Supply Chain Operations Planner

Virgin holidays; Manor Royal; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Atlantic is seeking a Supply Chain Operations Planner to source and procure aircraft spares for live operational defects, balancing cost, availability and lead times to keep our aircraft in the sky.

You will work with engineers and suppliers, manage multiple requests, negotiate with suppliers and support AOG incidents when urgent operational needs arise, joining a close-knit team behind every departure.

Qualifications

• Experience in aviation, logistics, procurement or supply chain.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.
• Excellent organisation and communication skills.
• Curious mindset and willingness to develop specialist technical knowledge.
• Airline experience is an advantage but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with engineers and front-line teams to source spares.
• Negotiate with suppliers to secure best commercial outcomes.
• Prioritise and manage multiple requests as priorities shift.
• Provide support for Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations.
• Build strong supplier relationships across Engineering and Operations.
• Develop faster, smarter ways of working while delivering reliable service.

Skills

Aviation supply chain

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Job description

Location: The VHQ, Crawley in our OCC (Operations Control Centre)

Hours: Full Time, 4 on 4 off 07:00-19:00

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: Tuesday, 29th September 2026

In a nutshell

Every aircraft in our fleet depends on thousands of parts being exactly where they need to be, exactly when they're needed. That's where you come in.

As a Supply Chain Operations Planner, you'll help keep our operation moving by sourcing and procuring aircraft spares for live operational defects. Working alongside engineers and suppliers, you'll make smart decisions at pace, balancing cost, availability and lead times so our aircraft spend more time in the sky and less time on the ground.

No two days are the same. You'll solve operational challenges, build strong supplier relationships and become part of a close-knit team that plays a vital role behind every departure.

Day to day

• Work closely with multi stakeholders across the business from cabin tech ops, Tech services and front line and hangar engineers.

• Negotiate with suppliers to achieve the best commercial outcome while keeping operational priorities front of mind.

• Manage multiple requests at once, making confident decisions as priorities change.

• You’ll occasionally support Aircraft on Ground (AOG) activity when urgent operational situations arise.

• Build trusted relationships with suppliers and colleagues across Engineering and the wider operation.

• You’ll look for smarter, simpler ways of working while delivering a great service every day.

About you

You don't need to know every aircraft part number on day one – we'll help you learn that. What matters most is that you enjoy solving problems, thrive in a fast-paced operational environment and love bringing order to complexity.

We're particularly interested in hearing from you if you have:

• Experience in aviation, logistics, procurement or supply chain.

• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.

• The confidence to manage competing priorities and make informed decisions under pressure.

• Excellent organisation and communication skills.

• A curious mindset and a willingness to develop specialist technical knowledge.

• Airline experience is an advantage, but it's not essential. If you've worked in an operational environment where teamwork, customer focus and quick thinking matter, we'd love to hear from you.

If this sounds like you, and you're ready to help keep one of the world's most loved airlines moving, we'd love to hear from you.

Be yourself – Our differences make us stronger

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do our colleagues. That's why we're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. At Virgin Atlantic, we believe everyone can take on the world - no matter your age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We celebrate difference and everything that makes our colleagues unique by upholding an inclusive environment in which we can all thrive. So that everyone at Virgin Atlantic can be themselves and know they belong.

To make your journey with us accessible and individual to you, we encourage you to let us know if you'd like a little extra help with your application, or if you have any individual requirements at any stage along your recruitment journey. We are here to support you, so please reach out to our team, [e-mail] feeling confident that we've got your individual considerations covered.