Training Manager - Basic Flying Training

Ascent Flight Training (Management) Ltd Competitive Salary Full-time

A Day in the Life

As the Training Manager for Basic Flying Training [BFT], you will lead the planning, scheduling and operational support that delivers Basic Flying Training at RAF Valley. In this role you will work at the heart of one of our busiest operational sites, alongside our customer, supply chain partners and instructional teams, transforming long-term training requirements into an executable programme and daily flying output.

• Leading a team of schedulers and operations staff, you will build strong relationships with our key stakeholders to ensure:
• The flying training programme is planned and forecast effectively across the short, medium and long term.
• The aircraft, instructors, infrastructure and people required to deliver the programme are available and aligned to demand.
• Students’ progress safely, efficiently and effectively to the required standard within planned timescales.
• Operational risk is understood, managed and mitigated, with clear communication of performance, issues, risks and opportunities based on objective evidence.

More broadly, working as part of the site leadership team, you will:

• Lead, coach and develop the scheduling and operations team, building capability and resilience
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen planning, scheduling, governance and performance reporting
• Support the delivery of contractual and operational performance objectives across the BFT enterprise
• Share best practice with our other training sites

What Will Make You Successful

You will already have a strong background in training delivery, operations or planning within a military or civil aviation environment, gained in a management or leadership role, together with a track record of building and leading high-performing teams.

You will thrive in a dynamic environment where priorities change daily and where trust, collaboration and strong stakeholder relationships are critical to success. You will be comfortable making decisions under pressure, balancing competing priorities, and using data and insight to drive performance and support decision-making. Strong communication skills and the confidence to operate credibly with senior military and industry stakeholders are essential.

And you will also:

• Have strong planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to develop, maintain and deliver complex plans across a multi-party environment
• Be able to analyse data and produce clear, concise reporting that drives effective decision-making and performance improvement
• Have a genuine commitment to air safety, quality and inclusive, values-led leadership
• Have experience leading teams, managing performance and developing capability within an operational environment
• Knowledge of UKMFTS, military flying training or the RAF Valley environment is advantageous, as is experience of contract or performance-managed service delivery

This role is full time, 40 hours per week and provides a stable Monday to Friday work schedule.

This role requires successful candidates obtain Security Check (SC) clearance

We’re proud to foster a flexible and inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued. Whether working onsite or remotely, we support a culture that encourages collaboration, individuality and work-life balance. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are open to considering flexible working arrangements for all roles, including part-time hours, job share, and alternative working patterns, and we encourage conversations about individual needs during the recruitment process. We are actively working to remove barriers within our hiring practices and aim to provide a fair, accessible and supportive experience for every candidate. If you require any adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.