Manager Planning & Technical Records

Manager – Maintenance Planning & Technical Records

Location: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Department: Airline Technical – Continuing Airworthiness Management Group
Reporting to: General Manager

About the Role

Cakum Global's client, a growing Papua New Guinea-based aviation operator, is seeking an experienced Manager – Maintenance Planning & Technical Records to lead its aircraft maintenance planning and technical records function in Port Moresby.

This is a key leadership position responsible for ensuring that scheduled maintenance, maintenance programmes, technical records, component requirements and long-term maintenance forecasts are accurately planned and managed.

The role will work closely with Continuing Airworthiness, Technical Services, Maintenance Watch, Airline Operations, MRO providers and subcontractors to support aircraft availability while maintaining regulatory, quality and airworthiness compliance.

The successful candidate will bring strong airline maintenance-planning experience, particularly involving ATR aircraft, together with the ability to remain organised, professional and composed in a demanding operational environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day activities of the maintenance planning and technical records function.
• Review and manage scheduled maintenance work packs in accordance with approved maintenance programmes and Continuing Airworthiness requirements.
• Prepare accurate reports on the maintenance status of aircraft across the fleet.
• Maintain and update the fleet's Approved Maintenance Programmes.
• Ensure approved maintenance programmes are correctly uploaded and kept current within the maintenance-tracking system.
• Ensure maintenance tasks and component requirements are accurately tracked to support the airline's operational requirements.
• Prepare and maintain short-, medium- and long-term maintenance forecasts.
• Produce the 48-hour forward maintenance plan and represent Continuing Airworthiness at daily operational planning meetings.
• Coordinate daily maintenance-planning requirements with Airline Operations and Maintenance Watch.
• Monitor open defects, deferred defects and Minimum Equipment List items in consultation with Maintenance Watch, MRO providers and subcontractors.
• Liaise with MRO production-planning teams regarding scheduled maintenance activities.
• Coordinate with Continuing Airworthiness and Technical Services personnel regarding maintenance data assessments, airworthiness amendments and programme updates.
• Review completed and returned work packs with Compliance and Technical Records personnel.
• Identify deferred maintenance requirements and ensure they are included in forward maintenance plans.
• Support maintenance programme extension requests, allowances and discrepancy resolution.
• Conduct regular planning meetings between MRO, Continuing Airworthiness and Technical Services teams.
• Align maintenance activities with scheduled aircraft downtime to minimise operational disruption and unnecessary cost.
• Ensure job cards and maintenance work packages contain all supporting documentation required by the MRO.
• Maintain compliance with the company quality system and all applicable regulatory, technical and maintenance-programme requirements.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Manager Continuing Airworthiness or senior management.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates should have:

• A minimum of three years' experience in a senior aircraft maintenance-planning position.
• At least two years' maintenance-planning experience involving ATR aircraft.
• Demonstrated experience preparing scheduled maintenance work packs and aircraft maintenance forecasts.
• Experience managing maintenance programmes, technical records, deferred defects and component-planning requirements.
• Experience working within an airline Continuing Airworthiness environment.
• Strong knowledge of aircraft maintenance-planning processes and regulatory requirements.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the management and tracking of LDND and other maintenance-planning tasks.
• Experience using aircraft maintenance-tracking software.
• A sound understanding of airline operations, preferably within Papua New Guinea or another demanding regional operating environment.

Regulatory and Technical Knowledge

Candidates should be familiar with:

• Applicable Civil Aviation Rules, including CAR 119.
• Continuing Airworthiness Management manuals and procedures.
• Original Equipment Manufacturer Maintenance Planning Documents.
• Component Maintenance Manuals.
• Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins.
• Maintenance programme documentation and quality-control requirements.
• Technical records, maintenance forecasting and regulatory recordkeeping.

Skills and Personal Attributes

• Strong leadership, planning and organisational skills.
• High level of computer literacy and analytical capability.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Calm and decisive approach during Aircraft on Ground and other high-pressure situations.
• Professional, structured and well organised under demanding workloads.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to compliance.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across Operations, Engineering, Continuing Airworthiness and external MRO organisations.
• A proactive, self-starting approach to work.

Key Performance Expectations

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Achieve timely issuance of planned maintenance requirements and work packages to MRO providers.
• Maintain accurate and current aircraft maintenance forecasts.
• Ensure scheduled maintenance activities are aligned with available aircraft downtime.
• Minimise operational disruption through effective maintenance planning.
• Conduct regular departmental and MRO planning meetings.
• Ensure technical records and maintenance documentation are complete, accurate and compliant.
• Provide MRO teams with complete job cards and supporting documentation.
• Support the efficient utilisation and availability of the operator's aircraft fleet.

Applications

Applicants should submit an up-to-date CV outlining their:

• Aircraft maintenance-planning experience.
• ATR aircraft experience.
• Technical records and Continuing Airworthiness experience.
• Relevant qualifications and regulatory knowledge.
• Experience with maintenance-tracking systems and Microsoft Excel.

Cakum Global is managing recruitment for this position on behalf of its client. Only suitably qualified candidates will be contacted.