Senior Airfield Officer & Transport Services

Heathrow Airport; Hounslow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A major international airport in the UK is seeking a Senior Airfield Officer to lead airfield operations, ensuring safety, compliance, and high-quality service. You will supervise daily activities, manage the airfield transport schedule, and maintain operational standards in a dynamic environment. Candidates should have knowledge of Airfield Operations, experience supervising diverse teams, and possess a valid driving licence. This role offers shift patterns and contributes significantly to the smooth running of airport operations.

Benefits

Performance-based annual bonuses

Generous annual leave allowances

Market-leading pensions

Private health insurance

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Current DVLA driving licence and ability to maintain airside driving permits.
• Knowledge and experience of Airfield Operations.
• Experience using Microsoft Office packages.
• Proven experience supervising diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily airfield operations to ensure high-quality outcomes.
• Plan and allocate resources effectively.
• Support asset safety and performance.
• Provide oversight and assurance, including airfield inspections.
• Lead, develop and improve performance through line management.
• Provide visible leadership in airfield operations.
• Maintain safety, compliance and assurance in inspections.
• Coordinate and control operational activities.
• Lead effective incident and seasonal responses.
• Engage and support the airside community.

Skills

Current DVLA driving licence

Knowledge of Airfield Operations

Experience with Microsoft Office

Supervising diverse teams

Physically fit

Collaborative attitude

Job description

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Overview

The Senior Airfield Officer - Transport & Services (SAO-T) is responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising a range of airfield activities that ensure a safe, efficient and well-maintained operating environment in line with EASA certification requirements and Heathrow standards.

The role focuses on delivering high-quality outcomes across airfield housekeeping, apron safety, habitat management and engineering support activities, including drainage maintenance, runway friction and AGL cleanliness. The SAO-T develops and delivers the daily airfield transport plan and ensures tasks are completed to required quality standards. The role also supports airfield inspections and incident management and provides oversight of the airfield operations vehicle fleet. The SAO-T is a proactive leader with line management responsibility and a strong focus on continuous improvement and safety performance.

Shifts

Early/late shifts (4 on, 4 off) Monday to Sunday.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily airfield operations delivery, supervising the operational plan to ensure high-quality outcomes across housekeeping, apron safety, FOD reduction, grassland management, vehicle fleet activity, audits and incident management, with robust shift handovers.
• Plan and allocate resources effectively, using data to create and deliver a robust daily transport and services schedule that maximises productivity and meets quality and safety standards.
• Support asset safety and performance, working closely with Engineering and Asset Management on activities such as runway friction improvement, AGL cleanliness and surface water drainage maintenance.
• Provide operational oversight and assurance, including Level 2 airfield inspections, vehicle fleet standards management, issue of AOTs, completion of AIR reports, and acting as an escalation point during complex incidents, deputising for the AfDM when required.
• Lead, develop and improve performance, through line management, training and mentoring, continuous improvement initiatives, and delivery of ad-hoc transport and service activities to a high standard.
• You will also be responsible for providing leadership and supervision across a range of operational tasks.
• Provide visible leadership and supervision across airfield operations, ensuring safe, compliant delivery of tasks and stepping in to deliver operational activities where required.
• Maintain safety, compliance and assurance, overseeing airfield inspections and patrols, ramp safety monitoring, wildlife hazard management, runway friction measurements and completion of incident and safety reports.
• Coordinate and control operational activity, supervising contractors, managing work area set-up and hand-back under permit systems, and providing escort and marshalling services as required.
• Lead effective incident and seasonal response, supporting emergency incidents and directing snow and ice clearance operations in line with the Heathrow Snow Plan.
• Engage and support the airside community, promoting safe behaviours through proactive engagement, audits and inspections, and responding flexibly to ad-hoc operational needs during the shift.

Qualifications

• Current DVLA driving licence and ability to maintain "M" and "R" class airside driving permits.
• Knowledge and experience of Airfield Operations.
• Experience using a variety of Microsoft packages including Microsoft Office suite packages.
• Proven experience supervising diverse teams; demonstrable record of driving operational performance.
• Must be physically fit and able to work on foot for prolonged periods.
• A collaborative, positive outlook; a desire to continuously improve safety and efficient operations. A "don\'t walk by" attitude is essential.

Ideally, you\'ll also have

• Knowledge of Aerodrome regulation, such as that provided by ICAO, EASA or the UK CAA.
• Understanding of safety management systems, particularly safety culture.
• Experience managing people processes (eg. Absence, disciplinary etc.)
• Knowledge of best practices for Airfield Grass Management in accordance with CAP772.

#LI-Onsite

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.

About the Team

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.