Operations and Scheduling Manager in Shawbury

Shawbury, United Kingdom | Posted on 09/09/2026

Our client is seeking an experienced Operations & Scheduling Manager to lead a combined Operations and Scheduling function within a safety-critical aviation training environment.

This is a leadership role responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, accurate, and achievable daily training schedules while overseeing a broad range of operational support activities. The successful candidate will manage operational risk, optimise resource utilisation, and lead a team responsible for supporting a complex flying training programme.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Lead and manage the Operations & Scheduling team, providing direction, coaching and performance management.
• Deputise for the Training Manager where required.
• Translate business objectives into clear team priorities and operational goals.
• Manage staffing levels, team development, recruitment activities and succession planning.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.

Operations & Scheduling

• Oversee the production and delivery of safe, accurate daily training schedules across classroom, simulator and airborne training activities.
• Ensure daily flying programmes are produced and published within required timescales.
• Monitor operational risks and implement mitigation measures to support safe delivery of training.
• React effectively to changing priorities, resource constraints and last‑minute operational changes.
• Lead operational support functions including mission planning, daily operational briefings and flight operations services.

Safety, Compliance & Quality

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all relevant aviation, safety and quality standards.
• Manage operational risks and support incident, safety and near‑miss reporting processes.
• Support aviation emergency response activities in accordance with established procedures.
• Ensure team processes comply with quality management systems and regulatory requirements.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with instructors, operational teams, service providers and external stakeholders.
• Act as a key point of contact for training management and scheduling systems.
• Lead daily planning coordination with operational partners to validate future training programmes.
• Resolve operational challenges and communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Drive process improvements to enhance efficiency, productivity and operational performance.
• Monitor training delivery, resource utilisation and operational metrics.
• Maintain accurate reporting relating to trainee progress, scheduling changes and service performance.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve sustainability and maximise operational effectiveness.

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in complex planning and scheduling within a dynamic operational environment.
• Proven ability to analyse large volumes of information and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Experience supporting aviation operations within either military or civilian aviation environments.
• Strong problem‑solving capability and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience leading or supervising teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong IT literacy, including experience using complex information management systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience within a flying training environment.
• Knowledge of training management and scheduling systems.
• Familiarity with safety‑critical operational environments.
• Experience chairing planning meetings and presenting operational decisions to stakeholders.
• Understanding of quality management systems and aviation compliance requirements.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• High‑quality, accurate and efficient scheduling and operational support.
• Strong leadership and positive team engagement.
• Effective management of operational risk and safety considerations.
• Continuous improvement of processes and productivity.
• Excellent stakeholder relationships and customer service standards.
• Calm and decisive leadership in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.

Candidate Profile

You will be:

• A confident people leader who motivates and develops others.
• Resilient, calm and composed under pressure.
• Commercially aware with a focus on operational performance.
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail.
• Comfortable making critical decisions in fast‑moving environments.
• Committed to safety, quality and continuous improvement.

Benefits

Competitive salary and package; negotiable for the right experience. Benefits include enhanced holiday allowance, pension, healthcare, EV car scheme, cycle to work schemes, EAP etc.