Operations Manager

We have an exciting vacancy at RAF Lossiemouth leading the in-place equipment support operation for our new and growing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft (both Boeing 737 derivatives) within DE&S’s Air Domain.

The P-8A Poseidon commenced initial flying operations in March 2021, and the fleet is now complete at 9 aircraft. The E-7 Wedgetail is due to enter service in 2024. Co-located at Lossiemouth, both fleets will be operated, maintained, and sustained by a joint Support System comprising elements provided by the RAF, DE&S, US Navy, and commercial industry. The Support System extends beyond aircraft and includes a significant ground element: operational - mission-support systems; training - synthetic training devices.

You will have a central role in coordinating multi-organisation support to these operational fleets, working directly with the RAF’s Front Line and with Industry. You will be the senior DE&S representative at RAF Lossiemouth, progressing and maturing the future support model. You will provide critical in-place transition and coordination - across the spectrum of DE&S services - as both the operational activity and the DE&S footprint at Lossiemouth grow. Your purpose will be to drive the fully integrated equipment support service to deliver strong and dependable operational availability of these key capabilities, enabling both fleets to execute their critical missions.

The vital task undertaken in this role blends broad professional, management, and leadership with the core business of managing technical and logistic support to military aviation equipment. This is a new position, and as such, you will have extensive opportunity to shape the role as emerging and evolving business requirements present. With both platforms at the start of long in-service careers, the role promises to provide an enduring, operationally critical, stimulating, and challenging opportunity.

Please note, while DE&S encourages Hybrid Working, this role requires frequent attendance at the stated site. Moreover, to manage the relationships mentioned earlier, there will be opportunity for travel in the UK, the US and Europe.

Due to the security requirements, this post is reserved for sole UK nationals only

About the role

In this role, you will be entrusted with:

• Providing a multi-disciplinary, coordinating focal point for the DE&S equipment support service operation, working across the Poseidon and Wedgetail Delivery Teams, and acting as the senior DE&S presence.
• Helping to develop and to implement the operating model for the service operation and the transition to the steady-state 2-fleet Support System, creating, developing, and implementing Lossiemouth-focused ways of working and operating procedures.
• Building, strengthening, and managing engagement and relationships with Lossiemouth-based customers and suppliers and with the Bristol ‘hub’ of DE&S E-7 and P-8A Delivery Teams and Industry.
• Coordinating and cohering the growth of the DE&S’s RAF Lossiemouth ‘footprint.’
• Assisting with service-performance management - including problem identification and resolution - and contract management.
• Leading on engagement between DE&S and RAF Lossiemouth, as the senior DE&S representative on site
• Operating as a member of the DE&S Delivery Team Management Board.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Leading a multi-disciplinary team at senior level, in a dynamic service-delivery context.
• Managing stakeholders, customers, and suppliers, including successfully managing associated agreements.
• Implementing major change initiatives.
• Analysing requirements and performance and progressing related improvements.

It would also be great if you can demonstrate any of the following desirable criteria:

• Experience in the field of equipment management and support or aviation or engineering.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Service Delivery Management – Expert level
• Continuous Improvement for Optimised Support - Expert level
• Managing a quality service
• Communicating and influencing

Benefits

We're pleased to offer a generous benefits package to support everything from your work-life balance to your bank balance, including:

• 25 days’ holiday a year, plus 1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• A market-leading employer pension contribution of around 27 percent, an annual performance-based bonus, and recognition awards
• Flexible and hybrid working wherever possible, to support your work-life balance (though some attendance to the stated site is required)
• Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications, with plenty of opportunities and support for progression
• A huge range of discounts including retail, sports, leisure, restaurants, gifts, days out, holidays, cinema, motoring, insurance, health care, gym memberships, and more
• Up to six days of paid leave a year for volunteering
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave schemes, offering 100% pay for 26 weeks (after a qualifying period)
• We champion a diverse and inclusive environment, where everyone can be themselves and give their best. We believe that by harnessing the power of different ideas, experiences, and perspectives, we can achieve our ambitions, together. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £52,500.00-£57,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Flexitime

Schedule:

• Flexitime

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Lossiemouth: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: ORC 946 Ops Mgr