Head of Technical - NFLC

Organisation

Cranfield University

School/Department

School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing

Based at

Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

Hours of work

37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.

Salary

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £54,003 to £60,192, with potential progression up to £75,238 per annum

About the Role

The National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) is a unique facility based at Cranfield University providing both a 'flying laboratory' for over 1,200 undergraduate and 200 postgraduate engineering students each year and a bespoke research and development service to the aerospace industry. Currently, the Centre operates three aircraft: a SAAB 340B and two light aircraft.

Reporting to the Head of NFLC, the Head of Technical will be responsible for ensuring the safety, and availability of aircraft through the careful planning and delivery of continuing airworthiness activities covering maintenance and modifications.

About You

As NFLC Head of Technical you will work closely with the Accountable Manager, Head of NFLC and nominated persons, contracted organisations and, where appropriate, the regulator to ensure that aircraft are airworthy. This will involve meticulous planning of scheduled maintenance and the project management of modifications to the aircraft which may be required for research or teaching. In addition, the Head of Technical will also supervise the response of contracted organisations to unscheduled maintenance events.

You will be expected to demonstrate a proven track record of excellent organisational, planning and communication skills to co-ordinate aircraft maintenance and modification activities. The role requires effective liaison within the National Flying Laboratory Centre team; with academic, technical, and administrative staff across the University; external research clients; and other contracted organisations.

You should have a Postgraduate degree in aviation management, engineering management or equivalent experience in aircraft engineering / airworthiness management. The successful candidate should have experience in a senior role in aircraft engineering and provide examples of leading and developing teams of highly skilled professionals.

You should be highly computer literate and will be required to use initiative to solve problems within budgetary and regulatory constraints. You must be able to demonstrate attention to detail and tenacity to ensure that work is completed within performance, cost, and time constraints. The successful candidate must be content to work in an academic environment with its established conditions, remuneration scales and benefits.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here .

NFLC is essentially a small airline operating within a university environment. As an experienced technical professional, you will be used to dealing with problem solving relating to aircraft maintenance and airworthiness.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here .

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are also committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role.  Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here .

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.