Director of Maintenance - Part 135

Company: Jet 1 Charter, Inc.

Location: Naples, Florida

Reports to: President and CEO

Position: Full time

Position Summary: The Director of Maintenance leads Jet 1's maintenance department and oversees the airworthiness, reliability, and maintenance readiness of the company's Part 135 charter fleet and assigned managed aircraft. This leader directs personnel, maintenance planning, inspections, aircraft repairs, vendor performance, technical records, and maintenance spending. The position works closely with Flight Operations, Dispatch, Charter, and aircraft owners to provide dependable aircraft availability while meeting regulatory requirements and protecting aircraft value. Authority and Accountability Exercise the maintenance authority assigned in Jet 1's manuals, including removing aircraft from service and withholding maintenance clearance when safety, airworthiness, or compliance is in question. Approve work and expenditures within delegated limits, and escape material risks to the President and CEO. Ensure appropriately authorized personnel complete return-to-service approvals. Delegating work does not remove the Director's oversight responsibilities or the certificate holder's regulatory accountability. Regulatory Compliance and FAA Coordination Maintain compliance with applicable FAA requirements, Operations Specifications, company manuals, and the maintenance and inspection program applicable to each aircraft. Serve as the primary maintenance contact for the FAA. Coordinate inspections, surveillance, manual revisions, regulatory submissions, and timely corrective action on findings. Oversee Airworthiness Directive compliance, life limits, and mandatory maintenance tasks. Evaluate service bulletins and manufacturer recommendations for applicability, risk, and incorporation. Ensure maintenance policies, technical publications, and staff instructions remain current and are followed by company personnel and contracted providers. Fleet Planning and Aircraft Readiness Maintain a rolling maintenance forecast based on calendar limits, flight hours, cycles, component status, and projected aircraft utilization. Plan inspections, major repairs, engine and APU events, and upgrades with Operations and aircraft owners; secure shop capacity and parts before scheduled downtime. Review aircraft status, open discrepancies, and upcoming limits daily. Communicate maintenance restrictions and realistic availability to Dispatch and Charter. Administer Minimum Equipment List deferrals under approved procedures, including required actions, records, placards, limitations, and repair deadlines. AOG Response and Technical Oversight Lead aircraft-on-ground response at home base and away from base. Coordinate qualified technicians, maintenance facilities, OEM support, parts delivery, and recovery plans. Direct troubleshooting using current technical data and documented findings. Investigate recurring discrepancies and verify corrective action resolves the underlying cause. Provide timely updates on diagnosis, estimated costs, repair progress, and expected completion; distinguish confirmed findings from preliminary estimates. Verify completion of required inspections, functional checks, documentation, and authorized return-to-service approvals before communicating maintenance readiness to Operations. Department Leadership and Staffing Lead assigned maintenance personnel, including the Assistant Director of Maintenance, maintenance controllers, technicians, and records support. Define responsibilities and hold employees accountable for work quality. Establish staffing, after-hours coverage, escalation procedures, and shift handoffs that support the flight schedule and maintain continuity during absences. Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate personnel. Maintain appropriate qualifications and authorizations, address fatigue and workload, and promote prompt reporting of errors and hazards. Vendor Management and Quality Control Select and oversee qualified repair stations, mobile technicians, and other maintenance providers. Evaluate technical capability, authorizations, workmanship, turnaround time, and commercial terms. Define work scopes, compare proposals, authorize work within company limits, and monitor inspection findings, added work, schedule changes, and completion milestones. Audit outsourced work and completed maintenance packages. Require correction of deficient workmanship or records and pursue vendor accountability for repeat failures. Ensure applicable required inspection functions remain properly separated from maintenance performance and are completed by qualified, authorized personnel. Budgets Purchasing and Cost Control Prepare aircraft maintenance budgets and forecasts for major events. Report material variances, upcoming expenditures, and cost reduction opportunities to leadership and aircraft owners. Review estimates, labor charges, parts pricing, freight, and invoices for accuracy and reasonableness. Obtain required company and owner approvals and document scope changes. Oversee parts sourcing, purchasing, traceability, receiving, storage, shelf life, exchange cores, and inventory levels. Prevent unapproved or unserviceable parts from entering service. Manage warranty claims and engine, APU, and other maintenance program coverage. Capture available credits and avoid duplicate billing or unnecessary component replacement. Reduce avoidable downtime and expense through planning, troubleshooting, and vendor negotiation while preserving required maintenance and safety standards. Technical Records and Fleet Changes Ensure aircraft records, maintenance tracking, logbooks, component histories, and compliance status are accurate, complete, secure, and retrievable for the required retention periods. Reconcile completed work with tracking systems and review major repair and alteration documentation, equipment changes, and associated weight-and-balance updates. Support aircraft acquisitions, pre-purchase inspections, certificate additions and removals, and management transitions through records review, conformity coordination, and maintenance cost assessments. Safety Reliability and Communication Lead maintenance participation in Jet 1's safety processes and applicable Safety Management System activities. Investigate hazards and events, implement corrective actions, and verify effectiveness. Oversee continuing analysis and surveillance where required by the applicable maintenance program. Track reliability trends, repeat discrepancies, and maintenance-related disruptions. Ensure required service difficulty and mechanical interruption reports are submitted accurately and on time when applicable. Keep leadership and aircraft owners informed of significant findings, costs, downtime, and long-term maintenance needs. Explain technical issues clearly and document decisions. Coordinate with Flight Operations and the Chief Pilot on maintenance status and restrictions while respecting their assigned operational responsibilities and the pilot in command's authority.

Required Qualifications: Hold an FAA mechanic certificate with both Airframe and Powerplant ratings and meet the Director of Maintenance qualification requirements in 14 CFR 119.71(e). Satisfy either regulatory experience pathway: at least three years within the preceding six maintaining aircraft as a certificated mechanic, with experience maintaining the aircraft category and class Jet 1 operates at appointment; or at least three years within the preceding six repairing aircraft in a certificated airframe repair station, including one year approving aircraft for return to service. Demonstrate Part 135 turbine aircraft maintenance experience and working knowledge of applicable regulations, maintenance programs, technical data, MEL administration, and maintenance records. Bring proven leadership, troubleshooting, vendor negotiation, budgeting, and owner communication skills, with proficiency in aircraft maintenance tracking systems. Mandatory Experience Previous service as a Part 135 Director of Maintenance; leadership of a fleet with multiple aircraft types; and experience with Citation, Challenger, Gulfstream, or comparable business jets. Manufacturer training and experience overseeing major inspections, engine programs, and FAA audits are valued. Work Expectations and Measures of Success Based in Naples with travel to maintenance facilities or aircraft locations as needed. Participate in a defined after-hours and weekend coverage plan for urgent maintenance matters. Success is measured by timely compliance, accurate records, effective audit closure, reduced repeat discrepancies and avoidable downtime, dependable communication, budget accuracy, and documented savings consistent with safety and quality. Regulatory references: 14 CFR 119.69 | 119.71 | 135.179 | Part 135 Subpart J