and schedule are properly evaluated, approved, communicated, and incorporated into the program baseline.
Ensure avionics program activities support applicable airworthiness, safety, regulatory, and certification requirements, including requirements established by TCCA, FAA, EASA, and other authorities as applicable to the program.
Coordinate with Engineering and Certification organizations to ensure certification plans, compliance deliverables, test activities, documentation, and regulatory submissions are completed in accordance with the integrated aircraft program schedule.
Ensure accurate and timely preparation of program documentation, decision material, executive updates, customer presentations, dashboards, milestone reviews, and other program deliverables.
Regularly communicate program status to senior leadership, including performance against key milestones, KPIs, budget, schedule, risks, opportunities, supplier performance, and critical decisions required.
Provide clear escalation of issues requiring leadership intervention, ensuring that decisions are supported by fact-based analysis, options, recommendations, and an understanding of aircraft-level impacts.
Lead and mentor assigned program management personnel and support the development of a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative program team.
Establish clear responsibilities, priorities, commitments, and performance expectations across the avionics program team and supporting functions.
Support workforce and resource planning for the firefighting avionics program, identifying current and future capability requirements and resource constraints.
Promote disciplined program management practices, accountability, standard work, and continuous improvement across the firefighting avionics organization.
Identify and implement improvements to program management processes, tools, governance, reporting, and operating rhythms to improve predictability and execution performance.
Support strategic planning for future firefighting avionics capabilities, upgrades, obsolescence management, product improvements, and other avionics initiatives required to support the aircraft program and broader business objectives.
Perform other program leadership responsibilities as required in support of the successful execution and delivery of De Havilland Canada's firefighting aircraft programs.