Position – Crew Chief B1.1
Location – Bournemouth
Hours - This role will be on a 5-5-4 shift pattern at Bournemouth, 40 hours per week
Competitive salary + benefits including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.
The Role
We are recruiting for a Crew Chief to support the Chief Engineer in ensuring the safety, regulatory compliance, and operational performance of all Part 145/A8‑23 aircraft maintenance activities across Draken bases and detached locations. This role is essential to the successful delivery of customer contractual requirements. You will also contribute to engineering decision‑making and support the development of both individuals and the wider team.
Special Conditions
Aircraft maintenance is highly regulated, and safety, quality, and compliance are the highest priority. The Crew Chief must lead a strong safety‑first culture and promote SHE and Security across all maintenance activities.
As operational needs are driven by customer requirements, flexibility is important. The role requires a willingness to work additional hours and undertake detachments within the UK and overseas to support operational delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Safety first. Operate at Draken in accordance with the SHE Technical standards. Identify where the SHE Technical Standards are applicable to appointed operations/tasks and apply safe systems of work identified.
- To maintain the overall performance of the aircraft maintenance operation and its personnel at a relevant station. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance.
- To undertake the role of Crew Chief and be particularly responsible for the maintenance of aircraft, aircraft equipment and personnel allocated to their control.
- Support operations and maintenance of aircraft at main base in addition to detached locations worldwide.
- Promote a “Just Culture” with regards to safety and reporting of occurrences within the business
- The ground movements of aircraft assigned to them.
- Ensuring that all technical staff working within their supervision carry out their duties in a safe and proper manner, and in accordance with the relevant Maintenance Manuals, and the Maintenance Organisation Exposition
- To ensure the correct and timely completion of all aircraft documentation relating to the maintenance activities performed.
- To co-ordinate engineering activities with stakeholders, enabling the engineering team to complete tasks to target and within budget.
- To review the team performance and provide feedback to the Chief Engineer
- Evaluate all existing standards, practices and procedures with a view to continuous improvement and efficiency.
- Assist the Chief Engineer (where applicable) in the day-to-day functions of the Draken Maintenance department and deputise for them in their absence.
- Responsible for prioritising tasks, scheduling requirements and the appropriation of suitable resources to achieve the maintenance plan
- Assisting the Chief Engineer in prioritising the departmental loading
- Assisting the Chief Engineer in the development of the team
- Conducting PDRs on direct reports
- Ensuring company core values are maintained at all times
- Achieve optimal aircraft maintenance performance; maintain excellent customer and stakeholder relations.
- Proactive monitoring and maintenance of their authorisations to always ensure recency and compliance
Other tasks as set by the Chief Engineer that are considered to be within the capabilities of the individual and required as part of the daily running of the engineering department.
Experience / skills / qualifications
Personal Skills/Abilities
- Good Change and Project Management Skills.
- Team oriented with proven communication and influencing skills.
- Customer focussed with exceptional personal and communication skills.
- Self-Motivated, confident, and assertive.
- A demonstrated capability to work within, and adhere to, a defined set of organisational values.
- Medically fit to perform daily engineering duties including detachment working.
- A willingness to work shift patterns to suit the business needs.
- Security cleared to meet current UK and ITAR requirements in support of the business
Educational Vocational Qualifications
- Previous experience within an aircraft maintenance department. Further Applicable Aircraft Maintenance Experience, Base/Workshops are desirable.
- Proven record of accomplishment, over 3 years at supervisory LAE Level or similar role within an aircraft maintenance environment is essential.
- Unrestricted CAA Part 66 B1 and/or B2 licence with relevant type rating(s) and/or company authorisations as applicable.
- Extensive knowledge of Regulatory requirements related to aircraft maintenance is essential
- Basic business skills to understand financial management.
- Proven ability to work and deliver, to time pressure and deadlines, using basic project management skills.
- Demonstrated high level in Communication, Team Building and Partnership skills in dealing with stakeholders.
- The demonstrated ability to motivate people and influence change in line with company organisational values.
- An understanding, or preferably evidence, of working within a continuous improvement project.
Our employee values
Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.
At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.
We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.
In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.