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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in operational planning, ensuring smooth airline operations and strategic alignment.
- Company: Join easyJet, a leading European airline with over 1,000 routes and millions of satisfied passengers.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, generous holiday, pension contributions, and amazing staff travel perks.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of operational strategy, making a real impact in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in a quantitative field; experience in aviation operations and team leadership required.
- Other info: We value diversity and encourage all backgrounds to apply; support available throughout the recruitment process.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We’re easyJet, one of Europe’s most recognisable airline brands – and one of the largest, with over 1,000 routes across 35 countries. Every year, tens of millions of passengers choose us for reliable, great value travel. powered by a complex, large scale operation that runs like clockwork thanks to the exceptional teams behind the scenes.
At the heart of that operation is Operational Planning – a key function that keeps our network resilient, efficient and ready to deliver against ambitious commercial growth targets. We are now looking for a Senior Operational Planning Manager to lead this high impact team, drive operational readiness and ensure that our fleet, schedule and resource planning align with operational constraints and strategic goals.
Your Mission
As Senior Operational Planning Manager, you will be a driving force in our Operations Strategy & Planning function. Reporting to the Head of Operational Planning, you’ll lead a team that works cross functionally to translate commercial ambitions into operational reality. Ensuring that our schedules, fleet growth and regulatory compliance are operationally robust from day one.
You’ll be responsible for ensuring that operational stakeholders are equipped with the data, insights and planning tools they need to maintain performance and resilience, even in the face of disruption, regulatory change or new market entry. This is a high visibility, hands on leadership role that sits at the intersection of network planning, crew and fleet operations and schedule design.
What You’ll Be Doing
· Lead Operational Planning- Oversee the daily operations of the planning team, coaching analysts and managers to deliver planning outputs that keep the operation running smoothly and efficiently.
· Network Implementation & Readiness- Act as the operational lead for multi-year schedule and network growth planning, ensuring that all operational enablers (crew, fleet, maintenance, airfields) are aligned and ready to deliver.
· Operational Feasibility & Efficiency- Evaluate commercial scheduling proposals through an operational lens, identifying risks and constraints (e.g., slot windows, crew duty time, turnaround feasibility) and recommending optimisation strategies.
· Cross-Functional Coordination- Partner with Crewing, Flight Ops, Engineering and Airports to align planning assumptions, validate growth opportunities and ensure all jurisdictions and AOCs are adequately resourced.
· Scenario Planning & Simulation- Build and guide the use of simulation models to assess operational resilience, optimise crew establishment and mitigate disruption.
· Governance & Continuous Improvement- Own operational schedule governance processes and embed operational data into decision-making frameworks for planning and risk assessment.
· Tooling & Technology- Champion the integration of operational data with planning systems to enhance modelling accuracy and decision speed.
What You’ll Bring
· A degree in mathematics, engineering, operational research or another quantitative field.
· Proven operational leadership in a complex, high frequency, multi base environment (aviation preferred).
· Deep understanding of airline operations, including crew planning, fleet growth, flight time limitations and network design.
· Ability to drive end to end operational alignment across departments while balancing cost, performance and resilience.
· Practical experience with planning systems and databases (e.g. MS SQL) and advanced Excel modelling skills.
· Experience leading teams through complex, time sensitive planning cycles with multiple stakeholders and constraints.
· Strong communication skills to present operational risks and trade-offs to senior stakeholders clearly and persuasively.
What’s in it for You
· Competitive base salary
· Up to 20% bonus
· 25 days holiday + bank holidays
· BAYE, SAYE & Performance Share Schemes
· 7% company pension contribution
· Life Assurance
· Flexible benefits package
· Outstanding staff travel benefits across the easyJet network
We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds as part of our ongoing commitment to having a team that truly represents the customers that we serve . You may feel that that you don’t meet every single requirement for this role, but we’d still encourage you to submit an application if you feel you meet enough criteria to be considered. And if you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process please let us know and we’ll work with you to find a solution.
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Senior Operational Planning Manager employer: Easyjet
Contact Detail:
Easyjet Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Operational Planning Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with easyJet's operational strategies and recent developments in the airline industry. Understanding their current challenges and goals will help you demonstrate your knowledge during discussions and show how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the aviation sector, especially those involved in operational planning. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with people who can provide insights into the role and potentially refer you internally.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past experience that showcase your leadership skills and ability to manage complex planning cycles. Be ready to explain how you've successfully navigated operational challenges and driven efficiency in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Highlight your technical skills, particularly in planning systems and data analysis tools. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools to enhance operational performance and decision-making in your previous positions.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Operational Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in operational planning, particularly in aviation. Emphasise your leadership roles and any specific achievements that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for operational planning and how your background makes you a perfect fit for easyJet. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in complex environments.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your skills in data analysis, scenario planning, and cross-functional coordination. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your proficiency with planning systems and advanced Excel modelling, as these are crucial for the role.
Showcase Communication Abilities: Since strong communication skills are essential for this position, include examples of how you've effectively communicated operational risks and trade-offs to senior stakeholders in previous roles. This will help illustrate your capability to present complex information clearly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Easyjet
✨Understand the Operational Landscape
Familiarise yourself with easyJet's operational model and the complexities of airline operations. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, particularly in areas like crew planning and fleet management.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Highlight your previous leadership roles, especially in high-frequency environments. Share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams through complex planning cycles and managed multiple stakeholders.
✨Prepare for Scenario Planning Questions
Expect questions on scenario planning and operational resilience. Think about past experiences where you had to evaluate risks and constraints, and be ready to discuss the strategies you implemented to mitigate them.
✨Communicate Clearly and Persuasively
Strong communication skills are crucial for this role. Practice articulating operational risks and trade-offs clearly, as you'll need to present these to senior stakeholders. Use concise language and be confident in your delivery.
