Service Delivery Manager MFTS

Airbus; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is looking for a Service Delivery Manager in Shrewsbury, UK. This role involves overseeing the MFTS helicopter service delivery contract, providing strategic leadership, and ensuring operational excellence. The ideal candidate should have over 10 years of experience in operations leadership roles and possess a relevant Engineering or Business degree. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance

Pension contributions

Share Incentive Plan

Travel Insurance

Financial/Legal Advice

Qualifications

• 10+ years in a senior operations or contracts leadership role.
• Experience managing diverse operational teams across multiple contracts.
• Knowledge of aviation regulations and airworthiness regulators.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and operational coordination to maintenance teams.
• Ensure contract delivery performance and aircraft availability.
• Foster collaboration between internal disciplines.

Skills

Leadership

Operational Performance

Cross-Functional Integration

Stakeholder Management

Data Analysis

Process Optimisation

Compliance Management

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business Administration

Master's degree

Job description

Job Description

Service Delivery Manager - MFTS

RAF Shawbury

Permanent

About our team

Airbus Helicopters is the world’s largest helicopter manufacturer and the company’s site at Oxford Airport is Britain’s civil helicopter hub.

AHUK offers considerable experience in helicopter sales, bespoke completions, maintenance, CAMO and spares support. Its in-house engineering capabilities include design, customisation, installation, flight-testing and certification, as well as technical support, maintenance, training and the supply of spares for civil and military applications.

AHUK is also the MoD’s chosen provider of helicopters and maintenance for its Defence Helicopter Flying school (referred to as MFTS) located in RAF Shawbury (Shropshire) and RAF Valley (Anglesey).

Description/Overall purpose of the Job

Reporting to: Head of Operations

We\'re looking for a highly experienced and dynamic leader to provide overarching leadership and strategic direction to a flagship helicopter service delivery contract.

The MFTS Rotary Wing contract is a long-term agreement where the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) outsourced its helicopter pilot training to Ascent Flight Training (a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Babcock). Airbus, a prime contractor to Ascent, provides helicopter availability, support and services in line with the flight training schedule.

The Service Delivery Manager MFTS has overall responsibility on behalf of the Head of Operations to lead the Airbus Helicopters component of MFTS, ensuring contract execution in line with targets. The fleet of aircraft comprising H135 Juno and H145 Jupiter is contracted to provide up to 28,000 flying hours per year. The role of the Service Delivery Manager MFTS is to synchronise an operational team based in RAF Shawbury, RAF Valley, AHUK HQ Oxford and Airbus Helicopters central teams Europe to achieve aircraft availability in line with the flight plan and other contractual requirements and KPI\’s

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership: Provide inspirational leadership and operational coordination to the on-site teams of Part 145 maintenance engineers (Line and Base), aircraft refuellers, aircraft handlers, Airworthiness, Quality, Commercial, Finance and supporting functions.
• Represent Airbus at RAF Shawbury in front of key stakeholders from Ascent and the MoD.
• Operational Performance: Accountable for the end-to-end contract delivery performance (aircraft availability, cost, schedule adherence, revenue, cost and margin) whilst also achieving a challenging ramp up of flight hours and corresponding operational output.
• Cross-Functional Integration & Synchronisation: Ensure seamless cross-functional integration and synchronisation. You\'ll foster effective collaboration between various internal disciplines (e.g., engineering, supply chain, quality, project management) to streamline workflows, resolve interdependencies, and optimise overall team performance.
• Proactive and effective management of a complex stakeholder network is a must have skill to ensure that all stakeholders on the MoD and Ascent side are informed and engaged as needed as well as the internal network of Airbus colleagues in the UK, France and Germany who form part of the wider delivery team.
• Data-Driven Visual Management & Governance: Create and drive data-driven visual management and team governance dynamics. You\'ll implement robust systems and dashboards to provide clear visibility of performance, progress, and key metrics, empowering teams to make informed decisions and achieve operational excellence.
• Team Management & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of operational Team Leaders and their teams, fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and results-oriented environment. Identify training needs and promote professional growth.
• Process Optimisation & Efficiency: Drive continuous improvement initiatives across all operational processes, identifying opportunities for greater efficiency, cost reduction, and enhanced service delivery. Implement best practices and lean methodologies where appropriate.
• Resource Management: Optimise the allocation and utilisation of resources (people, equipment, facilities) to meet operational demands effectively and efficiently.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate operational risks, developing robust contingency plans to ensure business continuity and minimise disruptions.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure all operational activities adhere to relevant industry regulations, safety standards, and company policies. Promote a proactive safety culture across all teams.
• Reporting & Analysis: Provide regular, insightful reports on operational performance, identifying trends, challenges, and opportunities for improvement to the Head of Operations and senior leadership.

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrable track record of leading military aircraft availability contracts of a scale and nature similar to MFTS Rotary Wing. Typically this will translate to 10+ years in a senior operations and or contracts leadership role.
• Deep understanding of the armed forces including network and ways of working, having either served yourself or been a civilian stakeholder.
• Demonstrable experience managing diverse operational teams across multiple contracts or programs.
• Knowledge of aviation regulations, Part 145, Part CAMO, the airworthiness regulators CAA, MAA and the Leaflet B40 construct.
• Strong understanding of aircraft or engine support contracts, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) operations, and/or complex project delivery.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and motivate at all levels.
• Strong personal accountability, especially with regards to problem solving and innovation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Proficiency in operational excellence methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) is highly desirable.
• Sound commercial acumen and experience with budget management.
• Ability to analyse, critically evaluate and make decisive decisions.

Education, Qualifications or Training

Essential

• Extensive experience with technical and/or commercial roles within the aerospace industry
• Bachelor\'s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field; a Master\'s degree.

Desirable

• Specific experience relating to the management of Airbus helicopter customers and/or support & services.
• Direct experience of Military programs delivery, either in the capacity as a senior officer or through commercial collaboration at the same level.

About you

• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach.
• Results-oriented and committed to continuous improvement.
• Highly organised and meticulous with attention to detail.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Collaborative team player with strong relationship-building skills and able to work in an international environment.

Addition Informal requirements

• Position based at RAF Shawbury and requires routine travel to RAF Valley, Oxford, Donnauworth and Marignane
• Due to the nature of this position you will require DBS and be eligible for SC clearance
• Applicants must meet any/all requirements of Export Compliance Regulations
• All candidates must possess the current, legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Airbus will not be able to offer sponsorship for any employment Visa\'s.

The Reward

In joining the Airbus family, you will play a critical part in delivering the most efficienthelicopters for its customers, who serve, protect, save lives and carry passengers in demanding environments. On top of your competitive base salary, you will have access to the following benefits below via our Airbus salary sacrifice schemes:

• Private Medical Insurance (Bupa) – single cover for employees paid by the company
• Pension: Employees are auto-enrolled into the Airbus Group UK Retirement Fund. Initially, AH contributes 6%, employee 4% basic
• Share Incentive Plan and ESOP. Annual share schemes at company discretion.
• Success Share, Discretionary Group bonus scheme (conditions apply)
• Bikes to Work (up to £3,000) (employee purchase scheme)
• Technology ( employee purchase scheme)
• Mydrive (employee car purchase scheme)
• Den-Plan (employee purchase scheme)
• Health-care Cash Scheme
• Personal Accident Insurance (employee purchase scheme)
• Health Assessments
• Travel Insurance
• Shopping vouchers/discounts
• Financial/Legal Advice (eg, Will-writing; Lasting Power of Attorney)

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company: Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd

Employment Type: Permanent

Experience Level: Professional

Job Family: Leadership

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [e-mail].

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.