Director of Maintenance Operations
Key Lime Air is a growing regional airline operating out of Denver International Airport with over 30 years in the aviation industry as a Part 121 and Part 135 air carrier. Its operations include cargo, private/VIP charters, and scheduled passenger service under the Denver Air Connection brand.
Key Lime Air is seeking an experienced aviation maintenance leader to serve as Director of Maintenance Operations. The position directs the day-to-day execution of maintenance, preventive maintenance, alterations, and repairs across the KLA fleet; leads maintenance supervisors, shop leads, mechanics, and other assigned personnel; and coordinates with Maintenance Control, Planning, Technical Services, Avionics, Inspection, Materials, Records, Dispatch, Safety and Flight Operations to provide safe, compliant, and reliable aircraft.
This is a key KLA management position, but it is not the company's required management position under 14 CFR 119.65. The Vice President of Maintenance remains KLA's FAA-approved required maintenance official and retains overall authority and responsibility for airworthiness and the company's maintenance programs and processes. The Director of Maintenance Operations exercises authority assigned or delegated by the Vice President of Maintenance within KLA manuals and company policy.
Location: Denver International Airport, Colorado
Department: Maintenance
Reports To: Vice President of Maintenance
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt | Safety-Sensitive
Application Deadline: October 11th , 2026
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Direct scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, preventive maintenance, repairs, alterations, and maintenance production in accordance with KLA manuals, approved maintenance schedules and plans, applicable technical data, and regulatory requirements.
- Lead assigned maintenance personnel; establish daily priorities; monitor performance; provide coaching and accountability; and support hiring, training, qualification, development, and retention.
- Coordinate maintenance requirements with Maintenance Control, Planning, Inspection, Technical Services, Avionics, Materials, Records, Dispatch, Flight Operations, and Safety, including issues affecting aircraft availability, completion dates, reliability, and operational recovery.
- Evaluate staffing, facilities, tooling, equipment, parts, materials, and other resources; ensure work is supported by appropriately trained, qualified, and authorized personnel; and keep the Vice President of Maintenance informed of significant needs, risks, or deficiencies.
- Manage Maintenance Duty Time, personnel scheduling, shift turnover, work interruptions, pass-down information, and other controls necessary to maintain continuity and compliance between shifts.
- Ensure maintenance work is properly assigned, performed, documented, and completed and that facilities provide appropriate lighting, ventilation, housekeeping, tooling, equipment, parts, materials, and supplies.
- Represent maintenance-production interests in Required Inspection Item matters while respecting the Chief Inspector's independent inspection authority and the Vice President of Maintenance's authority as final arbiter of maintenance disputes.
- Participate in Continuing Analysis and Surveillance activities; support investigations, root-cause analyses, corrective actions, and safety-risk assessments; and help resolve maintenance-program, reliability, procedural, or compliance deficiencies.
- Promote KLA's Safety Management System and a culture of hazard reporting, professionalism, communication, continuous improvement, and operational discipline.
- Support maintenance budgets, staffing plans, resource forecasts, and maintenance requirements associated with new aircraft, facilities, routes, airports, line stations, and other operational changes.
- Serve as Acting Vice President of Maintenance when designated under KLA succession procedures and all applicable qualification and approval requirements are met; delegate assigned duties when appropriate while retaining responsibility for proper performance; and perform other duties assigned by the Vice President of Maintenance.
Required Qualifications
- Must meet the applicable qualification standards of 14 CFR 119.67(c).
- Experience performing or managing maintenance in a certificated air-carrier, commercial aviation, military aviation, or comparable regulated maintenance environment, with working knowledge of applicable FAA regulations, maintenance programs and manuals, manufacturer technical data, and return-to-service requirements.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, inspections, work packages, tooling, staffing, and material requirements in a time-sensitive operational environment.
- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively across maintenance-production, inspection, technical, operational, and executive functions.
- Proficiency with computerized maintenance-tracking, work-order, task-management, and record systems.
Preferred Qualifications
- Part 121 or Part 135 air-carrier maintenance experience.
- Experience with a Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program, Continuing Analysis and Surveillance program, Required Inspection Item program, and Safety Management System.
- Experience with Embraer ERJ-145, Dornier 328Jet, Embraer Brasilia, and/or Fairchild Metro aircraft.
Leadership and Accountability
- Maintain safety and regulatory compliance as the first priorities in all maintenance decisions.
- Provide clear direction and establish consistent expectations for maintenance personnel.
- Hold personnel accountable while recognizing and correcting organizational, procedural, training, and resource deficiencies.
- Communicate emerging risks and resource needs promptly to the Vice President of Maintenance.
- Work constructively with the Chief Inspector while respecting the independence of KLA's inspection and quality-control functions.
- Develop maintenance leaders and promote professionalism, communication, continuous improvement, and operational discipline.
Schedule, Working Conditions, and Employment Requirements
This is an on-site position based at KLA's Denver maintenance facility and requires flexibility based on operational needs, including occasional nights, weekends, holidays, after-hours availability, and travel to line stations, aircraft recovery locations, maintenance providers, and other KLA facilities. Work may be performed in offices, hangars, maintenance shops, airport ramps, and outdoor environments. This safety-sensitive position requires participation in KLA's FAA-compliant drug and alcohol testing program and successful completion of all applicable pre-employment screening and qualification requirements.
Compensation
Salary range: $150,000-$185,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits:
- Employer paid health, vision, dental, and life insurance for the employee
- Matching 401K up to 4%
- PTO days: maximum of 18 days per year to start
- Flight benefits through ZED program