Head of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), UAE

What You’ll Do:

Archer is seeking an experienced Head of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) to join our Team in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.  Our team focuses on providing support for Archer Midnight Entry Into Service in the UAE in 2025.  This is a “greenfield” project that will draw on industry best practices to create support methods and processes tailored for the operation of air taxis in urban air mobility networks.

The Head of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) will report to the Director of Maintenance - Archer Air and be part of a high-performing team which leads and oversees all MRO activities to ensure operational excellence, regulatory compliance and the highest standards of aircraft and equipment maintenance. This role will drive strategic planning, resource management and process optimization to reduce downtime and enhance productivity. 

In this role you are responsible for

• Developing and implementing the overall strategy for the MRO division to align with company objectives.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to optimize costs, reduce turnaround time and enhance delivery .
• Overseeing day to day MRO operations, including maintenance scheduling, resource allocation and workflow management. 
• Ensuring timely completion of maintenance and repair projects minimizing operational disruptions.
• Managing vendor and supplier relationships to ensure quality and reliability in parts and services. 
• Ensuring all MRO activities comply with UAE and International aviation regulations (e.g., GCAA, FAA).
• Leading audits and inspections, addressing any findings and implementing corrective actions. 
• Developing and managing the MRO budget, ensuring cost-effective operations without compromising safety or quality . 
• Ensuring all certification/approval and audit is managed effectively in line with stipulated guidelines and issue relevant certificates/approvals and/or recommend certification/approval.
• Providing  input in development of the annual oversight (audit and surveillance) program to ensure compliance with standards and regulations. Continued improvement toward safety should be considered as much as possible.
• Ensuring compliance with GCAA’s roles and functions. Ensure that investigations are carried out to determine the cause of incidents and prevent future occurrences and direct coordination with other disciplines (if necessary).
• Maintain a comprehensive record of relevant certification, reports, recommendations, and general documents to ensure an accurate record and evidence base.
• Assist management in maintaining on-going liaison with foreign and international aviation regulatory bodies on new requirements and changes to existing safety regulations to foster the safe and orderly growth of UAE Civil Aviation. Implement Safety Affairs policies, systems, processes, and procedures so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering high quality safety services to the UAE civil aviation industry in accordance with customer service standards.
• Ensure that all functional reports are prepared timely and accurately and meet GCAA requirements and quality standards.

What You Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aviation maintenance or a related field (Master’s preferred). 
• Minimum of 8 years experience in aircraft maintenance and MRO, with at least 5 years in a leadership role. 
• Proven track record of managing large-scale MRO operations in the UAE or Middle East. 
• In depth knowledge of aviation regulations (GCAA, FAA) and industry best practices. 
• Strong project management and organizational skills. 
• Strong commitment to safety, quality and regulatory compliance 
• Ability to collaborate with internal departments, including Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Quality Assurance, Safety and security, to ensure seamless communication and execution of all activities. 
• Strong communication skills 
• Ability to represent the company at industry forums, conferences and meetings, staying updated on MRO trends and innovations 

Legal and Work Eligibility Requirements

• Proven experience operating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market
• Ability to work legally in the UAE.
• Familiarity with UAE labor laws and regulations is a plus.
• Compliance with any specific regulatory or industry requirements applicable to the role.

Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.