Flights Operations Manager

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Flight Operations Manager

Vacancy Reference: 2023/CLA-191

Position: Full-time

Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK

Salary Range: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum depending on relevant experience

At Callen-Lenz, we are expanding the limits of what is possible. We specialise in crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations and technology, and having recently received investment into the business we are going through a period of rapid growth and development and are looking for key roles to assist with these changes. Callen-Lenz offers innovative and customer focused UAS solutions through our 4 key business strands; technical services, products, platforms and operational services. We are looking for individuals to help drive forward our expansion, placing you at forefront of UAS development in the UK.

Our Values

• Teamwork
• Commitment
• Initiative
• Creativity
• Agility
• Integrity
• Enjoyment

Why Work for Us

Based in the heart of rural Wiltshire, close to the Historic city of Salisbury, you will join our rapidly growing, friendly and multi-disciplined team, working on a range of diverse and interesting projects, leading the way in this exciting field and witnessing the full lifecycle of our products. The Callen-Lenz team are passionate about what we do, and we are searching for individuals to grow with us as we expand into the aerospace industry.

Our benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays)
• Buy/Sell holiday policy up to 5 days either way
• Pension Scheme via Royal London
• Life assurance scheme (6x basic salary)
• Income protection policy (75% of basic salary)
• Cycle2Work scheme
• Private Health Insurance via Vitality
• Enhanced Maternity and paternity
• 1 Professional membership reimbursed per year
• Access to an independent financial advisor year round
• Training & development opportunities

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Programmes and Operations, we seek an experienced aviation operations leader to manage the delivery of our flight operations processes and our growing team of Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) professionals. Callen-Lenz flight operations cover a broad range of activities including service delivery, production acceptance test, system development and experimental flight test plus line maintenance of certain systems. In addition to our Fregata and Koios core UAS products we regularly operate a diverse range of platforms from small multi-rotor to large fixed-wing and everything in between including novel configurations. Our core work in UK is conducted under a CAA Specific Operation Authorisation, either at our home sites or deployed, and covers VLOS and BVLOS flying. Safety is our highest priority with a strong focus on the real-world application of good practice in a wide range of circumstances.

Responsibilities:

• Promoting a success-oriented aviation safety culture across the whole company
• Maintenance and continuous improvement of our Aviation Operating Framework which enables the safe, compliant and effective accomplishment of company goals
• Proactive oversight of diverse UAS operations, both at home and on deployment
• Line management of UAS Pilot community, including resource planning and allocation to achieve project and Company objectives
• Continuous improvement of pilot resource capability, capacity and processes to achieve aggressive Company growth plans
• Approval (subject to competence) of flight test plans
• Assurance of quality in all aspects of flight and line maintenance activities
• Working with regulators to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements
• Representing the company at key RPAS forums
• Acting as UAS crewmember when required/qualified
• Requirement for periodic deployment/foreign travel

About You

Essential attributes

• 3+ years of professional aviation leadership
• 5+ years of successful aviation operations delivery in a team environment
• Knowledge and experience of aviation regulation and practical governance
• Demonstrable ability to create high quality technical/operational documentation
• Line Management experience
• Flight test/trial experience and qualification

Desirable attributes

• Commercial aviation experience
• Crewed aviation operating experience and qualification including in leadership roles
• Model aircraft or UAS operating experience and qualification including in leadership roles
• Knowledge and experience of applying UK civil UAS regulations (or similar), preferably including SORA competence
• Knowledge and experience of applying other UAS regulations

Personal

• Must be a British Citizen or must have an existing right to work in the UK and have been a UK resident for 5 years
• Ability to work in Salisbury, Wiltshire UK on daily basis
• Ability to hold UK security clearance

Callen-Lenz is an equal opportunities employer, committed to building an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. It is essential that the successful candidate must, by the start of their employment have permission to work in the UK. Proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK will be required prior to commencement of employment.