General Manager - Airports
Salary - Negotiable
Closing date - 29th September 2025
NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2 million flights each year. It provides air traffic control services from two control centres supporting airports all around the UK, as well as a wide range of commercial solutions to over 30 countries internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.
Job Purpose
The General Manager - Airports is accountable for the leadership and performance of all NATS functions at the designated airport, with direct responsibility for operational delivery, regulatory compliance, and safety. As the nominated safety accountable manager for the Unit, the post holder ensures the highest standards of service and safety are maintained. This high-profile role requires close collaboration with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, airport operators, airlines, and NATS leadership, to deliver safe, efficient, and commercially sustainable air navigation services aligned with strategic objectives.
Principal Accountabilities
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Safety Leadership: Fulfil the safety accountabilities of the Unit by implementing and maintaining robust safety procedures, ensuring regulatory compliance, and promoting a proactive safety culture. Oversee safety performance monitoring, incident investigation, and continuous improvement in collaboration with regulatory authorities (e.g. SARG) and customers.
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People Leadership and Development: Inspire and lead the unit team through effective coaching, and performance management. Foster a high-performance culture that delivers improved safety, service, and value in line with the NATS behaviours.
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Operational Delivery: Lead the safe, efficient, and expeditious delivery of Air Traffic Services in accordance with NATS standards, contractual obligations, and evolving customer and regulatory requirements. Ensure operational readiness and resilience across all functions.
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Stakeholder and Employee Engagement: Build and maintain effective relationships with staff, Trade Union representatives, and external stakeholders. Champion the ‘Working Together’ principles to support change, foster collaboration, and ensure successful delivery of key airport projects.
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Change and Project Management: Lead the implementation of strategic and operational change programmes, ensuring alignment with customer expectations and NATS objectives. Manage project milestones across time, cost, and quality dimensions, working closely with internal teams and airport partners.
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Commercial and Business Development: Strengthen NATS’ position as a trusted partner by developing strategic relationships with airport customers. Support consultancy and capacity planning initiatives that align with future growth and operational needs.
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Capacity and Infrastructure Planning: Drive the development of airport capacity and infrastructure through risk assessment, stakeholder consultation, and delivery of new systems and procedures that enhance efficiency and reduce delays.
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Financial and Business Planning: Develop and manage the Unit Business Plan, ensuring financial control and accountability. Set and monitor budgets to achieve targeted performance and maintain profitability in line with NATS procedures.
Qualifications and Skills
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Leadership experience within a safety-critical, operational environment, ideally within aviation or air traffic services, with a proven ability to lead diverse teams and drive performance.
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Exceptional leadership behaviours, including strategic thinking, commercial capability, and a commitment to delivering high standards of safety, service, and value.
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Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across a wide range of internal and external partners.
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Strong analytical and decision-making skills, with experience in business planning, financial management, and operational delivery.
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High levels of personal resilience, independence, and drive, with the ability to lead through change and maintain focus under pressure.
Desirable Attributes
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Strong understanding of NATS’ organisational structure and strategic priorities coupled with sound knowledge of the NSL Airports financial framework and commercial drivers.
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Demonstrated ability to operate effectively within a regulated environment, with a solid grasp of the UK and international regulatory frameworks governing air navigation services.
Additional Information
Some of our General Manager posts may only be held by someone who holds, or has held, an ATC licence.
This post is a mobile grade and as such, the post holder will be liable for transfer to any part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the course of their employment.
If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.
Various, GB, UK