Director Air Safety

The Director of Air Safety has the overall responsibility to manage Cirrus Air Safety activities, including support for aircraft incident/accident investigations, coordinating actions to ensure post-incident CAPS systems have been made safe, identifying aircraft non-compliance design issues, and supporting legal actions. The Director will also manage the development and implementation of the Cirrus Safety Management System (SMS) including the identification of trends, hazard mitigation procedures, and oversight of safety programs such as the Cirrus Air Safety Committee (CASC) and others as directed. This role will also work with key stakeholders to develop/enhance Continued Operational Safety (COS) reporting programs for Cirrus operations to identify and resolve potential flight safety issues. Air Safety will provide Cirrus leadership team with recommendations on how to minimize the risks involved in Cirrus fleet operations to include all aspects of flight safety and provide support for production development in safety innovation. The Director will also support Cirrus outreach and education initiatives that promote aviation safety and education.

Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions

Major Duties/Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Manage Cirrus Fleet Safety Activities 
• Strategy development for the creation of an overall product aviation safety program with the ability to sell and market concepts broadly around the organization
• Support Cirrus Aircraft customer and FAA/NTSB aviation safety initiatives that seek to reduce the fleet accident rate, develop action plans for customer specific safety improvement measures, and activities that reflect Cirrus’ leadership in Aviation Safety 
• Oversight and management of aviation safety programs such as the development and implementation of a comprehensive Safety Management System (SMS). SMS responsibilities include; 
  • Coordinate implementation, maintenance, and integration of the SMS throughout the certificate holder's organization
  • Facilitate hazard identification and safety risk analysis
  • Monitor the effectiveness of safety risk controls
  • Ensure safety promotion throughout the certificate holder's organization
  • Regularly report to the accountable executive on the performance of the SMS and on any need for improvement
  • Interface directly with regulatory agencies in support of the SMS program 
• Manage the Cirrus Air Safety Committee, Flight Safety Report (FSR) reporting program, and other programs as required 
• Oversee the Cirrus aircraft accident investigation team and coordinate with the engineering team on product integrity issues discovered during investigations or reported by customers 
• Perform data analysis and trending for flight hazards; work with Flight Operations staff, Engineering, NTSB data, and product integrity/design to recommend safety improvements for Cirrus customers and crew members 
• Perform and coordinate incident, accident, and irregular operations event investigations; work with local and onsite entities to include the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) when required 
•  Support Cirrus outreach and education initiatives that promote aviation safety and education, including activities such as Cirrus Regional Training Seminars, Vision Pilot Organization (VPO), Cirrus Owner and Pilots Association (COPA) safety programs, support product safety digital/social media, and other industry safety seminars 
• Manage staff for optimum performance; supervise and direct the activities of subordinate personnel, as well as train and ensure employee development in areas of fleet safety, flight safety, and accident investigation.
• Coordinate corporate wide Flight Data Management (FDM) to enhance Cirrus flight safety.

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Working knowledge and understanding of aviation safety programs, including Safety Management System (SMS), Safety reporting programs, and Flight Data Management (FDM) 
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving abilities 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• PC Skills, including MS office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook)

Qualifications 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education: 

• Required: Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Science or Aviation Safety, or equivalent experience 
• Preferred: Master's Degree in Engineering, Science, of Aviation Safety

Experience: 

• Required: Minimum ten (10) years' progressive experience in aerospace manufacturing, program management, aircraft maintenance, aircraft flight operations, accident investigation, or aviation safety with demonstrated ability to work across functional areas influencing behavior and culture 
• Previous experience as a participant, or leader, of an aviation safety program 
• Experience with analysis of data and risk mitigation using statistical analysis, risk assessment, and systems engineering concepts

Licensure/Certifications:

• Private Pilot’s license or greater
• Certification/training in Safety Management System (SMS) preferred 

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities: 

• Extensive working knowledge of applicable FAA, ICAO, NTSB regulations
• Familiarity with aircraft design, production, support, aerodynamics, and operations 
• Demonstrated ability to work with senior executives and with senior management and technical representatives from regulatory/investigative agencies 

Decision Making, Complexity: 

• A senior leader who can work independently to establish safety priorities, deploy organizational structures and develop program offerings. Provide feedback on effectiveness to the Executive Committee and CEO. Work with colleagues internationally to harmonize safety concepts across the Cirrus team. Achieve world-class safety performance and create benchmark frameworks for others to follow.

Other Duties 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.  Work beyond 40 hours per week may be required. 

Cirrus is dedicated to a drug free work environment promoting equal employment opportunity.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, national origin, color, age, disability, religion, pregnancy, veteran status, marital and family status, sexual orientation, receipt of public assistance, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.