Operations Duty Manager

Ascend Airways | Operations Duty Manager

Bishops Stortford, UK – Full Time, Permanent

12-hour Day Shifts ( 5/4 pattern )

£50,000 – £55,000

UK AOC holder Ascend Airways is operating a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft (NG and MAX) in the ACMI market, opened its first operational base at London Gatwick in early 2024. The company is part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI provider, operating a fleet of 221 aircraft on 6 continents.

The group also provides a range of aviation services: MRO, pilot and crew training, ground handling, as well as a variety of associated aviation services. Supported by 14,000 highly skilled aviation professionals, the group is a parent company to over 250+ subsidiaries.

The Operations Duty Manager (ODM) plays a pivotal role within the Operations Control Centre (OCC), which incorporates Maintenance and Crew Control, and Operations (Flight Watch and Flight Planning) functions. Providing calm, informed, and proactive support on-shift, the ODM helps ensure every flight operates safely, efficiently, and on-schedule during a 7-day-a-week, 24-hour operation.

In a fast-paced charter / ACMI environment, the ODM maintains situational awareness of the flying programme. They assist Operations and Crew Control Officers on shift, ensuring effective information flow, timely decision-making, and coordinated responses to programme change. They work collaboratively with colleagues across the OCC and wider business to mitigate disruption, uphold safety and compliance, and realise commercial opportunities.

To succeed in the role, the ODM draws upon strong flight planning knowledge and practical understanding of disruption management alongside flight time limitations. They are composed under pressure, solutions-focused, and commercially aware, ensuring every decision supports operational safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Requirements:

• Safe, compliant and punctual services.
• Leading responses to operational disruption and in realising commercial opportunities.
• Proactive promotion of safe and compliant activities.
• Interpreting KPIs/metrics into daily objectives.
• Effective disruption management, collaboration and escalation.
• Imparting knowledge, supporting personal development and team initiatives.
• Cost control.

The successful candidate will have the following experiences and attributes:

• Experience working for a Type A / Network AOC holder.
• Experience of coaching and mentoring.
• Experience of ACMI operations/charter sales.
• Working knowledge of Flight Time Limitations and experience of managing aircrew rosters.
• Proficiency with operations control and safety management software, strong MS product skills.
• Flight Planning / ATFM competency.
• Conversant in meteorology.
• Strong communication skills.
• Environmental acumen.

At Ascend Airways we offer an attractive and inclusive working environment that supports opportunity for career progression. If you are interested in this position or would like to hear more we encourage you to reach out to recruitment@ascendairways.aero