Head of Flight Operations

The Vacancy

A little bit about us

Ascent Flight Training is an established, fast growing aerospace and training company which operates across the UK, delivering flying training services to the UK Government and UK industry partners.

We want to attract and work with innovative, adaptable, and proactive people to help us achieve Our passion for training, helping our customers to realise their potential and deliver their Mission..

We offer the opportunity to work in a flexible, dynamic, and diverse environment within our Training Support Hub and on our operations sites.

You will bring expertise and fresh ideas to an environment where your contribution is really valued.

At Ascent, our values are rooted in respect – for our employees, our partners and our customer. That’s why championing diversity and inclusion is so important to us; when we embrace different perspectives and give everyone the chance to be the best they can be, we can think in new, creative ways that grow and enhance our business. We are committed to equal opportunities for all. We pride ourselves on being a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We actively practice inclusivity for all people with disabilities where we provide work place opportunities and experiences. As a supportive employer we endeavour to accommodate all disabilities and will always work with our employees to make provisions for their disability needs.

We encourage all people with disabilities to apply for relevant skilled job roles within the business. As an inclusive company we welcome all disability applications which will be processed fairly, in line with our recruitment policy. At Ascent, we also provide work place schemes for all students including those with disabilities, this includes Apprenticeships, Work Experience and Job Shadowing for a day. Ascent will continue to work towards maintaining our commitment to those with disabilities

A day in the life of a Head of Flight Operations

A new and exciting vacancy has been created for an experienced business leader who has a strong commercial background alongside expertise in Flight Operations. The role will own the flying and instructional staff within the business who, working in a matrix management framework, operate under our various General Managers for day-to-day service execution.

You will:

• Ensure appropriate quality, compliance, and standards of aviation and all aspects of flying training within the business.
• Ensure appropriate levels of SQEP resource are available to General Managers to meet or beat flying targets (rostering, utilisation, etc.).
• Act as the primary interface between our aircrew, the wider business, and key stakeholders including our recognised Trade Unions.
• Lead projects to drive innovation, best-practice, and optimisation into the appropriate elements of our products and services.
• Act as the aircrew safety representative to our Board, through the Safety Sub-Committee.

What will make you successful?

You will have a strong background as an aviator in the military or civil sector, and now as an experienced business leader, you will have experience in managing large and highly skilled workforces, ensuring strategic alignment, effective communication, and operational focus.

You will have strong leadership and influencing skills and a passion for high standards, compliance, and standardisation. You will be able to create strong working relationships with all key stakeholders and have the ability to work autonomously yet in conjunction with senior managers throughout the business.

You will be required to work from our state-of-the-art, new offices in Bristol, designed to provide a modern, vibrant and collaborative environment, a minimum of 2 days per week and the ability to travel across the country as the role requires.

What can we offer you in return?

• Competitive salary
• Equivalent to 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (Extra days with length of service)
• Private AXA health care for you and your family 
• Pension plan (Up to 6% matched)
• Life Assurance (Up to 3 times your annual salary)
• Flexible benefits (Buying and selling of holiday, BUPA dental, cycle2work scheme, retail discounts)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave and pay
• Enhanced company sick pay which increases with length of service
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 free and confidential legal and wellbeing advice)
• Annual reviews of your salary and individual learning and development plan
• Mental Health Support and subscription to the Unmind platform for you and a plus one
• Free eye tests for DSE users and money towards any subsequent corrective glasses.