Head of Certification & Airworthiness - New Aircraft

Head of Certification & Airworthiness - New Aircraft Program

iO Associates is currently partnered with an aerospace client that is seeking a Head of Certification & Airworthiness to lead all certification activities for a major aviation program.

This is a senior leadership role offering the opportunity to play a critical part in achieving regulatory approval and successful market entry of a completely new aircraft.

As part of a dynamic and forward-thinking team, you will be responsible for defining and executing the certification strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance, and leading interactions with aviation authorities. This role sits at the heart of program execution, bridging engineering, safety, and regulatory domains to enable on-time and compliant certification.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the overall certification and airworthiness strategy in line with program objectives and regulatory requirements
• Lead compliance activities with EASA, FAA, and other relevant authorities, including certification plans, compliance matrices, and approvals
• Act as the primary point of contact with regulatory bodies, customers, and internal stakeholders on certification matters
• Oversee certification schedules, risks, budgets, and deliverables to ensure milestones are achieved
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing certification and airworthiness team
• Ensure rigorous safety and quality processes are applied across all certification activities
• Drive continuous improvement by embedding best practices, lessons learned, and regulatory updates into certification processes

Requirements

• Master's degree in Aeronautical, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline
• 15+ years of experience in the aerospace industry with a strong focus on certification
• Extensive knowledge of aircraft certification regulations and processes (EASA, FAA, etc.)
• Proven track record of managing complex certification programs through to approval
• Strong understanding of aircraft systems, design, testing, and compliance methodologies
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills, with the ability to represent the program at senior and regulatory levels
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and problem-solving capability