Director, Safety & Risk Management

The Director, Safety, & Risk Management provides strategic leadership and oversight for CHC's integrated global safety, risk, and compliance governance frameworks. The role owns the design, delivery, and effective use of the company's Safety Management System (SMS), risk management, investigations, HESS stewardship, compliance and assurance functions, and the internal safety reporting program (currently SQID). Reporting to the SVP, Safety, Compliance, Flight Standards and IT, the Director ensures global operations meet the full spectrum of operational requirements, aviation regulation, customer requirements, and industry standards. The position drives a unified One CHC safety culture across corporate functions, business units, vendors, and contracted operations through a set of global standards, ensuring adoption and effectiveness while meeting international and national regulations. The role requires strong leadership, cross-cultural communication, and the ability to influence change across multiple jurisdictions and operational environments. The location must be within easy reach of a major airport hub that supports efficient work and travel to CHC business units and workshops globally. Ability to be based at an existing CHC Group location is preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety Management System (SMS)
  • Lead and harmonize SMS programs across global business activities in alignment with ICAO Annex 19 and local civil aviation authorities, with a primary focus on hazard and risk management.
  • Oversee global safety reporting, formal mitigation plans, hazard identification, and safety performance indicators.
  • Ensure consistent safety oversight across the vendor management program and contracted operations.
  • Own the internal safety reporting program (currently SQID) and the internal safety training program.
  • Own the standard and execution of the risk treatment options including the conduct and output of investigations.
• Risk Management
  • Develop and maintain a standardized global risk assessment methodology to ensure consistent evaluation, scoring, and prioritization of risks across all operational areas.
  • Lead cross-regional trend analysis to detect systemic risks and emerging patterns; ensure proactive mitigation strategies are implemented consistently.
  • Maintain and communicate a global risk register, monitoring emerging risks across aviation safety functions, supply chain, central services, HESS, and information technology.
  • Oversee the organization's risk assessment and Management of Change (MOC) framework to ensure changes are safety-evaluated, appropriately mitigated, and aligned with the company's risk tolerance.
  • Oversee the development of Safety Cases for major operational areas, ensuring hazards are identified and controls are effective.
  • Advise executive leadership on risk exposure, regulatory trends, and strategic risk mitigation.
• Compliance and Assurance
  • Functional lead for aviation compliance and assurance systems and processes across CHC, including oversight of local application.
  • In collaboration with local leadership teams, complete and maintain compliance documentation aligned to company policy, aviation regulation, customer requirements, and industry standards.
  • Provide an efficient quality assurance program including tools, reporting, and oversight of local application.
  • Develop periodic reporting and KPIs to demonstrate safety, compliance, and assurance performance and to identify areas for further enhancement.
  • Provide training for the roll out of new compliance and assurance processes.
  • Maintain strong engagement with front-line operations to understand levels of compliance and procedural drift.
  • Own CHC documentation relating to compliance and assurance, including relevant sections of company policy, ISMM, and SMM.
• Health, Environment, Safety & Security (HESS)
  • Develop and implement global HESS strategies and standards, ensuring consistent procedures and compliance across international sites.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of global training standards focused on HESS awareness, emergency response, and safe work practices.
  • Develop and maintain global emergency response and crisis communication frameworks, including drills, contingency plans, and training requirements.
  • Identify operational and organizational risks; lead cross-functional risk assessments and maintain the corporate risk register.
• Leadership & Culture
  • A strong and visible champion of the One CHC approach, leading by example with a disciplined and focused approach to safety, compliance, and assurance.
  • Champion a safety-focused culture across regions with varying regulatory maturity and cultural norms.
  • Lead and mentor global safety, risk, HESS, compliance, and assurance teams.
  • Strong collaboration with the Director Flight Standards and Global head of Engineering and Senior Manager Customer Excellence & ESG to ensure alignment of goals, implementation of projects, and identification/correction of procedural drift in local operations.
  • International travel required (approximately 25‑50%). May be assigned other duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aviation Safety, Engineering, Business, Quality, or related field (Master's preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in aviation safety, SMS leadership, investigations, risk management, compliance and assurance, or global operational oversight.
• Direct experience implementing and managing SMS, compliance, and assurance programs across international jurisdictions.
• Strong working knowledge of international aviation regulatory frameworks, customer requirements, and industry standards.
• Demonstrated experience of demonstrating compliance to internal, customer, regulatory, and industry standards.
• Professional certifications – HFACS investigations and lead auditor credentials preferred.
• Experience in global helicopter operations and MROs strongly preferred.
• Experience holding a nominated person appointment in a substantial commercial rotary or aviation MRO organization (5+ years) preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of CHC policies and procedures, as well as local aviation legislation and standards, preferred.
• Experience introducing compliance assurance tools and IT systems preferred.
• International travel required (25‑50%).

Skills / Experience

• Strategic leadership with the ability to influence at senior executive levels.
• Effective leadership and management skills, with the ability to mentor and drive a high-performing team.
• Strong cultural intelligence and the ability to lead across diverse global teams.
• Expertise in data-driven decision making, safety analytics, and risk modeling.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence to influence internal stakeholders and external bodies, recognising cultural, legal, and regional diversity.
• Highly effective problem solving and decision-making abilities.
• Strong planning and organisational skills with an ability to produce results.
• Proven success managing complex organization-wide change initiatives.
• Strong industry collaboration skills with proven success in advancing shared safety practices.

Attributes / Behaviours

• Self‑motivated and results‑oriented, with a focus on the delivery of safety, compliance, and assurance.
• Diplomatic, collaborative, and able to influence without direct authority.
• Calm, structured, and decisive in crises.
• Adaptive and capable of working effectively across cultures, time zones, and business structures.
• Demonstrated leadership and motivational skills, with the ability to handle detail and big-picture thinking.
• Able to perform their assigned duties in stressful and critical situations.

Eligibility

• Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK and meet any clearance requirements relevant to the role.
• The successful applicant may be required to complete pre-employment checks, including criminal history and employment verification.
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