Senior Operations Manager

hackajob is collaborating with BAE Critical Skills to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.

Location: Warton, Hybrid, 3 days per week on site

Salary: £67,000 plus performance bonus and car allowance

Who we are: Join BAE Systems and you'll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you'll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You'll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us. From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there's no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

Job Description: As a Senior Operations Manager, you will lead the delivery of security operations across Air Sector sites and programmes. This is a highly visible role responsible for ensuring effective security support is delivered across UK facilities and international customer locations, helping to protect people, assets, information and business operations. You'll work closely with a broad range of stakeholders, customers and third-party partners to manage security risks, drive operational excellence and support business growth activities across existing and emerging markets.

Core duties:

• Oversee delivery of security operations across Air Sector sites, ensuring effective support to UK facilities and international customer locations, including Qatar, Türkiye and Oman
• Coordinate and lead the assessment of security risks and threats across Air Sector activities, implementing proportionate mitigation actions in line with corporate policy, governance and customer requirements
• Promote consistency and best practice across Air Sector sites by sharing lessons learned, strengthening compliance and improving operational security maturity
• Manage third-party providers to deliver effective, fit-for-purpose security outcomes across the business
• Support business growth activities by contributing security expertise to bids, campaigns and early customer engagement activities
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure security requirements are understood and effectively delivered

Essential Skills:

• Management experience providing security advice within a large international or federated organisation
• Extensive experience applying security risk management techniques, with a particular focus on managing physical security risks across large and geographically dispersed commercial, government or military sites
• Strong knowledge of BAE Systems and/or similarly regulated defence or military environments
• Experience leading multi-disciplined teams and delivering high-quality operational outcomes
• Proven communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective stakeholder relationships and drive successful outcomes across the business

The team: The team is responsible for delivering security operations, governance and risk management activities across Air Sector programmes and locations. Working in partnership with customers, operational teams and security specialists, the team plays a critical role in protecting business operations, ensuring compliance and enabling future growth across both UK and international markets.

Why BAE Systems? Here you'll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You'll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what's most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive: We're committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 5th August 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.