Validation Analyst in Prestwick

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Job Purpose/Overview

This role is part of NATS’ Air Traffic Management (ATM) Validation Team, responsible for planning, executing and reporting on assigned tasks in order to provide user-centric validation assurance in support of the delivery of NATS’ Long-Term Investment Plan (LTIP), SESAR led Research & Development and external business. The role holder will be assigned tasks and activities across several work packages in support of the NATS LTIP and other important programmes (e.g. SESAR and/or external business), needs to be flexible in approach to work and able to travel to undertake activities at any NATS site along with our partners and supplier locations which may be overseas.

Other Duties Include

• The job holder contributes to the provision of independent user-led validation assurance to give confidence that changes will meet the acceptance criteria.
• Lead the planning and delivery of ATM Validation tasks and activities as directed.
• Completes assigned tasks within agreed timescales, to the required level of quality and satisfaction of the relevant task or project manager.
• Helps anticipate and solve routine and non-routine technical problems and suggests appropriate improvements to methods and analysis.
• Contributes to the planning, design, implementation and reporting of complex technical tasks under the supervision of the relevant task manager.
• Identifies conflicts and escalates concerns and issues as appropriate to the relevant task manager, team leader or project manager.
• Provide management support and technical expertise within the ATM Validation Team to ensure that team and individual capability and performance is maximised; relationships outside the department are developed and strengthened.
• Contributes to continuous improvement, proactively suggesting appropriate improvements to processes and activities, considering a variety of innovative and creative solutions.
• Supports less experienced colleagues, for example, this may be in the form of supervision and guidance of new graduates or industrial placement students, providing on the job training and knowledge transfer.
• Develops and maintains technical and professional expertise and applies this appropriately to tasks.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Good honours degree in a numerate subject (which could be scientific or business oriented) or equivalent (e.g. other qualifications or relevant work experience).
• Good understanding of Validation principles and methodologies and the ability to apply these to multiple customer areas.
• Ability to produce well documented, high-quality work, and appreciate when work is of a sufficient standard.
• Good communication and presentation skills with an ability to engage and influence peers and managers.
• Good team working skills with an ability to appreciate different points of view.
• An ability to actively contribute in an effective team culture, by showing a willingness to participate, supporting goals and responsibilities of the team.
• A general knowledge of the NATS organisation and the department’s customers.
• An appreciation of the importance of generating and applying best practice including use of the NATS Business Management System (BMS).
• An understanding of the need for continuous improvement with a track record of improving process to increase effectiveness and efficiency.
• Effective time management capability with an ability to identify and balance competing priorities.
• Good analytical, financial awareness, problem solving and decision-making skills.

Additional Vacancy Information

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally. We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements. If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.