Airfield Operations Officer

Heathrow; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Heathrow is seeking an Airfield Operations Officer to ensure safety and efficiency at one of the busiest airports in the world. The role involves engaging with stakeholders, responding to incidents, and conducting inspections. Applicants must hold a UK driving licence and be committed to safety leadership.

Benefits

Performance-based bonuses

Generous annual leave

Private health insurance

Market-leading pensions

Qualifications

• Holding a full UK driving licence is essential.
• Demonstrating good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to actively listen and ask relevant questions.

Responsibilities

• Engaging with stakeholders to improve safety.
• Acting as first line response for airfield incidents.
• Inspecting airfield environments to ensure safety.

Skills

Curiosity

Communication

Collaboration

Ownership

Job description

Introduction

There’s nothing quite like the buzz you’ll feel when you’re playing a crucial role at the heart of one of the busiest airports in the world. With more than 1,000 arriving and departing flights on a normal day, the Airside and Airspace Operations team works with customers and suppliers to ensure the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the airfield and aircraft. Every day, you’ll discover a world of fresh possibilities, when every decision taken has a real impact on the way our whole airport operates.

You’ll join a high-performing team with a wide range of skills and a shared passion to make every journey better. You’ll be part of a team that not only delivers a safe and efficient operation every day but is also at the cutting edge of innovation, crafting and delivering new technology and infrastructure. Whether your role is to improve process efficiency, monitor aircraft movements, or oversee safety measures, you’ll be vital to the continuing smooth running of our airport.

Job Description

Please note that this role does not meet Home Office criteria for Heathrow to offer visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK.

Salary: £35,307 plus a shift allowance, rising to £40,012 after sign-off.

Shifts: Predominantly 4-on-4-off shift pattern. 12 hours 25 minutes shifts consisting of 2 day and 2 night shifts.

Our Airfield Operations Officers will be positive and proactive safety leaders, engaging constructively with all stakeholders during the course of their duties, and will work to continuously improve safety on the airfield. To achieve sign-off will take 6-9 months, and we’re looking for people who are committed to building their skills and experience in Airfield Operations over the medium to long term.

This role requires you to obtain and maintain a firearms/shotgun certificate. The application process will check for evidence of disqualifying criminal convictions, and also will require you to disclose information (via your GP) about your medical history to check for relevant medical conditions which you will be responsible for obtaining. Guidance on the medical requirements for a firearms/shotgun certificate can be found on the Met Police’s website at Firearms application guidance notes | Metropolitan Police.

If your application is successful, you will be invited to complete an online video application. The final stage of this recruitment is a face-to-face assessment centre which will take place in the middle of June.

Key dates:

• Advert closes: 29th May
• Hirevue video application: 30th May – 4th June
• In-person interviews: 17th / 18th / 19th June proposed interview dates
• Start in role: August 2025

Your role will involve

• Engaging with our Airside community, building constructive relationships with ground handling partners and improving safety through positive conversations; being a role model for safe behaviours.
• Acting as first line response for airfield incidents, ensuring compliance with regulations, safety instructions, and Heathrow by-laws, and that quality incident reports are written.
• Minimising the wildlife hazard risk to aircraft by detecting, identifying, and dispersing wildlife with the use of specialist equipment, including utilising lethal control where required.
• Inspecting the airfield environment (runways, taxiways, grass areas, apron area, ramp, and roads) to ensure safe operation of the airfield.
• Carrying out snow and ice clearance through the supervision of snow clearance teams in accordance with the Heathrow Snow Plan.
• Having a good level of fitness and being able to work on foot for prolonged periods.

These Skills Are Essential

• Holding a full UK driving licence
• Curiosity; having the ability to actively listen and ask relevant questions to really understand an issue
• Demonstrating a collaborative approach to stakeholder relationships; having a desire to continuously improve safety and operations
• Good communication skills both written and verbal, with the ability to convey information clearly
• Willingness to take ownership for issues, working with others to deliver solutions

Ideally, you'll also have:

• Knowledge of UK CAA Aerodrome regulations
• Experience working in an Airside environment
• Understanding of safety culture and safety management systems

About Us

There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement. Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities.

Every day, you’ll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and come home buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities, and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.

It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.

Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there’s no place like Heathrow.

Our rewards

We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance-based annual bonuses and our longer-term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market-leading pensions. With family-friendly policies, access to private health insurance, and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you’ll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.

Working location

This is an airport-based position. Every day, you will play a critical role in helping us to give our passengers the best airport service in the world.

Sustainable Travel to work

Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work, and through our diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.