Fleet Support Spares and Equipment Crew Chief

Scope

Plan for and lead the team and third party resources in the maintenance and management of ground equipment, vehicles and spare parts required to support Windracers flying operations, customer flying operations supported by Windracers,  modification, maintenance, repair and overhaul of Windracer ULTRA Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) at the Windracers base location and at deployed locations.  The capability will be based at the Windracers base location with subordinate stores of equipment at deployed locations that may require periodic on-site inspection and management.

Responsibilities

Planning, leading and conducting:

• The disposition of all aircraft fleet support vehicles, ground support equipment (including ground control stations / communication equipment / refuelling equipment), tools and spare parts to enable flying operations globally
• Manage the allocation and recording of Ground Support Equipment (and vehicles) for Flight and MMRO operations
• The completion of scheduled maintenance, calibration and, where required, compliance inspections of aircraft fleet support vehicles and ground support equipment
• Management of the repair of faults found on aircraft fleet support vehicles and ground support equipment
• Management of the relationship with procurement for the supply of third party maintenance of vehicles and ground support equipment
• The disposition of spares for base modification, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MMRO)
• Management of the relationship with procurement for the supply of spare parts for MMRO and packs for operational deployment
• This disposition of spares for deployed aircraft operations support
• Management of all spares parts for base MMRO and deployed aircraft operations using the relevant electronic inventory management system (ERP)
• The collation of feedback on spares support and ground equipment allocation and configuration for deployments
• Completion of and maintenance of relevant aircraft support equipment electronic records
• The continued management of work and stores space, ensuring cleanliness and tidiness is maintained
• The conduct of all activity within your area of responsibility in a safe manner and in accordance with the Windracers Health and Safety agenda

Responsible for:

• Other responsibilities as agreed with your manager
• Working in accordance with Windracers values, policies, procedures and guidelines
• The supervision and approval of work conducted by subordinate technicians

 

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Fleet Support and Spares Team to achieve departmental and organisational objectives, establishing key targets for the team whilst growing along with the pace of the business.
• Ensure currency with all relevant industry practices, where applicable, and strive for a continuous learning approach to personal development for both you and the team
• Provide a leading example to the team of adherence to company policies and culture and promote an open and transparent approach to reporting safety concerns and risks
• Act as subject matter expert in support of the Head of Modification Maintenance Repair Overhaul and Availability (MMRO&A)

Managers Responsibilities

Operational Delivery 

• Set clear team goals aligned with MMRO&A targets and business strategy. 
• Oversee day-to-day operations or project delivery within your function. 
• Balance resource planning, risk management, and deadlines in a fast-paced, agile environment. 

  

Manage Functional Areas 

• Own the delivery of critical functional or technical areas (e.g. project timelines, compliance, technical direction). 
• Ensure outcomes meet quality, safety, and regulatory requirements. 

Contribute Expertise 

• Serve as a subject matter expert within the Fleet Support and Spares area
• Guide and influence teams through technical leadership or coordination. 

Drive Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with other managers (MMRO and Flight Ops) to align priorities and workflows. 
• Ensure effective two-way communication between your team and other team managment. 

Maintain Standards and Promote Continuous Improvement 

• Uphold documentation, quality, and compliance standards across your area. 
• Suggest and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency or scalability. 
• Identify opportunities for improving tools, systems, or processes. 
• Encourage team innovation and feedback in a scale-up environment. 

Uphold Values and Safety 

• Champion company values: Purpose, Agile, Resilient, Team, Safe. 
• Ensure all team members work in compliance with HSE standards and quality requirements. 

Lead and Develop People

• Manage, coach, and support your team. 
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and career development planning. 
• Set direct goal for direct reports and support direct reports on setting goals for their teams.
• Foster a high-performance, inclusive, and respectful team culture. 

Qualifications & Experience

• Experienced in managing vehicle fleets, tool inventories and support equipment (air, automotive, marine or rail)
• Experienced in conducting vehicle fleet, tool inventory and support equipment maintenance and husbandry
• Experience applying fleet management systems (availability management, deployment, fault reporting)
• Experienced user and (desirable) administrator of spare parts inventory management system (ERP or similar)
• Ability to adapt and learn new skills
• Empathetic and skilful communicator used to dealing with and explaining competing priorities
• Highly desirable: willingness to periodically operate from remote locations (UK or overseas at the discretion of the employee)
• Experienced with Microsoft Office user
• Familiar with project / progress management software user (eg ERP tools) 
• Right to work within the UK.
• Vetting and security clearance (as required by role, location or client).

 

Other

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the company. The job description may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.  

 

Professional Development

You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.