Resource & Capability Manager

NATS; Whiteley; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Remote/office hybrid model

Total reward package

Job summary

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, delivering safe air traffic control and related services. We are looking for a Resource & Capability Manager to lead the Airports Systems and Integration team, drive workforce planning, development and performance management, and embed a culture of excellence.

You will steer governance, build capability, and collaborate with senior leaders to ensure delivery and continuous improvement while supporting flexible and hybrid working

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in People Management or Business Management or equivalent.
• Proven experience leading large teams.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Resource planning and long-term workforce planning.
• Lead and manage a team of engineers and specialists.
• Support governance and bidding activities with resource input.
• Drive cultural and process improvements across the organisation.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Resource planning

Stakeholder engagement

Decision making

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in People Management or Business Management

Equivalent leadership experience

Job description

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Salary: £63,129.83 - £84,173.11

Closing Date: Thursday 12th November 2026

Purpose Of The Role

The Resource & Capability Manager acts as chief of staff for the Airport Systems and Integration Team, providing resource management capability and leadership to ensure the team functions effectively. The role is accountable for resource management, strategic workforce planning, workforce development, performance management, and driving cultural and behavioural excellence across the organisation.

Accountabilities

Resource Planning

• Assess project demand across domains/capabilities and prioritise tactical and strategic allocation of resources using structured governance processes to meet operational and project delivery needs.
• Develop and maintain long-term workforce plans to ensure future capability meets demand
• Drives “build vs buy” decision-making using established resource-management frameworks aligned to delivery models
• Identify capability gaps and work with leadership to determine the levers needed to address supply challenges (hiring, upskilling, cross skilling, supplier use).
• Implement training and development plans
• Ensure compliance with best practice, ethical and professional standards.
• Maintain clear escalation paths for contention, conflict resolution and demand prioritisation decisions.
• Participate in governance forums to support prioritisation, risk management, and strategic outcomes decision-making.
• Contribute to bidding activities by providing resource and capability input into estimates, planning, and mobilisation decisions.

Leadership And People Management

• Lead and manage a team of engineers and other specialist roles within the engineering team to ensure alignment with organisational priorities.
• Provide clear direction, coaching, and support to the engineering team, fostering an inclusive and high-performing culture; promote teamwork, and to encourage knowledge sharing.
• Working collaboratively with outcome leads, set objectives, monitor progress, conduct regular reviews, and address performance or behavioural issues promptly.
• Shape personal development opportunities through stretch assignments, rotations, training, and support of junior talent pipelines (DEGs, early careers, etc).

Business Management

• Responsible for the business management tasks of the team as deputy for the Manager of Airports Systems and Integration.
• Act as a key liaison between engineering leadership and other business functions, ensuring effective communication and alignment.

Continuous Improvement

• Promote initiatives that enhance efficiency, collaboration, and employee engagement.

Qualifications, Professional Knowledge And Skills

• Bachelors degree in People Management or Business Management discipline (or equivalent RQF level 6 or SCQF level 10 qualification).
• In lieu of the qualification above, the applicant must have proven experience in the leadership of similar size teams
• Significant experience in managing large teams and supporting senior leadership in a complex organisational environment.
• Strong ability to lead, influence, and develop high-performing teams.
• Demonstrable expertise in resource planning, workforce development, and operational management of similar size teams
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage challenges, resolve conflicts, and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Demonstrable experience in driving cultural and process improvements.
• Ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and to demonstrate resilience under pressure.

Additional Information

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS? - NATS

All staff at NATS are subject to UK Security Vetting and Clearance (SC) and must maintain valid clearance throughout employment. We are unable to progress applications where an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements for clearance. For further guidance click here Security Clearance - NATS

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements.

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.