Vice President, Civil Aviation at AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION – Washington, Virginia

Position Summary:

The VP for Civil Aviation is responsible for identifying, commenting, and advocating for common, noncompetitive domestic and international civil aviation policy issues across AIA membership and in alliance with other aviation associations and safety agencies around the world. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Policy of AIA, the VP supervises and manages the Civil Aviation Division.

The Civil Aviation Division’s activities are organized around three primary objectives: promote global aviation safety and competitiveness, support transformational aviation initiatives and technology that advance our industry, and support policies and research that enable sustainable growth of our industry.

Strategic direction for the division is provided by the CEO-level Civil Aviation Leadership Council (CALC). Relying on this guidance and in close coordination with AIA member company representatives, the VP and the Civil Aviation team advocate for AIA’s top civil aviation policy priorities. This work includes aircraft noise and emissions, certification, rulemaking and safety, air traffic systems, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

Advocacy on matters of global competitiveness is rooted in a fair and unbiased international regulatory framework, including fair market access internationally. Transformational initiatives and technology include highly efficient regulatory approaches to product certification and risk-based decision making for aviation safety and security, and the safe and efficient integration of UAS in the national airspace system. Advocacy related to polices and research that enable sustainable growth include support for alternative aviation fuels initiatives; the development of a global CO2 certification standard for civil aircraft; promoting enhanced federal research funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration; and the pursuit of tax policies that encourage private research and development investment.

Key Responsibilities:

Provides strategic direction for the Civil Aviation Division (50%)

• Serves as a member of AIA’s Senior Leadership Team, coordinating and collaborating on enterprise-level strategic goals as they relate to key civil aviation policy priorities.
• Responsible for identifying, commenting, and advocating for all issues that impact the design, manufacture, and operation of transport category airplanes, rotorcraft, engines, parts and appliances. The position focuses on all aspects of civil aviation products, which requires collaboration with departments across the association.
• Analyzes various trends, issues, areas of concern and emerging patterns pertaining to domestic and international manufacture and operation of transport category airplanes, rotorcraft engines, parts and appliances to provide insight into future developments and to anticipate the need for association positions and actions. These areas include economic and technical trends, flight safety and regulation, aircraft environmental performance, legislative initiatives, and R&D policy.
• Serves as a key resource to the President & CEO, other departments, member companies, government and congressional officials, the media and the public.

Advocacy & Outreach (50%)

• Builds and maintains relationships with senior policy level counterparts in member companies, U.S. and foreign governments, Congress, international organizations, other associations, and academia covering technical and legislative matters to define issues and focal points.
• Helps drive industry consensus; drafting and refining AIA's positions on the various issues and topics under consideration and in making these viewpoints known to appropriate Congressional and agency officials and relevant private sector organizations.
• Provides substantive and technical expertise to the development of all civil aviation advocacy and outreach related material.
• Coordinates the activities of the Civil Aviation Leadership Council (“CALC” – strategic guidance body comprised of member company CEOs with civil aviation interests), as well as the committees, subcommittees and working groups established at AIA to address U.S. and international policies and regulatory issues. These councils, committees and working groups formulate industry positions to be presented to the U.S. Congress, as well as U.S., foreign, and international governmental agencies, bureaus and commissions. In addition, these groups respond to government inquiries dealing with special areas of concern that require industry input.
• Represents AIA at various official gatherings, organizing and chairing sessions, speaking or serving as a panelist. Works with other organizations to inform them of the AIA position on various issues and topics and occasionally provides congressional testimony.
• Oversees AIA’s participation in the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Association and its activities at ICAO to include: coordination with the ICCAIA employees in Montreal, leaders and membership on issues of importance to AIA members; preparation of the AIA CEO for ICCAIA meetings several times per year; serve as principal POC and supervise ICCAIA Secretary during the next period of AIA Chairmanship of ICCAIA; and educate and inform AIA membership about ICCAIA actions and initiatives.
• Serves as representative on major government advisory boards and committees, and advises the FAA on matters related to safety of flight, aviation system capacity, and aircraft environmental performance.
• Responsible for proactive engagement with member companies to ensure retention of members that are focused on civil aviation issues and engagement. Responsible for recruitment of additional full member companies.

Staff of 4: Senior Director of Commercial Aviation Safety & Regulatory Affairs , Senior Director of Civil Aviation Strategy, Innovation & Environmental Affairs, Senior Manager of Civil Aviation, and Coordinator for Civil Aviation & Space Programs. The Civil Aviation Division works in close coordination with the Legislative Affairs and Communications teams, which play a key role in enabling the advocacy work of the division

Qualifications and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience working in a highly collaborative environment where teamwork, collegiality, problem-solving, and self-motivation are necessary for success
• Executive-level experience and expertise in civil aviation policy, with related political and/or media experience preferred.
• Proven experience serving as a member of – and key contributor to – a senior leadership team
• Strategic understanding of the federal legislative and regulatory process and the ability to engage and shape both environments
• Minimum of five years’ prior supervisory experience in an association or aerospace-related corporation
• Strong interpersonal skills, as well as strong and effective written and oral skills
• Demonstrated proficiency and experience in customer service with high standards of timeliness and responsiveness
• Ability to effectively communicate the vision, programs and value of membership in AIA to maintain and increase membership including reaching and/or expanding into new or untapped markets.
• Experience in developing and managing departmental budgets
• Bachelors’ degree in aviation, aerospace, engineering, public policy, government or legislative affairs, or related fields or comparable work experience required
• Master’s degree with business, public policy, or aerospace related fields preferred

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to non-discrimination regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

This job description is not intended to be a complete statement of all duties, which may be assigned by the supervisor according to varying business needs.