Process Excellence Leader (FTC 24-months)

Ascent Flight Training Limited; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascent Flight Training (Management) Ltd is seeking a Process Excellence Leader to establish and lead business process management across UKMFTS, embedding process excellence as a core capability. You will own the enterprise process architecture, ensuring processes are controlled, accessible and aligned with the QMS.

The role focuses on standardisation, maturity improvement across sites, and driving safety, quality, compliance and operational performance through clearer processes and continuous

Qualifications

• Proven experience in process analysis, improvement and standardisation within a complex or regulated operational environment.
• Practical knowledge of process modelling and architecture methods, including UPN, BPMN and SIPOC.
• Experience producing controlled processes, procedures, SOPs and work instructions, supported by effective document control.
• Strong workshop facilitation, stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex requirements into clear processes.
• Working knowledge of Lean, continuous improvement, structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis.
• Understanding of ISO 9001:2015, risk-based process design, audit readiness and corrective action.

Responsibilities

• Engaging with process owners, SMEs and operational teams to understand current ways of working and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Facilitating workshops to map, analyse and standardise processes, including design of improved future-state ways of working.
• Reviewing process performance, maturity, risks and controls to prioritise improvement activity and support informed decision-making.
• Governing the development, approval and publication of controlled processes within Liberty Spark and the wider QMS.
• Coaching process owners and champions, reporting progress and benefits, and working across Quality, CI, Risk, Operations and Digital to embed sustainable change.

Job description

• Establish and lead Business Process Management across UKMFTS, embedding process excellence as a core organisational capability.
• Own and govern the enterprise process architecture, ensuring processes are controlled, accessible and aligned with the Quality Management System.
• Drive greater standardisation and process maturity across sites, while allowing justified and controlled local variation.
• Improve safety, quality, compliance and operational performance through clearer processes, effective controls and continuous improvement.
• Build sustainable process capability through leadership, coaching, training and the effective use of BPM tools, data and future automation opportunities.

Ascent Flight Training (Management) Ltd

Competitive Salary Full-time Contract

Role purpose

• Establish and lead Business Process Management across UKMFTS, embedding process excellence as a core organisational capability.
• Own and govern the enterprise process architecture, ensuring processes are controlled, accessible and aligned with the Quality Management System.
• Drive greater standardisation and process maturity across sites, while allowing justified and controlled local variation.
• Improve safety, quality, compliance and operational performance through clearer processes, effective controls and continuous improvement.
• Build sustainable process capability through leadership, coaching, training and the effective use of BPM tools, data and future automation opportunities.

A day in the life of a Process Excellence Leader

• Engaging with process owners, subject-matter experts (SME's) and operational teams to understand current ways of working and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Facilitating workshops to map, analyse and standardise processes, including the design of improved future-state ways of working.
• Reviewing process performance, maturity, risks and controls to prioritise improvement activity and support informed decision-making.
• Governing the development, approval and publication of controlled processes within Liberty Spark and the wider QMS.
• Coaching process owners and champions, reporting progress and benefits, and working across Quality, CI, Risk, Operations and Digital to embed sustainable change.

Essential Skills And Experience

• Proven experience in process analysis, improvement and standardisation within a complex or regulated operational environment.
• Practical knowledge of process modelling and architecture methods, including UPN, BPMN and SIPOC.
• Experience producing controlled processes, procedures, SOPs and work instructions, supported by effective document control.
• Strong workshop facilitation, stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex requirements into clear processes.
• Working knowledge of Lean, continuous improvement, structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis.
• Understanding of ISO 9001:2015, risk-based process design, audit readiness and corrective action.

Desirable Skills And Experience

• Experience leading BPM, process architecture, operational excellence or a Process Excellence function.
• Knowledge of aviation, defence or flight-training requirements, including MAA, CAA, and JSP 822/DSAT.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher, with Black Belt capability preferred.
• Experience using and administering BPM platforms, particularly Netcall Liberty Spark.
• Experience leading multi-site standardisation, maturity improvement and organisational change.
• Coaching, mentoring or line-management experience, supported by degree-level education or relevant professional membership, such as CQI or IRCA.

This role is full time, 37.5 hours per week and on a 9 day working pattern and requires the successful candidate to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance.

We’re proud to foster a flexible and inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued. Whether working onsite or remotely, we support a culture that encourages collaboration, individuality and work-life balance.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are open to considering flexible working arrangements for all roles, including part-time hours, job share, and alternative working patterns, and we encourage conversations about individual needs during the recruitment process. We are actively working to remove barriers within our hiring practices and aim to provide a fair, accessible and supportive experience for every candidate. If you require any adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.