Senior Operations Planning Manager

British Airways; Hounslow; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A major airline in the UK is seeking a Senior Operations Planning Manager to lead resource planning, ensuring operational efficiency at Heathrow. You will be responsible for creating accurate workforce plans, aligning operational needs with business priorities, and overseeing training plans. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, commercial awareness, and advanced Excel abilities. This role offers competitive benefits, including staff travel perks and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Unlimited standby tickets on flights

Discounted airfares for friends and family

Opportunities for professional growth

Qualifications

• Experience in resource planning, forecasting and budgeting is essential.
• Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead resource planning and delivery teams to produce accurate, robust resource plans.
• Oversee monthly resource forecasts, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement through accurate reporting and process optimisation.

Skills

Leadership skills with a collaborative approach

Commercial awareness

Excellent communication

Analytical mindset

Resilience in complex challenges

Tools

Advanced Excel

Data analysis skills

Job description

A career without limits

As the nation’s flag carrier, we take great pride in connecting Britain with the world and the world with Britain.

It’s something we’ve been doing for over 100 years, ever since we launched the world’s first international scheduled air service between London and Paris.

This originality has been in our blood since day one. It’s the spirit we share with the people that fly with us, our partners, and our colleagues.

So, whether you are a reassuring voice on the end of a phone, a smile at the door, under a wing keeping the turbines spinning or landing us gently in far-flung places, a job at British Airways is yours to make.

We know great things can happen when you’re inspired to think big and bring your ambition to work every day, which is why, at British Airways the sky is never the limit.

The role: Senior Operations Planning Manager

You’ll join our Operations Planning team, a fast‑paced, critical function within Operations, that ensures our Heathrow operations run smoothly and efficiently. In this role, you will drive resource planning excellence by owning and optimising workforce plans —making sure the right people are in the right place at the right time to keep our operation moving. You will align operational needs with business priorities, anticipate demand and make real‑time decisions that deliver outstanding operational performance.

What you’ll do:

• Lead resource planning and delivery teams to produce accurate, robust resource plans.
• Oversee monthly resource forecasts, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Ensure training plans align with operational readiness and planning cycles.
• Manage roster production, ensuring compliance and operational accuracy.
• Drive continuous improvement through accurate reporting and process optimisation.
• Act as a key business partner to line areas, providing expert resource insight.

What you’ll bring to British Airways:

• Strong leadership skills with a collaborative, team‑focused approach.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to make, and stand by, critical decisions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Analytical mindset with a proactive, results‑focused attitude.
• Resilience and confidence in managing complex challenges in a demanding environment.

Your experience:

• A background in resource planning, forecasting and budgeting is essential.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills is essential.
• Experience managing and developing high‑performing teams.
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills.

What we offer:

We believe that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play. It’s one of the reasons our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary.

From the day you join us, you’ll get access to brilliant staff travel benefits including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways flights. You’ll also receive up to 30 discounted ‘Hotline’ airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.

At British Airways you’ll have the chance to take on new challenges and move forward in a way that feels right for you. We encourage all those who work for us to consider opportunities right across our business to help you develop and progress.

We never stand still, and we don’t expect our people to either.

Inclusion & Diversity

At British Airways we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work. Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.

Inclusion and diversity is a key driver of innovation and we’re committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves. We’re looking for people from all backgrounds and cultures to join us and be a part of our journey to become a Better BA as we continue to connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain.