Senior Airside Performance Manager

• Lead the design and continuous improvement of the frontline people operating model 

• Provide strategic leadership for how airside shift teams are structured, led and supported, ensuring the people model enables safe, compliant and efficient delivery in a 24/7, safety‑critical operational environment

• Build and embed a high‑performance, safety‑led culture across Airside Operations 

• Set clear expectations for leadership behaviours, accountability and ways of working that strengthen safety, compliance, teamwork and service excellence across all frontline teams

• Provide senior accountability for performance management and people capability 

• Design and embed robust performance frameworks, KPIs and feedback rhythms that drive consistent standards, continuous improvement and sustained operational performance at scale.

• Ensure effective workforce planning, resourcing and operational readiness 

• Lead strategic workforce planning to ensure Airside Operations has the capacity, skills and resilience required to meet daily, seasonal and peak demands, including winter operations and contingency scenarios.

• Oversee training, leadership development and people governance 

• Ensure high‑quality, compliant and consistent delivery of technical, safety and leadership training, while maintaining strong people governance through consistent application of HR policies and regulatory obligations.

• Use data and insight to drive people‑focused operational improvement 

• Leverage people, performance and operational data to identify risks, trends and improvement opportunities, embedding sustainable improvements in behaviour, capability and operational outcomes through collaboration with transformation and standards partners.

Essential Experience 

• Minimum 7 years’ experience managing teams in a complex operational, regulatory or safety critical environment, ideally within aviation or transport operations. 

• Experience implementing new operating models or supporting teams through organisational or cultural transformation, ideally aligned to strategic programmes of change. 

• Demonstrated track record in embedding performance management systems and culture 

• Strong experience using operational and performance data to drive decision making, identify risk and deliver measurable improvements. 

Technical Knowledge 

• Strong understanding of the dynamics of shift based operational teams (SDMA, AOSO, AFFT) and the operational rhythms required to support daily performance.  

• Awareness of aviation regulatory frameworks, SMS principles and operational risk management processes (or ability to rapidly acquire this knowledge) 

• Knowledge of airfield operations, operational risk management and safety management systems (SMS) 

• Familiarity with operational technology, reporting tools, dashboards and data analysis techniques. 

Skills & Competencies 

• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across both frontline and non-frontline teams.  

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data and insights into practical improvements. 

• Strong relationship building and collaboration skills 

• Ability to set clear expectations, build structured governance, and embed consistent ways of working. 

• High levels of organisation, resilience and the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic, safety critical environment. 

• Demonstrated capability in driving cultural change and fostering a high performance, accountable team environment. 

• Proven ability to build positive, accountable cultures that emphasise safety, service, teamwork and continuous improvement