The role of an Interim Manager in the Aerospace sector

A technical and demanding sector, the aeronautical sector carries high stakes and heavy responsibilities.

Many aeronautical companies use a transition management firm to fill positions over defined periods.

The person delegated to an interim management position must meet strict criteria and demonstrate substantial experience.

Here’s everything you need to know about Transition Managers in Aerospace .

Why call on an aeronautical transition manager?

When they wish to call on particularly experienced profiles with specific skills, aeronautics companies sometimes use interim management firms .

In the aviation sector, it is common to call on an interim management firm in the event of an urgent need for an experienced professional, specifically when it comes to implementing a project strictly defined in time, with Quantifiable and measurable KPIs.

Many aeronautical companies use an interim management firm to fill management, supervisory or intermediate management positions.

An Interim Manager can, for example, hold a position as an aeronautical engineer. He may also be required to supervise, train and lead a team of technicians, flight personnel or hold a management position with support functions.

What positions does an Interim Manager occupy in aeronautics?

An Interim Manager can occupy management, middle management and management positions.

• The Transition Manager can intervene within the technical team: he will be required to perform the function of project manager, team leader, technical manager or director.
• The Interim Manager may also be called upon to exercise the functions of manager with support functions. He works in different departments: financial department, quality department, human resources department, marketing department, etc. He then performs classic management functions within the department and generally supervises a specific project on which he will have to report to management. .
• It is relatively common in the aeronautics sector to call on transition managers on sensitive development projects, for example the installation of new functionalities on aircraft. For this type of mission, an experienced aeronautical engineer will have his place to put his expertise to good use.
• In addition, the supervision of a team of qualified technicians on a specific project (maintenance of an aircraft, application of new standards, configuration of new functionalities) also falls within the functions of the Transition Manager in aeronautics.
• Finally, the Transition Manager can perform the function of flight crew manager. When he is called upon to perform the function of unit chief or crew chief, his role is above all to guarantee the aptitude of the aircrew for the tasks and functions performed. He is responsible for the flight personnel assigned to an aircraft (hostesses, stewards) and performs this role according to the personnel management policy defined by management.
• The interim aircrew manager plays a very field-oriented and interim management role. He is responsible for the safety of passengers throughout the flight, he must ensure their well-being and the smooth running of their trip. This dimension of the position is essential in a sector where the quality of life on board is often a major issue. The transition flight crew manager works in direct collaboration with the captain to ensure an irreproachable trip in terms of comfort and safety.

What profile for an Interim Manager?

The skills required to be an interim manager in aeronautics vary greatly depending on the positions held, even if an appetite for this particular sector is of course required regardless of the position held.

• Experience in the aeronautical sector is therefore a very valuable prerequisite. An ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously is also required.
• The transition manager in aeronautics must have a foolproof relational capacity and proven managerial skills.
• Aeronautics is a sector which is defined by certain specificities: the representatives of the personnel often have an important space to speak and a consequent margin of decision. For many positions in the aeronautics sector, it is recommended that the interim manager demonstrate significant experience in social dialogue and in negotiations with unions.
• An interim management firm strives to connect aeronautical companies seeking experienced Managers with competent and qualified professionals.

How much does an interim manager in aeronautics cost?

It is difficult to define a cost for an Interim Manager in aeronautics because, as we have noted, the positions are very variable in this sector. However, we can give an idea: interim managers in the aeronautics sector can request a monthly salary varying between 6,000 and 15,000 euros gross.

However, the remuneration of Interim Managers in aeronautics varies greatly according to different criteria:

• Manager’s experience,
• company size,
• the missions entrusted to the Manager,
• the size of the supervised team.