Program Manager, Avionics Install

West Star Aviation, LLC•Chattanooga, TN

About The Position

West Star is the fastest growing maintenance repair organization in the industry, and we recognize this is the result of our talented team of trusted employees working together to deliver customer service excellence. We are committed to providing our employees with personal and professional growth opportunities while fostering a culture of respect and well-being with a small company feel. When you join our team, we don’t think you should have to wait for your benefits to kick in. That’s why when you start, they start with you! This includes medical, dental, 401K match, time off accruals, weekly pay days and much more. We don’t want you to live to work, we want you to work and live. What you can expect as an Avionics Install Manager at West Star: This position requires a responsive, fast-paced decision maker who is highly driven to achieve business expectations. This is a results-oriented leader driven by personal and team accountability. This position requires an advanced knowledge of aircraft avionics processes and supervisory abilities. The job includes management of the Avionics Shop processes, schedule, employees, control and evaluation of the shop operations, expenses, finances, and ongoing development to meet the needs of the company. Solid supervisory skills and the ability to get along with other employees and customers alike are essential. This manager will also develop and implement “best practices” methodology while driving a competitive advantage. This is accomplished by a continuous improvement, process-based culture, focused on people, safety, service, profitability, accuracy, and speed. Under minimal supervision, exercise discretion and sound business judgment to deliver an on time and squawk free customer service experience while adhering to all regulatory, safety, quality, and company standards.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent required
At least 4 years’ recent experience as a lead, supervisor, or manager in the Avionics Shop
10+ years in Avionics Install, with management experience in building and leading world-class operations and organizations.
Working knowledge of Corridor, Cost Accounting Management, Microsoft Office, MS Project, and similar type desktop software applications.
Attention to detail and strong organizational and communication skills, both written and oral, along with budget and forecasting experience.
Attend work every day as scheduled to include overtime, travel, and weekend assignments.
Must perform all work in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.
Follow all company and safety rules during performance of duties.
Maintain customer-oriented work habits.
Direct the work and flow of multiple projects.
Routine walking, bending, and squatting or sitting.
Routing or repetitive physical motion with arms and hands
Basic personal computer operations, especially with Apple and Microsoft products (Outlook, Word, and Excel)
Understanding and implementation of regulations and guidelines
Work with others in a professional manner.
Coordinate projects
Team management skills

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science Degree in Business, Leadership or Aircraft related field preferred
LEAN, Six Sigma and 5S experience preferred.
Corporate aircraft experience – Gulfstream, Bombardier, Falcon, Embraer, and Textron – is preferred.
Experience working directly with Avionics vendors such as Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, Universal Avionics, Gogo, etc.

Responsibilities

Under minimal supervision, exercise discretion and sound business judgment to deliver an on time and squawk free customer service experience while adhering to all regulatory, safety, quality, and company standards.
Hire, assess, and develop employees at various skill levels to perform work in accordance with all applicable procedures and standards.
Review available manpower by skill and shift to plan short and long-term training needs along with hiring goals for an optimized workforce.
Engage employees for feedback on improvement opportunities or other job related needs to enhance the work environment and remove obstacles.
Partner with all departments to develop the workflow from pre-planning to aircraft delivery.
Communicate status updates during routine operational meetings and attend customer meetings as required.
Perform project-based planning to assign manpower, identify, and prepare a recovery plan addressing any potential risks, schedule changes, or other constraints.
Ensure all work is performed with the highest level of technical knowledge, in accordance with company and regulatory procedures, repair station manual, safety and quality standards.
Promote and hold employees accountable for a safe work environment to include proper use of all PPE, operation of support equipment, and general housekeeping.
Perform normal employee management tasks such as reviewing and approving time off requests, labor charges and expense reports; conduct quarterly performance pulses; provide regular coaching for performance and team developmental opportunities, share positive feedback and all other general employment matters such as hiring, training, conflict resolution, establishing work schedules, overtime assignments.
Develop positive relationships with peers to foster effective communication and teamwork for employees and customers alike.
Review material purchases, billing invoices, and labor charges to determine cost/profitability. Communicate regularly with Billing to review and sign all final invoices.
Perform other related job duties as assigned.
Effectively and clearly communicate (i.e., speak, write, read) in English.
Manage both cockpit and cabin retrofit modifications while ensuring that the work performed meets safety, quality, and efficiency standards; for example, Pro Line 21 Advanced, Primus Elite, Venue and Ovation CMS, Starlink, Gogo, Viasat, etc.
Work with both the Quality and Engineering departments to review certification path and follow-up on data release, approvals, etc. to facilitate necessary return-to-service paperwork.
Monitor both internal and external communication and respond promptly, as required; expect a high volume of email and verbal communication in this role.
Attend monthly KPI meetings with the VP General Manager and FP&A Analyst to speak about the previous month’s financial performance for the Avionics Install department.
Work closely with Airframe Project Managers to communicate any constraints, customer requirements (e.g., completion wiring diagrams), and overall progression / status for a given Avionics Install project.