Director Aviation Programme

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How to apply:

Please review the below information and if you wish to apply, forward your CV and a covering letter to recruit@chirp.co.uk by 16:00 on Monday 13th October 2025.

First interview online on Thursday 23rd October. Second interview in person in London on Monday 3rd November.

For a further discussion about the role, please contact Liz Hughes 07766 461724 or via email liz.hughes@chirp.co.uk

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About the role

This is a strategic and delivery-focused senior leadership role responsible for CHIRP’s Human Factors safety programme in Aviation. You will lead an excellent team of specialists to deliver and expand our recognised confidential safety reporting programme. As a member of the charity’s leadership team, you will support the Executive Director in the wider leadership of the charity.

The role requires an ability to think and act strategically whilst also dealing with, and ensuring, delivery on the day-to-day requirements of a confidential reporting service, including receiving and responding to reports.

Why CHIRP?

CHIRP’s mission is to promote a just culture by providing a safety voice for every individual working in our target sectors, and through facilitating safety coalitions to influence enhanced practices and standards by companies, regulators, umbrella organisations and Flag States. We do this in two sectors, Aviation and Maritime, by:

• Receiving and considering reports that might not otherwise be submitted through formal reporting processes.

• Analysing the data to identify issues and trends.

• Disseminating safety-related reports and trends that we consider will be of public benefit.

We seek synergies between the Aviation and Maritime programmes where possible recognising the unique opportunity CHIRP has to extend learning between the two sectors. This is an exciting time to join the charity to build on these synergies and develop our new strategy, adapting to change in the industries including with a focus on technologies and AI to enhance data analysis. As we explore new programme areas and maintain our excellent standards in delivering current programme activities in new ways, this provides significant opportunities to reach a wider and more diverse audience than ever before. For someone with a creative passion for Human Factors safety and Just Culture in Aviation, this is a fantastic prospect.

Charity Structure

CHIRP is a membership organisation with a Board of up to 12 Trustees and an Executive team of paid staff and consultants as below. The programme teams are supported by Advisory Boards comprising subject matter experts who provide advice on issues raised through the confidential reporting process.

Core responsibilities

1. Lead, deliver and develop a high-impact confidential aviation reporting service ensuring the programme aligns with, and delivers, the charity’s strategic objectives, values and priorities.

2. Build on and extend CHIRP’s network of external stakeholders to influence safety in the aviation industry, seeking opportunities for research, collaboration and partnership where feasible and staying abreast of changes in the wider aviation industry.

3. Work with the Comms Lead to promote CHIRP’s services, and disseminate safety-related reports to promote insight, learning and improvement; ensuring the production of content for a range of channels, some of which the postholder will produce themselves.

4. Line manage the programme team ensuring plans are in place to assess performance, delivery of team objectives, promote excellence and accountability and encourage professional development.

5. Provide oversight of the reporting process and undertake the processing of reports directly where required.

6. Oversee the evolution of new programmes in Advanced Air Mobility and Space, ensuring momentum is maintained in their development and realistic targets on delivery are set.

7. Oversee and lead Advisory Board membership and process, ensuring relevant participation by specialists is maintained and new members and Chairs are recruited as needed.

8. Participate in the charity’s leadership team supporting the Executive Director in delivering the strategy and priorities of the charity.

9. Work with the leadership team to ensure efficient and effective use of shared resources, including a move to greater IT automation and report management processes.

10. Build synergies with the maritime programme through the Maritime Director to support CHIRP in strengthening HF safety in aviation and maritime industries.

11. Lead on the development of the aviation sections of the budget and operational plan and work with the Executive Director to fundraise for this.

12. Maintain the excellent relationship CHIRP has with the CAA ensuring contract delivery meets CAA expectations and together we can influence change.

13. Support the charity’s accountability to donors with written and verbal reporting as required, maintaining regular contact with donor counterparts.

14. Research, develop and deliver projects in new sector areas in line with the charity’s strategy and donor agreements.

15. Ensure monitoring and reporting of the impact of the aviation programme.

16. Attend other organisational meetings as requested.

Person Specification:

ESSENTIAL

· An experienced pilot with professional aviation experience

· Knowledge and experience of safety management and human factors principles and systems.

· Proven leadership skills and experience

· Ability to develop effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders across the Aviation sector

· Ability to communicate with diplomacy and tact, and able to articulate concerns persuasively and credibly at executive levels

· Adept with MS Office 365 and associated productivity tools

· Experience in initiating and managing change, engaging with and bringing others along with you

· Experienced in the management of risk

· Budgeting and planning experience

· Ability to meet deadlines and respond in a timely manner

· Adept at managing a varied and broad workload whilst setting achievable targets and expectations

DESIRABLE

· Experience in General Aviation highly desirable

· Knowledge of Air Mobility or Space

· Experience of working with volunteers

Key Terms and Conditions

The Director Aviation role is anticipated to be the equivalent of 4 full days each week (28 hours exc. lunch), managed flexibly depending on the numbers of reports being received and diary commitments for any period.

Location: Homebased within the South of England to facilitate regular travel to meetings.

Contract: Substantive

Responsible to: Executive Director

Responsible for: The role line manages the following Programme Managers comprising staff and contractors. Funding is also being sought for a new position of General Aviation & ATC Programme Manager.

• Cabin Crew
• Drone and UAS
• Engineering
• Ground Handling and Security
• Air Transport and Advanced Air Mobility

Salary: £65,000

Pension: Contribution to a stakeholder pension equivalent to 8% of salary

Annual leave: 29 days inclusive of bank holidays

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Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

We believe that the best teams not only share common goals and values, but they also need diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences to truly succeed. We actively seek to engage employees, trustees, members and supporters from diverse backgrounds to promote inclusion, and diversity in aviation and maritime.

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