Simulator Manager - Atc

Manchester Airport Plc; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester Airport Plc is seeking a Simulator Manager based at East Midlands Airport to run the simulator end-to-end, ensuring exercises mirror live operation and meet regulatory scrutiny.

Reporting to Training and Standards, you will own exercises, airspace models and pseudo-pilot programs, coordinating with the supplier and internal stakeholders to deliver effective training with 40 hours per week and some out-of-hours training when required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of UK ATCO training regulation and CAP 2331.
• Experience designing and validating realistic simulation exercises.
• Experience in safety-critical environments.
• Ability to translate SME requirements into scenarios.
• Strong documentation and configuration control discipline.
• Clear communication to both specialists and non-specialists.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, validate and maintain simulator exercises for Aerodrome and Surveillance Radar training.
• Maintain simulator hardware, software and airspace models; manage defects and configuration control.
• Develop and maintain airspace models and system configurations.
• Establish and run a competency scheme for pseudo pilots and assess performance.
• Own simulator utilisation planning with Watch Managers and instructors.
• Liaise with simulator provider for support and future development.
• Maintain governance documents and assurance aligning with CAA and unit training requirements.
• Use simulation to support safe introduction of new procedures and technology.
• Turn operational feedback into improved realism and training effectiveness.

Skills

Regulatory framework knowledge

Simulation design & testing

Aviation safety culture

Stakeholder collaboration

Documentation & configuration control

Analytical problem solving

Effective communication

Education

Aviation/technical training qualification

Equivalent professional experience

Job description

Summary
Full-time, permanent
Based at East Midlands Airport
Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
40 hours per week
Some flexibility to work out of hours for training

The Role

East Midlands Airport recruits and trains its own Air Traffic Controllers, and the simulator is at the heart of that. We're looking for a Simulator Manager to run it: keeping it reliable, keeping it true to the live operation, and making sure every exercise it delivers stands up to regulatory scrutiny.

Reporting to the Training and Standards Manager, you'll own the simulator end to end - the exercises, the airspace models, the pseudo pilots and the relationship with our supplier.

What you'll do

• Exercise design: Design, build, validate and maintain simulator exercises for Aerodrome and Surveillance Radar training, including the assessment and competency exercises that support unit endorsements.

• Simulator capability: Keep hardware, software and airspace models operational, fit for purpose and aligned with the live operation, managing defects, limitations and configuration control.

• Airspace modelling: Develop and maintain airspace models, procedures and system configurations that reflect current and future operational requirements.

• Pseudo pilots: Establish and run a competency scheme for pseudo pilots, covering training, assessment, performance monitoring and development.

• Planning: Own the simulator utilisation plan, working with Watch Managers and instructors to prioritise training, competency and ABES requirements.

• Supplier liaison: Act as primary point of contact with our simulator provider, Micro Nav, for support, upgrades and future development.

• Governance: Maintain exercise documentation (including Driver Briefs and OJTI guidance), records and assurance arrangements that demonstrate compliance with CAA and unit training requirements.

• Operational change: Use simulation to support the safe introduction of new procedures, airspace changes and technology.

• Improvement: Turn operational feedback and safety learning into better realism, training effectiveness and use of resources.

What you'll need

• Working knowledge of the UK regulatory framework for ATCO training and Synthetic Training Devices, including UK Regulation (EU) 2015/340 and CAP 2331, and the ability to apply it to simulator management and training.

• Experience in a simulation, training, aviation, technical or other safety-critical environment.

• Experience designing and validating realistic simulation exercises against defined training objectives.

• The ability to work with operational subject matter experts and translate their requirements into effective scenarios.

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, and the discipline to maintain controlled documentation and configuration records.

• Clear communication with specialist and non-specialist audiences, and the ability to plan and prioritise competing demands.

• A relevant technical, training, simulation or aviation qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

It would be great if you also have

• A qualification in training design, instructional systems, simulation or Human Factors.

• A technical qualification in simulator systems, software, systems engineering or aviation technology.

• Training in project, configuration or change management.

• An understanding of competency-based training and assessment, and the role of simulation within a Safety Management System.

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