About the Role:

The General Manager – Aviation is a key leadership role and member of the SLSQ Executive Leadership Team. This role will be required to oversee our multi-site aviation business, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance and a strong safety culture. This role will provide strong leadership and guidance to senior leaders and staff within the Aviation department, including the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service (WLRHS) and Polair. Responsible for growing the Aviation portfolio, its financial performance and profitability from all Aviation activities. This includes fiscal management of grants and contracts, tenders and bids, new contracts and a review, optimisation and expansion of all aspects of the Aviation portfolio. This role involves developing, managing and aligning the skills and experience of the Aviation team, as well as collaborating with other departments. This is an opportunity to lead a dynamic aviation business, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations while driving future growth.

To be successful in this role, the incumbent must have the ability to build and nurture relationships with clients and staff and be a strong negotiator who can generate new business. This role is based at our Carrara Hanger on the Gold Coast.

Benefits at SLSQ:

• Access to salary packaging benefits.
• Paid parental leave.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Knowing that your efforts support an essential public safety service.

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across multiple aviation sites and a diverse aircraft fleet.
• Act as CASA Accountable Manager, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, safety standards and operational procedures.
• Drive continuous improvement in aviation safety, maintenance and operational performance.
• Oversee the highest levels of safety and reliability.
• Develop and execute business strategies to enhance operational efficiency and financial sustainability.
• Lead and mentor a high performing team, fostering a culture of safety, accountability and excellence.
• Undertake an entrepreneurial approach to new business by identifying opportunities to expand the business, through but not limited to partnerships, mergers and new markets.
• Initiate, develop and maintain productive relationships with internal and external key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regulatory authorities, industry stakeholders and key Government partners.
• Ensure fiscal performance for areas of responsibility.
• Retain, motivate and manage performance, creating talented, high-calibre and enthusiastic staff within areas of responsibility.
• Contribute to the improvement of systems and processes to support efficient and effective business operations and productivity improvements.
• Assist and contribute to business and budget planning processes.
• Ensure organisational strategies and plans are aligned, reviewed and successfully implemented, taking remedial action where necessary.
• Active involvement in workforce planning to ensure that future resourcing needs have been identified, and appropriate liaison with Human Resources to facilitate the requirements.
• Ensure processes are in place to enable timely response to market and technological changes and drive innovation.
• Coordinating input from a broad range of resources.
• Monitoring of internal resources and raising any concerns with management.
• Provide accurate reporting to the CEO and Board on performance of areas of responsibility.
• Manage risk, incident response and safety management systems in alignment with CASA regulations.

Skills & Experience:

• 10+ years demonstrated leadership experience managing an aviation business (including engineering) across multiple sites and aircraft.
• In-depth knowledge of CASA regulations and experience as an Accountable Manager.
• Strong background in aviation safety, checking and aircraft maintenance oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational and strategic aspects of an aviation business.
• Experience in risk management, compliance and safety management systems.
• Excellent people leadership, stakeholder engagement and business acumen skills.
• Working with Children Blue Card (Essential).
• Current driver’s license (Essential).
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Business, Finance and/or Marketing.
• Significant experience in senior commercial/business development/marketing/leadership role/s (Essential).
• Strategic planning and resource management skills (Essential).
• Demonstrated experience in driving transformational change (Essential).
• Demonstrated experience in building and expanding commercial operations sustainably (Essential).
• Demonstrated experience in managing, controlling and administering budgets and allocated financial resources (Essential).
• Proven leadership capability to manage cross functional teams (Essential).
• Proven ability to manage and coach staff to achieve improved performance (Essential).
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and compliance requirements (Essential).
• Exceptional leadership management skills with particular reference to consultation and negotiation skills (Essential).
• Demonstrated experience using well developed communicating skills with stakeholders (Essential).
• Strong organisational and administrative skills and a proven ability to determine priorities, make sound judgement, manage competing demands and meet deadlines (Essential).
• Personal attributes of flexibility, energy, self motivation and resilience (Essential).
• Flexible attitude to work including hours and travel (Essential).
• Demonstrated computer literacy (MS Office) (Essential).
• Understanding of complexities of working within a membership-based organisation (Desirable).

About SLSQ:

Surf Life Saving Queensland employs over 550 people throughout Queensland. SLSQ is an efficient and vibrant organisation servicing 36,000 members. It was formally established in 1930 and is the governing body for surf lifesaving in Queensland, comprising 57 affiliated surf lifesaving clubs in six regional branches. The organisation also includes supporters’ clubs and a range of programs that involve more than 462,000 participants. SLSQ is directly affiliated with Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) and the International Life Saving Federation (ILF). Surf Life Saving Queensland is built on a fundamental principle: to save lives. Our organisation encompasses several diverse arms – lifesaving services, community education, membership services, surf sports, fundraising and commercial training.