LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager
LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager

LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager

Hounslow Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead customer operations at Heathrow, ensuring a seamless journey from check-in to boarding.
  • Company: Join Virgin Atlantic, a pioneering airline aiming to be the most loved travel company.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a full-time role with opportunities for growth and a vibrant team culture.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of travel while empowering teams and enhancing customer experiences.
  • Qualifications: Proven leadership in hospitality or airport environments, with strong collaboration skills.
  • Other info: We celebrate diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours), Monday - Friday

Location: Heathrow Terminal 3

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 7th July 2025

At Virgin Atlantic Airways, we believe that everyone can take on the world, and it’s our vision to become the most loved travel company. As we embark on this next exciting stage of our journey, we’re harnessing our spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation to challenge the status quo.

In a nutshell, as a LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager, you’ll be at the helm of our above-wing operation, leading with energy, empathy, and a sharp eye for detail. You’ll be responsible for delivering a seamless customer journey from check-in to boarding, ensuring every moment reflects the Virgin Atlantic spirit. With a strong focus on on-time performance and service excellence, you’ll champion the customer experience and make sure our people feel empowered to deliver it. You’ll also play a key role in uniting teams across the operation.

Working closely with our below-wing colleagues and duty managers, you’ll foster a one-team mindset that drives collaboration and results. This role is about more than just today—it’s about shaping the future. You’ll lead with vision, inspire your teams, and develop strategies that keep our operation flying high for the long haul.

Day to day, this is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategic thinking with operational flair and a genuine passion for hospitality. You’ll be the go-to for aligning above-wing operations with the wider airport ecosystem, working closely with the Senior Manager of Operations (below wing), our partners at ABM, and teams across airports, clubhouses, Brand, Design, Facilities, and Customer Journey.

  • Design and drive the customer operations strategy at Heathrow from check-in to boarding.
  • Support and coach the Customer Delivery Manager, whilst being a visible leader to our strong team of 300 across different leadership levels.
  • Represent Heathrow in cross-functional forums and ground experience projects focused on Zone A / B, the Upper-Class Wing and boarding experience.
  • Feeding guest insights and operational feedback from the ground into future plans, whilst working with the Heathrow Regulation Senior Manager on the future of Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow from a customer operation perspective.
  • Own our relationship with ABM and ICTS alongside other Heathrow leaders to make sure our guests experience the highest levels of cleanliness and security experience.
  • Work closely with Performance Development Managers to ensure standards, behaviours and discipline meet the expectations we set.

About you: Are you a proven leader in delivering exceptional guest experiences within premium hospitality or airport environments, with a strong emphasis on empathy, collaboration, and team empowerment? In addition to this, you will also have the following:

  • Proven experience in managing people, budgets and complex operations.
  • A commercial mindset with the ability to make decisions that balance cost, quality and guest impact.
  • Proven experience working with guest service partners and holding them to account.
  • Excellent collaboration skills with the ability to bring people together across the business, inspiring action and building momentum - even without formal authority.
  • A mindset that blends operational discipline with a deep appreciation for our brand.

If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

Our recipe for leadership: At Virgin Atlantic, our leaders empower teams to thrive through collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Explore our Leadership Recipe and discover the 20 core ingredients that define what it means to lead with us, driving our mission to be the most loved travel company and achieve sustainable profit.

Be yourself: Our customers come from all walks of life and so do our colleagues. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. At Virgin Atlantic, we believe everyone can take on the world - no matter your age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We celebrate difference and everything that makes our colleagues unique by upholding an inclusive environment in which we can all thrive.

So that everyone at Virgin Atlantic can be themselves and know they belong. To make your journey with us accessible and individual to you, we encourage you to let us know if you’d like a little extra help with your application, or if you have any individual requirements at any stage along your recruitment journey. We are here to support you, so please reach out to our team.

LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager employer: Virgin Atlantic

At Virgin Atlantic, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions collaboration and innovation. Located at Heathrow Terminal 3, our team enjoys a dynamic environment where every employee is empowered to deliver outstanding customer experiences, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that all colleagues feel valued and supported as they contribute to our mission of becoming the most loved travel company.
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Contact Detail:

Virgin Atlantic Recruiting Team

recruitment@fly.virgin.com

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with Virgin Atlantic's brand values and customer service philosophy. Understanding their commitment to exceptional guest experiences will help you align your approach during interviews and discussions.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with current or former employees of Virgin Atlantic, especially those in customer operations roles. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial for your application.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to manage complex operations. Highlight instances where you've successfully improved customer experiences or operational efficiency.

✨Tip Number 4

Stay updated on industry trends and challenges within the aviation sector. Being knowledgeable about current issues can help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and show your passion for the role.

We think you need these skills to ace LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager

Leadership Skills
Customer Service Excellence
Operational Management
Budget Management
Collaboration and Team Building
Strategic Thinking
Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
Problem-Solving Skills
Commercial Acumen
Performance Management
Communication Skills
Stakeholder Engagement
Adaptability
Attention to Detail
Project Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in customer operations and leadership roles. Emphasise your ability to manage teams, budgets, and complex operations, as these are key aspects of the role.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences. Mention specific examples from your past that demonstrate your empathy, collaboration skills, and operational discipline.

Showcase Your Leadership Style: Use your application to illustrate your leadership style. Discuss how you empower teams and foster collaboration, as Virgin Atlantic values leaders who inspire action and build momentum.

Highlight Relevant Achievements: Include quantifiable achievements in your application that showcase your impact in previous roles. For instance, mention improvements in customer satisfaction scores or successful project completions that align with the responsibilities of the LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager.

How to prepare for a job interview at Virgin Atlantic

✨Show Your Leadership Skills

As a Senior Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed people and operations in the past, focusing on collaboration and empowerment.

✨Understand the Customer Journey

Familiarise yourself with the entire customer journey from check-in to boarding. Be ready to discuss how you would enhance this experience at Virgin Atlantic, showcasing your passion for hospitality and service excellence.

✨Emphasise Collaboration

Highlight your experience in working across different teams and departments. Virgin Atlantic values a one-team mindset, so be prepared to share instances where you've successfully united teams to achieve common goals.

✨Demonstrate a Commercial Mindset

Be ready to discuss how you balance cost, quality, and guest impact in decision-making. Show that you understand the importance of financial considerations while maintaining high service standards.

LHR Customer Operations Senior Manager
Virgin Atlantic
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