We are a proudly NZ owned rotorcraft and general aviation business. With bases in Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown, South Africa and the USA we offer full maintenance, repair and overhaul services, design and modification, parts supply and aircraft sales and leasing. We are a company that is continuously developing our people, expanding our capability and supporting the aviation industry globally.
We are dedicated to living “Excellence at Altitude” in all we do. Our teams operate in line with our culture values of Humanity, Transparency, Capability and Reliability that create a strong foundation for success. We believe Every Part Matters - right down to the smallest bolt—and the same goes for our people. That’s why attracting and keeping great talent is key to our vision of becoming a globally trusted aviation specialist.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced aviation engineering leader to join our team as Head of Maintenance, leading maintenance operations across our New Zealand network.
This is a senior leadership role responsible for delivering safe, compliant and commercially successful maintenance services across our helicopter and fixed-wing operations. Reporting to the Executive General Manager Engineering, you will provide leadership to a team of maintenance managers and technical specialists while overseeing approximately 70 engineering staff across multiple locations.
If you're an experienced maintenance leader who thrives in a fast-paced aviation environment and enjoys balancing operational delivery, customer relationships, regulatory compliance and commercial performance, we'd love to hear from you.
About the Role
As Head of Maintenance, you will lead maintenance operations conducted under Salus Aviation's Part 145 approvals and ensure the highest standards of safety, airworthiness, quality and customer service are consistently delivered.
Working closely with Engineering, Sales & Commercial, Supply Chain, Safety & Compliance, and operational leaders, you will be responsible for ensuring customer commitments are met while driving continuous improvement, operational efficiency and sustainable business growth.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading maintenance operations across Salus Aviation's New Zealand maintenance network
- Ensuring compliance with NZCAA, FAA, EASA and other applicable regulatory requirements
- Delivering maintenance programmes safely, efficiently and on budget
- Managing operational performance, workforce planning and resource utilisation
- Building and maintaining strong customer relationships
- Driving continuous improvement initiatives across engineering operations
- Developing maintenance leaders and fostering high-performing teams
About You
You’re a respected aviation maintenance professional with strong leadership capability and a proven track record of managing engineering teams within a highly regulated environment.
To be successful, you'll bring:
- 10+ years' experience within an aviation maintenance and engineering environment
- Extensive knowledge of airworthiness, maintenance and regulatory requirements
- Strong understanding of NZCAA regulations, with exposure to FAA and EASA approvals highly regarded
- A minimum of 5 years' leadership experience managing engineering or maintenance teams
- Previous responsibility for budgets, financial performance and operational planning
- Demonstrated ability to lead multi-site operations and drive business performance
- Strong customer relationship and stakeholder management skills
- Experience improving processes, systems and operational efficiency
- Excellent communication, coaching and people leadership skills
- A genuine commitment to safety and continuous improvement
Why Join Salus Aviation?
At Salus Aviation, safety, teamwork and innovation sit at the centre of everything we do. We are passionate about delivering high-quality aviation services while creating an environment where our people can thrive and develop their careers.
This role offers the opportunity to:
- Influence the future direction of a growing aviation business
- Lead talented engineering and maintenance teams
- Work across a diverse fleet of fixed-wing and helicopter operations
- Build strong customer partnerships across New Zealand's aviation sector
- Play a key role in strategic and operational decision-making
Location
This position is based in Ardmore, Auckland, with travel to other Salus Aviation locations as required.
Apply Now
If you are an experienced aviation maintenance leader ready to take ownership of a critical operational function and help shape the future of engineering services at Salus Aviation, we'd love to hear from you.