Military Aviation Authority – Flying Approvals Air Safety Management Lead

Join our dynamic team at the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the Flying Approvals Air Safety Management Lead. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Air Safety and Quality Management Systems professional to make a significant impact within the Contractor Flying Approvals Team. You will be responsible for leading a portfolio of industry flying organisations operating military registered aircraft, ranging from fast jets and front-line combat aircraft through to helicopters and ground-breaking uncrewed / remotely piloted air systems, under the Contractor Approved Flying Organization Scheme (CFAOS). We offer a supportive and close-knit working environment, excellent personal and professional development opportunities, and a vibrant social and entertainment program throughout the year!

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

In the CFAOS Air Safety Management role, you will play a pivotal role in planning, conducting, and reporting on assurance activities for the CFAOS. This will involve conducting audits and assessments through a combination of desktop reviews and on-site visits to flying organisations across the UK, Europe, and North America. Your primary focus will be on evaluating and analysing compliance with MAA Regulations, particularly in the areas of Air Safety and Quality Management Systems within the flying operations domain. You will produce audit reports, issue findings, maintain assurance records, engage with stakeholders, and provide briefings to senior management to drive improvements in air safety across Defence. You will also have the opportunity to review applications for exemptions, waivers, and alternative means of compliance to the regulations. Your expertise and knowledge of the Defence Air Environment, relevant policies and regulations will be crucial in guiding and supporting colleagues within the MAA and across the Department.

How does the MAA fit into Defence?

Part of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA), the MAA is the organization responsible for the regulation, surveillance, inspection and assurance of the Defence aviation operating and technical domains. It ensures the safe design and use of military air systems. As the single regulatory authority responsible for regulating all aspects of Air Safety across Defence, the MAA has full oversight of all Defence aviation activity. Through independent audit and continuous surveillance of military aviation, the MAA aims to provide the Secretary of State, through the Director General DSA, the necessary assurance that appropriate standards of Air safety are maintained whilst delivering operational capability.

Responsibilities

As the Flying Approvals Air Safety Management Lead, your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the planning, preparation, conduct, and reporting of CFAOS assurance activities, including audits and evaluating new approvals.
• Scrutinising company documentation, with a strong focus on Air Safety and Quality Management Systems, Air System Safety Cases, Post-Crash Management, and Ground Operations.
• Managing assurance findings, engaging directly with senior personnel from CFAOS organizations to ensure effective resolution of regulatory non-compliances and non-conformances.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the MAA to ensure coherent, effective, and appropriate delivery of Defence aviation assurance.
• Providing advice and guidance on CFAOS, Air Safety, and Quality Management Systems to the Regulated Community and MAA colleagues.
• Contributing to the development and review of MAA regulations and policies, influencing changes to reflect best practices in the aviation community.
• Supporting the overall outputs of the team and the wider MAA in enhancing operational capability through air safety regulation across Defence.
• Line Management of one C2 grade.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Experience

To excel in this role, you should have:

• Background in military or civil aviation operations, preferably within the UK Defence Air Environment.
• Experience in Air Safety Management Systems and/or Quality Management Systems, including assurance activities.
• An understanding of the MAA Regulatory Publications, in particular the GEN1000 series and associated Manuals, or the equivalents of other aviation regulatory authorities.
• The ability to develop towards Lead Auditor status, with tailored training available to support your professional growth.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• System Safety Functional Competences: SysSaf 3.1, 3.2, 3.5 – Compliance with Requirements (Practitioner)
• Managing Quality Functional Competences: MQ 4.2 – Assurance – Business Process Assurance (Practitioner)

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous Pension Scheme
• 25 days annual leave (increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years’ service)
• Ability to carry over up to 10 days of leave per year
• 8 public holidays per year, plus an extra day of leave for HM The King’s birthday!
• Flexi-time scheme (available after 6 months)
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Learning and development opportunities tailored to your role
• A culture that promotes inclusion and diversity (see our commitment below)

The MOD Discover My Benefits page lists the full set of benefits.

Hybrid working arrangements are supported on an informal, non-contractual, and voluntary basis, allowing for a balance of workplace attendance (at MOD Abbey Wood North) and working from home, based on business needs and with management approval.

The DSA is strongly dedicated to promoting equal employment opportunity irrespective of your race, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, civil status, sex, or gender identity. Applications are strongly encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, and we are actively working to establish a diverse workforce across the entire organisation. We are delighted to announce that we are an Equal Opportunities Employer and that we recruit purely based upon the merit of each and every individual applicant. We pride ourselves on our commitment to ensure recruitment of the very best individuals and acquire a diverse and inclusive viewpoint to our decision making. We can assure you that we search for all types of talent and are striving to make sure that all social groups are successfully represented. We work diligently to eradicate any bias and safeguard every protected status and characteristic as lawfully required under the 2010 Equality Act. Our dedication to promoting diversity is clearly reflected across our organisation and within our vision to foster an inclusive workforce. Defence harnesses the power of difference to deliver capability that safeguards our nation’s security and stability.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request further information.

Please note that this post does not offer relocation expenses.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.  

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Job contact :

• Name : MAA CFAOS Team
• Email : DSA-MAA-OpAssure-CFAOS-Group@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : 0300 165 6882

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk