At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead Virgin Atlantic's People Strategy and drive performance across the organisation.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Virgin Atlantic, a leader in the aviation industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a fast-paced environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of work and make a real impact on employee experience.
- Qualifications: Senior HR leadership experience and strong people instincts required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
Hours: 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday
Location: Hybrid working 3 days a week in Virgin Atlantic HQ, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: 10th June 2026
As we continue transforming our business for the future, we’re looking for an exceptional People Director to join our People Leadership Team as VP People. This is one of the most significant People leadership roles in our business - operating at the heart of strategic decision-making while shaping the experience of thousands of colleagues across a complex, operational and highly visible environment.
In a nutshell, reporting to the Chief People Officer, the VP People is responsible for delivering Virgin Atlantic’s People Strategy through a high-impact People Partnering model, while leading our approach to Employee Relations, Industrial Relations and employee voice. You’ll work across every part of the business - partnering senior leaders to drive performance, leadership capability, organisational effectiveness and operational delivery, while ensuring we continue to build a culture where our people can thrive. You’ll also play a key role in shaping the future capability of the People function itself, acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and a senior deputy to the CPO. This role combines strategic thinking with operational leadership at scale. One day you could be shaping workforce priorities for the future, the next leading through complex operational, organisational or industrial challenges.
Day to Day:
- Lead a commercially focused People Partnering model embedded across the business, ensuring leaders are equipped to deliver performance, engagement and change.
- Lead strategic workforce planning and future workforce capability, helping the business evolve for the future of work, including opportunities created through technology and AI.
- Oversee Employee Relations and Industrial Relations across Virgin Atlantic, ensuring effective governance, constructive union relationships and balanced people decisions.
- Lead employee voice and engagement approaches, including forums and representative groups.
- Partner with LT and senior leaders to align people priorities with operational and commercial goals.
- Drive leadership capability, succession planning and talent outcomes across the organisation.
- Develop and inspire high-performing People teams, building future capability across the function.
- Act as a senior deputy to the CPO, contributing to enterprise-wide leadership and organisational decision-making.
- Continue evolving the People function to ensure it remains modern, commercially impactful and fit for the future.
About you:
We’re looking for a senior People leader who combines commercial thinking, operational credibility and strong people instincts. You’ll bring:
- Significant senior HR leadership experience in complex, operational and fast-paced environments.
- Experience leading large-scale People Partnering teams and translating strategy into business delivery.
- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance people outcomes with operational performance.
- Proven experience influencing executive and senior stakeholders in complex organisations.
- Strong leadership capability, with experience developing high-performing teams and future leaders.
- Deep expertise across Employee Relations and some Industrial Relations experience including union engagement and ideally collective bargaining.
- Experience leading organisational change, transformation and workforce planning activity.
- The credibility, resilience and judgement to operate effectively in high-profile and fast-moving environments.
- Experience in aviation, hospitality, travel, retail or similarly customer-focused industries.
- Chartered FCIPD (or equivalent experience), with the capability to operate at enterprise leadership level.
Vice President - People: Virgin Atlantic in Crawley employer: Manor Royal Business District
At Virgin Atlantic, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions a vibrant and inclusive work culture. Located in Crawley, our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while fostering collaboration and innovation among our teams. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we offer numerous opportunities for advancement within a dynamic environment, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the aviation industry.
Contact Details:
Manor Royal Business District Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Vice President - People: Virgin Atlantic in Crawley
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current or former employees at Virgin Atlantic. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Ace the Informational Interview
If you can, set up an informational interview with someone in a similar role or within the company. This is your chance to ask questions, show your interest, and get insider tips on what they’re really looking for in a VP People.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
During interviews, be ready to discuss your leadership experiences and how you've driven change in previous roles. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to influence and inspire teams, especially in complex environments like aviation or hospitality.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through the Virgin Atlantic website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Vice President - People: Virgin Atlantic in Crawley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the VP People role. Highlight your senior HR leadership experience and any relevant achievements that align with Virgin Atlantic's People Strategy. We want to see how your background fits into our vision!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've influenced senior stakeholders and led successful people initiatives in complex environments.
Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, let us know about your leadership style and how you develop high-performing teams. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and drive change, so share those experiences that demonstrate your capability!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Manor Royal Business District
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Virgin Atlantic's People Strategy and understand their current challenges. Familiarise yourself with their culture and values, as well as recent news about the company. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a VP People, your leadership style is crucial. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams through change or complex situations. Be ready to discuss your approach to developing high-performing teams and how you’ve influenced senior stakeholders in the past.
✨Engage with Employee Relations
Given the focus on Employee Relations and Industrial Relations, brush up on your knowledge in these areas. Be prepared to discuss your experience with union engagement and collective bargaining, and how you would approach building constructive relationships within Virgin Atlantic.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your strategic thinking. Ask about the future workforce capabilities Virgin Atlantic is looking to develop or how they envision the evolution of their People function. This shows you're not just focused on the role but also on the company's future.
