Airport Duty Manager

MAG (Airports Group); East Midlands; Remote; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and generous company pension

Free parking

Subsidised public transport

Huge range of company discounts

Free Virtual GP service

Care Concierge service

Two volunteering days per year

Job summary

MAG (Airports Group) is recruiting for an Airport Duty Manager at East Midlands Airport. You will lead daily airport operations 24/7, coordinating airside, landside and terminal activities to maintain safety and a high standard of customer service.

The role requires strong leadership, operational acumen and the ability to work a 24/7 roster. Reporting to the Head of Command and Control, you will drive performance, manage stakeholders and ensure regulatory compliance while delivering continuous

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams in a safety-critical environment.
• Experience delivering operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day airport operation, allocating resources to priority areas.
• Oversee landside, terminal and airside functions to ensure safety and efficiency.
• Coordinate disruption response and emergency procedures with clear communications.
• Deliver terminal service levels and passenger experience KPIs.
• Collaborate with airlines, ground handlers, retailers, emergency services and regulators.
• Motivate and develop the duty team through coaching and briefings.
• Ensure contractors follow safety procedures and permits to work.
• Maintain up-to-date operational procedures and documentation.
• Drive resilience and continuous improvement by recording failures and implementing fixes.

Skills

Leadership

Performance management

Stakeholder management

Communication

People management

Change management

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Contract : Full-time Permanent Based: East Midlands Airport Hours : 42 per week Shift Pattern : 2 days, 2 nights, 4 days off
07.00 - 19.00 & 19.00hrs - 07.00hrs

Why Mag

Every year, East Midlands Airport connects over 4 million passengers with more than 80 destinations across Europe, while also being the UK’s number one provider of freight services.

We are proud to be part of the Manchester Airports Group, the largest UK-owned airport operator. East Midlands Airport supports over 6,000 local jobs and contributes around £300 million each year to the local economy. As part of the East Midlands Freeport, the airport also has an important role in supporting investment, growth and future employment across the region.

Despite the scale and complexity of our operation, East Midlands Airport is a community with people at its heart. Customer service is central to what we do, and every colleague plays a part in connecting people and businesses with destinations across the globe. We offer a unique working environment, strong team camaraderie, exceptional training and long-term career opportunities. Join MAG and make the journey.

Sustainability is one of our core values, and it shapes everything we do. We're committed to protecting the environment and supporting our local communities. Our programmes include airport and airline decarbonisation, comprehensive education, skills and employment support and community engagement initiatives including volunteering opportunities.

At MAG, we recognise creating a first-class journey for our customers starts by creating a first-class career journey for our colleagues, we are committed to building inclusive environments in which our people can thrive. You’ll also have access to some great benefits including:

Flexible and generous company pension plan with various company contribution options (up to 10%) that you can change to suit your personal needs

Free parking

Subsidised public transport

Huge range of company discounts

Free Virtual GP service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Care Concierge service

Two volunteering days per year

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join our Operations team as an Airport Duty Manager. Reporting to the Head of Command and Control, you will be responsible for the effective management and delivery of airport operations, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will coordinate the safe and efficient operation of the airside, landside, and terminal environments while ensuring a high standard of customer service is delivered by EMA colleagues and business partners.

This is a highly visible operational leadership role with overall safety coordination responsibilities. You will be authorised to take proportionate action to avert incidents, protect people, property and equipment, safeguard the airport’s reputation and maintain the immediate safety of aircraft operations. You will consult the Aerodrome Accountable Manager and draw on appropriately competent subject-matter experts when making operational decisions. The role operates within a 24/7 roster, so flexibility to work the required shift pattern is essential.

The Role

• Lead the day-to-day airport operation, maintaining a holistic view and deploying resources to the areas of greatest operational need.
• Overseeing critical landside, terminal and airside functions to maintain a safe, secure and efficient operation. Initiating emergency and contingency procedures, coordinating the operational response and minimising disruption in line with the Aerodrome Emergency Plan.
• Provide clear command, control and general operational communications during disruption, emergencies and relevant security incidents.
• Delivering terminal service levels, key performance indicators and a consistently high-quality passenger experience.
• Working closely with airlines, ground handling agents, retailers, cleaning contractors, emergency services, regulators and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Leading, coordinating and motivating the duty team, including shift briefings, performance management, coaching and colleague development.
• Ensuring contractors and maintenance teams work in accordance with regulatory and local safety procedures, including permits to work and the safe return of operational areas.
• Maintaining operational documentation and standard operating procedures so they remain compliant, current and effectively communicated.
• Drive operational resilience and continuous improvement by recording service failures, identifying learning and putting effective rectification plans in place.

What will make you successful

• Strong people leadership experience within diverse, multi-functional teams, balancing safety, customer service, operational efficiency and commercial priorities.
• Demonstrable experience of performance management, coaching colleagues and leading teams through change.
• Sound knowledge of airport and passenger operations, including the regulatory requirements associated with aerodrome licensing.
• Knowledge of relevant local procedures, including the Aerodrome Manual, Airside Operational Instructions and Emergency Orders for East Midlands Airport.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, complex reports and interpret operational data reliably.
• A proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders, implement organisational change and deliver continuous improvement initiatives.
• The resilience, judgement and confidence to interpret operational information, make timely decisions, remain accountable and lead effectively during challenging situations.
• Put safety and security first, taking personal responsibility and championing safe working practices.
• Inspire confidence through visible, authentic and technically credible leadership.
• Build strong relationships across functions and with business partners to create one coordinated airport operation.
• Encourage new ideas , continuous improvement and personal accountability.
• Create a positive team culture in which colleagues are supported, challenged and recognised .

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments

We’re building something brilliant at MAG: a diverse team of Journey Makers who share our values and want to make a difference. We’re on a mission to be number one in our industry, and that takes talent in all its forms. With so many exciting roles across our airports and businesses, there’s space for your unique strengths to shine.

Whether this is your first role or your next big step, we want to hear from you – even if you don’t think you tick every box. What matters most is what you bring.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, just let us know. We’re committed to helping you perform at your best.

At MAG, every journey matters. Our Colleague Communities play a big part in that: Women’s Network, Embrace (Race & Ethnicity), Fly with Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mind Matters (Mental Health), PACT (Parents & Carers), RespectABILITY (Disability & Neurodiversity), and the CAVU Global ID&E Affinity Group.