Air Show Assistant

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMS; Duxford; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Leave 25 days

Company pension plan

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benef

IWM4me benefits

Free Sanitary Products

Retail Discounts

Free Entry to IWM Air Shows

Free Entry to Partner Museums & G

In-House Training Programmes

Season Ticket Loan Scheme

Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire

Eye Tests

Employee Assistance Programme

Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance

Civil Service Sports Club Membership

Staff Events and Networks

Job summary

Imperial War Museums (IWM) at Duxford is seeking an Air Show Assistant to join the on-site Air Show team. You will help plan, administer and coordinate air shows, flying days and related events, while supporting traders, accreditation, purchasing and reporting processes.

The role requires flexibility for evenings, weekends and public holidays during the air show season, and close collaboration with Flying Display Directors and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support the planning, administration and coordination of IWM Duxford's air shows, flying days and related events.

Skills

Organisational skills

Multitasking

Communication skills

Record keeping

Stakeholder coordination

Proactive and flexible

Customer service

Teamwork

Interest in events/aviation

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Air Show Assistant

Opportunity ID

711

Location

IWM Duxford

Career Level

A

Salary

£24,000 - £25,340

Hours

36

Department

Commercial & Operations

Position type

Permanent

What It's Like to Work Here

At IWM, we're driven by a shared purpose: helping people understand the impact of conflict and the experiences of those affected by it. At IWM Duxford, this mission comes to life through one of the world's most significant historic aviation sites, where visitors can experience aviation history through flying aircraft, air shows, exhibitions and collections. You'll join a passionate Air Show team responsible for delivering some of the UK's most celebrated aviation events. Working alongside aviation professionals, Flying Display Directors, event specialists, contractors and volunteers, you'll help bring world-class air shows and flying events to life. This is a varied and exciting role that combines event administration, operational delivery and stakeholder coordination in a unique heritage aviation environment.

Why This Role Matters

Air shows and flying events are among IWM Duxford's most significant public programmes, attracting visitors from across the UK and beyond while generating vital income to support the museum's work. The Air Show Assistant helps ensure these events are delivered safely, efficiently and professionally through accurate administration, effective planning support and excellent coordination. Your work will directly contribute to the successful delivery of memorable visitor experiences, support aviation participants and event stakeholders, and help maintain IWM Duxford's reputation as a world-renowned aviation heritage destination.

What You'll Be Doing

• Support the planning, administration and coordination of IWM Duxford's air shows, flying days and related events.
• Assist with trader administration, including coordinating communications and confirming attendance.
• Create purchase orders and support financial administration associated with air shows and flying events.
• Assist Flying Display Directors with the preparation of air display paperwork, pilot briefings, notes and operational documentation.
• Create, issue and maintain records for event passes and accreditation processes.
• Produce reports and maintain accurate event records to support planning, evaluation and decision-making.
• Attend and support all air shows and flying days, including assisting with event set-up, delivery and operational activity.
• Support the sales and delivery of commercial events held at IWM Duxford.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, contractors, volunteers and stakeholders to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality events.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance event planning and delivery processes.
• Deliver excellent customer service and maintain professional standards in all interactions.

What We're Looking For

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

• Strong organisational and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail.
• The ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications and maintaining accurate records.
• The ability to build positive working relationships with a wide range of colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
• A proactive and flexible approach, with a willingness to support operational event activities when required.
• Strong customer service skills and a commitment to delivering high standards.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• An interest in events, aviation, heritage or visitor attractions.

How You'll Work

You’ll work on-site at IWM Duxford as part of the Air Show team, supporting the planning and delivery of a busy programme of air shows, flying days and commercial events. The role combines administration, stakeholder coordination and hands-on event delivery, offering a varied and rewarding working environment. The position requires flexibility, including working evenings, weekends and public holidays during the air show season. You’ll work closely with colleagues across events, operations, aviation, commercial and visitor-facing teams, helping deliver exceptional experiences for participants and visitors alike.

What Success Looks Like (First 3 Months)

• Develop a strong understanding of IWM's mission, values and how the Air Show Assistant role contributes to organisational success.
• Build positive working relationships with the Air Show team, Flying Display Directors and key stakeholders.
• Become confident using relevant systems, processes, templates and documentation required for air show planning.
• Provide professional and timely support for trader administration, purchase orders and aircraft participation documentation.
• Prepare and maintain event paperwork, pilot notes, briefing documentation and operational records with increasing independence.
• Contribute effectively to planning meetings and provide updates on assigned areas of responsibility.
• Support successful event set-up and operational delivery across air shows and flying days.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service, professionalism and adherence to safety and operational procedures.

For a full list of duties and the person specification (which your application will be marked against), please view the Job Description.

Application closing date

November 16th 2026, 11:55 PM

Interview Details

Interviews for this post are planned for the 24th November 2026.

Benefits

• Annual Leave: You'll have 25 days of annual leave, with public holidays on top. After 3 years, this increases to 27 days and after 5 years, you'll get 30 days
• Company Group Pension Plan: Our commitment to your financial well-being includes competitive employer contributions to your pension starting at 7% to a maximum of 12%.
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benefits:Celebrate life's milestones with confidence, knowing that our policies support growing families.
• IWM4me: Tailor your benefits to your unique needs through IWM4me. Access health, protection, and lifestyle benefits at corporate rates, ensuring your holistic well-being.
• Free Sanitary Products: We prioritise your comfort by providing free sanitary products across all our sites.
• Retail Discounts: 25% off IWM Cafes, 20% discount in on-site shops, Benefits hub offering retail discounts to several high street shops (via our EAP provider) and MyActive discounts for health and wellbeing based retail discounts (via IWM4me)
• Free Entry to IWM Air Shows:Witness the thrill of vintage aircraft at our air shows.
• Free Entry to Partner Museums & Galleries:Immerse yourself in art, history, and culture through our reciprocal arrangements with other institutions.
• In-House Training Programmes: Fuel your intellectual curiosity and professional growth through our comprehensive training initiatives.
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme:Simplify your daily commute with our interest-free loan program.
• Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire: Promote well-being and environmental consciousness by cycling to work.
• Eye Tests: Money back up to £80 for an eye test and a new pair of glasses.
• Employee Assistance Programme:Access confidential support for personal or work-related challenges.
• Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance: Prioritise your health with access to quality healthcare services (subject to terms and conditions).
• Civil Service Sports Club Membership: Opportunity to join and enjoy additional discounts and perks as part of a vibrant community.
• Staff Events and Networks:Join fellow colleagues in social gatherings and events, fostering camaraderie and shared experiences.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. This role is subject to:

A basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

Equal Opportunities and Flexible Working

IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.

We miss out when people feel IWM isn't for them, and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone.

Our Access and Inclusion strategy has been developed to promote openness, equal opportunities to access, inclusivity and encourage diversity in everything that we do, from employment practices, the services we provide to our visitors to the facilities we make available to public.

At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector. In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds.

We value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you please raise this with your recruitment contact, as we are open to discussing agile working opportunities during the hiring process.