Safety Management System (SMS) Focal

Job Description Summary

The SMS Focal will coordinate with the site Plant Leader and site Quality Leader in the development, implementation, and maintenance of a Safety Management System (SMS) for the West Jefferson and Asheville sites. This role involves promoting a positive product safety culture, coordinating product safety initiatives, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The SMS focal will work closely with cross-functional teams to identify, assess, and mitigate product safety risks while driving continuous improvement in product safety performance.

This role is critical in demonstrating the GE Aerospace commitment to the evolving regulatory requirements and oversight of SMS. This role will be transformational in moving our business from reactive to proactive then moving to predictive in managing product safety risk. It also presents an exciting opportunity to contribute from the onset of a shift in adopting a business-wide SMS with potential for growth as the new regulatory environment develops and matures.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Safety Management System Implementation (Policy) – Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of the site’s SMS in alignment with enterprise SMS team and industry best practices. Ensure SMS documentation is accurate, accessible, and maintained.
• Safety Risk Management (SRM) – Facilitate risk identification, analysis, and mitigation through collaboration with site product Safety Action Team (SAT)/Groups and product Safety Review Boards (SRB).
• Incident Investigation and Reporting – Prepare and submit product safety performance reports to the Accountable SMS Delegate, safety review board, and enterprise SMS team as required.
• Compliance and Auditing (Safety Assurance)– Monitor site-level compliance with applicable enterprise SMS policies. Conduct regular product safety audits and inspections to ensure adherence to SMS requirements.
• Management of Change (Assurance) - Support product Safety Risk Management within change management initiatives.
• Training and Awareness (Product Safety Promotion) – Collaborate with the local training team or focal point to provide SMS and Human Factors training to employees across all levels of the site. Promote product safety awareness and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Collaboration and Communication (Product Safety Promotion) – Facilitate the distribution of product safety information. Drive initiatives to enhance product safety performance and reduce risks. Act as the liaison between the site-level operations and enterprise SMS team on matters pertaining to product safety. Collaborate with other sites to share lessons learned and address systemic issues or concerns. Facilitate communication and collaboration across all levels of the GE Aerospace enterprise (e.g. other MRO shops, other Part 21 shops, etc.) to ensure alignment with SMS objectives.
• Performance Monitoring and Improvement – Track and analyze product safety performance metrics to identify trends (drive proactive approach to SRM) and areas for improvement. Facilitate the independent review of investigations and just culture. Support customer and regulatory audits.
• FLIGHT DECK – Implement FLIGHT DECK standards such as daily management, standard work, and problem-solving tools like APPS and PSRs. Make this the standard for how you work across the teams to enable performance and support the business operating system. Standardization of processes, tools and performance management system.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university (or a high school diploma/GED with a minimum of 4 years quality/manufacturing experience)
• Minimum of 5 years of quality assurance, or quality experience in a manufacturing or aerospace environment

Desired Characteristics

• Experience in using problem-solving root cause analysis tools
• Audit experience
• Effective communication skills, both written and spoken and the ability to interact at all levels – including leadership, regulatory representatives, and customer / operator representatives
• Experienced organizer and analyst of product safety data and information
• Experience and training in product safety – Safety Management Systems
• Experience in aerospace/aviation sector – Quality systems and/or manufacturing processes
• The ability to exercise role flexibility
• The ability to work under own initiative whilst supporting the team structure
• A pragmatic approach to decision making, and the ability to understand and take account of the wider business picture
• The ability to assimilate information quickly and make fact-based decisions

GE Aerospace offers comprehensive benefits and programs to support your health and, along with programs like HealthAhead, your physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing. Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach from GE Aerospace; and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Aerospace Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness. ​

GE Aerospace (General Electric Company or the Company) and its affiliates each sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs (i.e., is a “Sponsor”). Each Sponsor reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a Sponsor’s welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Additional Information

GE Aerospace offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Aerospace will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable). Employees may also be subject to random and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing.

Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes