Head - Quality, Safety and Security
Job Description:
About the role
As Head of Quality, Safety & Security you lead one of our six core departments — Quality (compliance), Safety Management (SMS) and Aviation Security — across both the build and operating phases. Reporting independently to the Accountable Manager, you will drive the QSS side of our Air Operator Certificate (AOC) application through to approval, then run and mature the department in steady-state after first flight, providing independent assurance that we meet CAA of Oman and international requirements.
What you'll do
- Lead the QSS department — Quality, SMS and Aviation Security — independent of the operational and maintenance functions, with direct access to the Accountable Manager.
- Lead the QSS elements of the AOC application, then run and continuously mature the department after first flight / entry into service.
- Build and run the Quality / compliance-monitoring and business-continuity function, own the Compliance Statement and document control, and act as the primary interface with the CAA.
- Own the airline-wide, risk-based audit programme — driving corrective actions, trend analysis and continual improvement.
- Own the Safety Management System — ICAO SMS principles and CAR-100 / CAR OPS-1.037, including FOQA / FRMS, occurrence reporting and just culture.
- Direct Aviation Security in line with the National Civil Aviation Security Programme and the GCC security reality — threat and port assessments, training and emergency-response readiness.
What you'll bring
- Extensive senior leadership experience across quality / compliance, safety management and/or aviation security in a commercial air transport operator.
- At least ten years' aviation industry experience, with intimate knowledge of global airline operating, safety and security practices.
- A proven track record building and running an integrated Quality, Safety and Security function — through AOC approval and into ongoing operations.
- Strong knowledge of ICAO SMS principles, CAR-100 / CAR OPS-1.037, compliance monitoring, occurrence reporting, safety risk management and audit.
- Working knowledge of aviation security — the National Civil Aviation Security Programme and the GCC aviation security reality.
- The independence, standing and integrity to escalate significant issues at Board / Steering Group level, and experience of the regional airline market.
- Experience operating in the Middle East and/or in demanding environmental conditions — heat, dust and desert operations.
What will set you apart
- Experience with turbo-prop operations (e.g. ATR / Dash 8).
- Lead auditor, safety investigation, SMS or just-culture credentials, and experience standing up QSS systems (including FOQA / FRMS) and securing approvals for a new AOC.
- Hands-on and visible in the operation — not desk-bound — championing safety and security culture, and delivering pragmatic, cost-aware solutions for a lean operation without compromising standards.