VP Technical Operations

Vice President, Technical Operations

Sun Country Airlines is seeking a Vice President, Technical Operations to be accountable for the Safety, Compliance, Operational and Financial Performance of the Tech Ops organization. Reporting to the SVP and Head of Operations, the Vice President is accountable for leading maintenance, engineering, QA/QC, Materials, Maintenance Planning, MRO Management, and Aircraft Maintenance Compliance; along with creating and maintaining a culture of safety, compliance, continuous improvement, and profitability.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

• Champion and maintain a department safety and standards culture that will provide Sun Country employees and its passengers with a hazard-free workplace to the maximum extent possible
• Support and improve Sun Country's relationship with its Technical Operations team and be available to all technical operations crew members in their workplace
• Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with union leadership and represented employees by ensuring compliance with labor agreements, proactively addressing workplace issues, and partnering with Labor to lead negotiations, resolve grievances, and support a positive labor relations environment
• Develop operating budgets and establish strategies to manage those budgets to optimize operations costs. Including developing and leading, performance improvements, maintenance efficiencies and supporting fuel conservation initiatives
• Ensure programs are in place that will enable the department to meet all regulatory requirements and operational performance targets
• Lead the organizational structure and processes to assure continuous improvement initiatives toward maintenance safety/compliance, maintenance planning/execution, maintenance programs, reliability, airline performance, aircraft acquisitions, and the total body of maintenance and engineering outputs
• Partner with other department leaders such as Inflight, Flight Ops, Airports, System Ops Control, Safety, Security to ensure a holistic view of operations objectives are achieved
• Monitor performance to evaluate departmental success across safety, reliability, cost efficiency and utilize data-driven insights to inform decision-making and continuously improve operational outcomes
• Take a significant role in the development of the Technical Operations team to support the engagement, growth, goal achievement, and development of the succession plan for the department
• Drive a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative culture by setting clear expectations, developing leadership capabilities at all levels, recognizing team achievements, and fostering continuous improvement aligned with company goals
• Foster a positive and open working relationship with personnel at the Federal Aviation Administration's Certificate Management Unit and Maintenance and Engineering Technician Council
• Guide industry on technical developments by representing Sun Country at various associations and forums
• Identify and recall Sun Country's Safety Management System (SMS), Safety Policy, Security Policy, and behavioral standards
• Fulfill safety accountabilities as prescribed by Sun Country's Safety Management System
• Align and execute department objectives with company short- and long-term goals. Plan, justify, and execute objectives within approved budgets

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive positions in airline technical operations and support experience with track record of success in leadership positions within a technical operations environment
• Bachelor's degree required - preferably in engineering, business management or aerospace management field of study. Master's degree highly desired - preferably MBA, aerospace management, leadership or Public/Business Administration
• Executive level business acumen, including solid strategic and financial skills
• Experience working for an organization known for the safety and quality of their technical operations
• Uncompromising commitment to safety and compliance is required
• Must fulfill safety accountabilities as prescribed by Sun Country's Safety Management System
• The successful candidate must be a model of integrity and high ethical standards
• Lean/Six-Sigma certifications desired
• Solid knowledge of FAA regulations and practices plus the proven track record of building positive working relationships with regulators and industry policymakers
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage a large budget (capital and operating)
• Significant P/L understanding and experience required
• Demonstrated presentation skills in front of large or small groups of peers, subordinates and executives
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and focus with excellent time management skills
• Domestic and International maintenance operating experience
• A history of fostering good, productive relations with employees and work groups
• Solid decision-making skills, along with exceptional judgment

Compensation: Pay range: $230,000 - $260,000 USD annually. This is the base compensation hiring range for this role.

Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Work Location: Minneapolis, MN (onsite)

Supervisory Responsibility: Director, Maintenance Director Line Maintenance Outstations Director, Engineering Director, Quality Assurance / QC Senior Director, Supply Chain & Logistics Senior Director, Planning & MRO

Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones photocopiers, filing cabinets.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands or finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance, and stoop...