Title: Program Manager - Eglin Fighter Aircraft Backshop Maintenance Support
Location: United States-Florida-Valparaiso-Eglin Air Force Base
Job Number: 18774
PENDING CONTRACT AWARD
SUMMARY
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.
What you will be responsible for:
+ 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.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
+ 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.
Qualifications:
What you will need to be successful in this role:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
+ Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
+ In order to obtain a Secret Clearance, US Citizenship is required
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
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).
Desired
+ Prior senior flightline and backshop aintenance 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.
The rewards of your career at AAR go far beyond just your salary:
+ Competitive salary and bonus package
+ Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
+ 401(k) retirement plan with company match
+ Generous paid time off program
+ Professional development and career advancement opportunities
Physical Demands/Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
+ While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach and move about the facility.
+ The environmental characteristic for this position is an office setting.
+ Candidates should be able to adapt to a traditional business environment.
AAR provides accommodation in accordance with applicable laws through all stages of the hiring process. If you require accommodation for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please advise Human Resources.
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AAR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.