Safety & Compliance Director in Darlington

Willis Aviation Services Limited (WASL) is seeking an experienced Safety & Compliance Director to join our growing aviation operations at Teesside International Airport. This is a senior leadership role within our aircraft maintenance department, initially holding the UK CAA & EASA Part-145 Nominated Person (Form 4) Quality position and progressing to Nominated Person roles for Safety Manager (SM) and Compliance Monitoring Manager (CMM) following the implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS). The successful candidate will also play a key role in developing and embedding an Integrated Management System (IMS) across our wider operational areas, including aircraft recycling, fixed base operations and ground handling. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated aviation professional to shape safety, compliance, and quality culture within a dynamic and expanding aviation environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as UK CAA & EASA Part-145 Nominated Person (Form 4 Holder) for Quality (and future CMM).
• Ensure WASL activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements and internal procedures.
• Establish and maintain an independent compliance monitoring and audit system.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the audit plan.
• Monitor and manage corrective actions arising from audit findings.
• Liaise regularly with the Accountable Manager regarding compliance effectiveness.
• Oversee amendments to the Maintenance Organisation Exposition (MOE) and ensure regulatory alignment.
• Submit MOE revisions to the competent authority for approval.
• Manage the Approved Supplier List and assess subcontractor compliance.
• Issue, renew, and cancel Part-145 certifying and support staff authorisations.
• Monitor contracted maintenance organisations for compliance.
• Ensure regulatory notification of maintenance outside approved locations.
• Feed audit findings into recurrent training programmes.
• Establish and manage staff training and continuation training programmes and records.

Safety Manager (Post-SMS Implementation)

• Lead and manage the Safety Management System (SMS).
• Oversee safety reporting and occurrence investigation processes.
• Facilitate hazard identification, risk assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Monitor implementation of safety action plans.
• Provide safety performance reports to the Safety Review Board.
• Maintain safety management documentation.
• Deliver safety advice and promote best practice.
• Embed just culture, human factors, and continuous improvement principles.
• Integrate safety learning into recurrent training programmes.

Wider Compliance & Safety Oversight

• Support development of an Integrated Management System (IMS) across WASL operations.
• Provide compliance and safety oversight for aircraft recycling, FBO, and ground handling activities.
• Undertake additional duties as directed by the Director of Engineering & Maintenance.

About You

We are looking for a confident and experienced aviation professional who can lead from the front and influence safety culture at all levels of the organisation.

Essential Requirements

• Eligible to hold UK & EASA Part-145 Nominated Person (Form 4) roles (SM & CMM).
• Valid or previously held Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML) or Aeronautical Engineering Degree.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in aircraft maintenance or continuing airworthiness.
• Strong technical knowledge relevant to aircraft types listed within the WASL MOE.
• Comprehensive knowledge of:
• Part-145 regulations and associated requirements
• Maintenance Organisation Expositions (MOE)
• Compliance monitoring and quality systems
• ICAO, UK CAA and EASA safety management requirements
• Formal training in auditing and compliance monitoring techniques.
• Human Factors (HF), Fuel Tank Safety (FTS), and EWIS training.
• Strong understanding of:
• Risk management
• Safety investigations and root cause methodologies
• Safety culture and just culture principles
• Excellent data analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Effective leadership, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Benefits

WASL offers a comprehensive benefit package to its eligible employees:

• Competitive salaries, company bonus, flexible working patterns
• 33 days annual leave including UK bank holidays, holiday buy & sell scheme
• Health & wellbeing support, company pension, cycle to work scheme, electric vehicle scheme, retail discounts, referral bonus, death in service and more.