Program Manager - Eglin Fighter Aircraft Backshop Maintenance Support

AAR Corp•Valparaiso, FL

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Serves as the Operations Lead for an upcoming fighter aircraft backshop maintenance opportunity supporting the 96th Maintenance Group at Eglin AFB. Provides senior maintenance leadership, operational oversight, and day-to-day integration across a large fighter maintenance enterprise supporting F-15C, F-15E, F-16, UH-1, and other assigned or possessed aircraft. Leads and coordinates production management, maintenance operations, scheduling, supply support, quality, flightline integration, and numerous backshop functions to maximize aircraft and systems availability, reduce downtime, and sustain mission-ready capability for the 96th Test Wing and supported mission partners. The role requires a highly credible senior USAF maintenance professional who understands how to lead fighter maintenance operations from both a strategic and daily execution perspective, establish immediate credibility with Air Force maintenance leaders, and ensure compliance with the PWS, DAFI 21-101, technical orders, local operating instructions, safety/security requirements, and contract performance thresholds.

Requirements

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
In order to obtain a Secret Clearance, US Citizenship is required
Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) or Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from four-year college or university; or fifteen (15)+ years related experience.
Retired USAF Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, or Chief Master Sergeant, Aircraft Maintenance Office or Maintenance Superintendent, with demonstrated fighter aircraft maintenance leadership experience.
Minimum of twenty (20) years of USAF fighter aircraft maintenance experience, with strong preference for experience spanning both flightline (Aircraft Maintenance Squadron) and Equipment or Component Maintenance Squadron or Maintenance Squadron operations.
Prior senior maintenance leadership experience as an Equipment or Component Maintenance Squadron Commander/Superintendent, Maintenance Operations Officer, or Accessories, Maintenance or Propulsion Flight Commander/Flight Chief, Production Superintendent, or similar senior fighter maintenance leadership position.
Demonstrated experience leading large organizations responsible for avionics, egress, fuels, electrical/environmental, hydraulics/pneudraulics, wheel and tire, NDI, structural repair, corrosion control, propulsion, armament, maintenance operations, scheduling, supply support, and quality functions.
Deep understanding of fighter maintenance production, sortie generation, maintenance scheduling, quality assurance, supply chain support, Maintenance Operations Center functions, and performance-based maintenance execution.
Familiarity with DAFI 21-101 maintenance management principles and leadership responsibilities typically assigned to Flight Commanders, Flight Chiefs, NCOICs, Production Superintendents, and Maintenance Operations leaders.
Ability to establish immediate credibility with Air Force maintenance leaders and operate effectively with senior Government, military, and contractor stakeholders.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Nice To Haves

Prior senior flightline and backshop maintenance leadership experience within the 96th Maintenance Group at Eglin AFB.
Prior senior flightline and backshop maintenance leadership experience withing the 57th Maintenance Group at Nellis AFB.
Prior senior accessories maintenance leadership experience within the 412th Maintenance Group at Edwards AFB.
Experience with F-15C, F-15E, F-16, UH-1, F-35, or comparable USAF fighter/test aircraft maintenance operations.
Experience supporting fighter Operational and Developmental test, T-2 modification, TCTO, SPO, or special program operations.
Knowledge of 96th Test Wing, 96th Maintenance Group, AFMC test maintenance, Air Combat Command and Eglin AFB operating environment.

Responsibilities

Serves as the contractor’s senior Operations Lead for the Eglin fighter aircraft backshop maintenance opportunity supporting the 96th Maintenance Group.
Provides leadership and oversight of a large USAF fighter maintenance enterprise supporting F-15C, F-15E, F-16, UH-1, and other assigned, possessed, transient, or supported aircraft maintenance activities.
Integrates flightline and backshop maintenance operations to support sortie generation, aircraft availability, production priorities, and timely resolution of mission-limiting discrepancies.
Directs day-to-day coordination across production management, maintenance operations, scheduling, Maintenance Operations Center functions, supply support, quality control, training, safety, documentation, and Government interface requirements.
Leads or oversees backshop functions including avionics, egress, fuels, electrical/environmental, pneudraulics/hydraulics, wheel and tire, nondestructive inspection, structural repair, corrosion control, propulsion/JEIM, Hush House/Test Cell, armament, aircraft repair and reclamation, phase inspections, and related support functions.
Applies senior-level understanding of fighter maintenance production, DAFI 21-101 maintenance management principles, and leadership responsibilities normally assigned to Flight Commanders, Flight Chiefs, NCOICs, Production Superintendents, Maintenance Operations Officers, and Maintenance Squadron Operations Officers.
Establishes effective working relationships with Air Force maintenance leaders, Government representatives, CORs, Contract Management Office personnel, 96 MXG leadership, and supported mission partners.
Ensures sufficient staffing, supervision, certifications, and shift coverage are in place to meet normal duty hours, 24/7 support expectations, dispatchable shop response requirements, and mission-essential services.
Ensures maintenance documentation, aircraft status reporting, MIS updates, technical order compliance, tool accountability, Government property control, facilities coordination, vehicle support, and supply/repair-cycle management are performed accurately and on schedule.
Supports contract transition, workforce onboarding, personnel qualification validation, training records, employee roster requirements, security clearance coordination, CAC/line badge processes, and maintenance of required special certifications.
Oversees development and execution of required plans and reports, including the Quality Control Plan, Safety and Health Plan, training documentation plan, property control plan, strike plan, trip reports, cost/performance reports, labor reporting, and other contract deliverables.
Coordinates TDY, off-station aircraft recovery, special event support, T-2 modification support, support agreements, SPO support, and approved out-of-scope or overtime requirements without degrading home-station performance.
Monitors performance against service summary thresholds, initiates corrective actions, supports Government surveillance, manages responses to findings and CARs, and drives continuous improvement in safety, quality, readiness, schedule performance, and customer satisfaction.
Travel is required, including CONUS and potential OCONUS travel as directed and approved by the Government.
All other duties as assigned.
Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with company policies, applicable laws, contract requirements, and Government-approved procedures.
Leads supervisors, production personnel, maintenance operations personnel, quality personnel, schedulers, supply support personnel, and technical staff across multiple fighter aircraft maintenance and backshop disciplines.
Responsible for workforce planning, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, assigning and directing work, performance management, corrective action, employee accountability, subcontractor coordination, and resolution of operational issues across multiple maintenance and support functions.
Ensures qualified leaders and technicians are available to cover required shifts, mission-essential functions, dispatchable shop response requirements, sortie-generation support, and surge or contingency needs.