Heathrow AOC (Airline Operators Committee)
Operations Manager - Below Wing
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Operations Manager – Below Wing
Reports to: Head of Operations
Location: London Heathrow Airport
Organisation: Heathrow Airline Operators Committee (AOC) Limited
Salary: £68,000–£72,000
Working pattern: Primarily Heathrow-based, Monday–Friday, with out-of-hours operational support required. Some flexibility for hybrid working.
About the role
Heathrow Airline Operators Committee (AOC) Limited is seeking an experienced Operations Manager – Below Wing to act as the airline community’s lead operational representative for airfield, ramp, baggage and related below-wing operations at Heathrow.
This is a senior operational and stakeholder-facing role, representing the collective interests of AOC member airlines and associate members, including ground handlers, across airfield operations, ramp services, baggage, cargo, ground handling, punctuality, operational performance, resilience and operational change.
The successful candidate will work closely with AOC member airlines, ground handlers, Heathrow Airport Limited, NATS, government agencies, regulators, service providers and the wider airport community. You will provide a credible, evidence-based airline and handler voice, ensuring decisions affecting below-wing operations consider operational, financial and passenger impacts.
You will build strong relationships, influence without direct authority and constructively challenge proposals, performance and expenditure where necessary, ensuring investment and operational activity deliver tangible benefits and value for money for AOC members.
Key responsibilities
Below-wing operational leadership
- Act as the principal AOC point of contact for member airlines and associate members on below-wing matters.
- Lead AOC engagement across airfield, ramp, baggage, cargo and ground handling activities.
- Maintain a strong understanding of operational performance, risks and airline and handler concerns across Heathrow.
- Work with Heathrow and the airline community to improve punctuality performance through below-wing improvements.
- Establish and support forums engaging airlines and ground handlers on below-wing issues, providing coordinated feedback to Heathrow.
- Represent airline and handler interests in operational decisions, improvement plans and change programmes.
- Identify operational risks early and develop practical mitigations.
Airline, handler and stakeholder representation
- Build trusted relationships with airlines, ground handlers, Heathrow, NATS, Cargo, Stand Planning, Security, UK Border Force and other key stakeholders.
- Represent the AOC at relevant airfield, ramp, baggage, cargo, security, resilience, punctuality and operational performance forums.
- Gather and represent airline and handler views, recognising individual priorities while supporting agreed community positions.
- Provide clear and timely updates to AOC members and senior stakeholders.
- Influence and challenge senior stakeholders without direct authority, balancing collaboration with robust challenge.
- Maintain effective two-way communication with AOC members to ensure the AOC represents the wider community.
Performance, service delivery and continuous improvement
- Monitor below-wing performance using KPIs, SLAs, punctuality measures and other agreed success metrics.
- Use data, operational observation and airline/handler feedback to identify performance gaps, risks and improvement opportunities.
- Work with Heathrow, NATS, ground handlers and service providers to develop measurable improvement plans.
- Hold service providers to account against agreed standards, SLAs and service obligations.
- Challenge performance where reporting does not reflect operational reality.
- Develop short, medium and long-term improvement plans with Heathrow and stakeholders.
- Propose practical solutions to operational problems and use stakeholder relationships to expedite delivery.
- Report progress on below-wing and airfield initiatives to the AOC Executive, supporting the Head of Operations.
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Airfield, ramp, baggage and cargo
- Act as the AOC operational lead on airfield, ramp, baggage and cargo matters.
- Maintain engagement with Heathrow airfield management, baggage system providers, ground handlers and other service providers.
- Monitor and challenge baggage and airfield performance where required.
- Work with airlines, handlers and Heathrow to improve baggage performance, airfield efficiency and operational resilience.
- Engage with key suppliers whose services materially affect Heathrow operations.
- Communicate changes affecting airfield, ramp, baggage and cargo operations and explain their operational impact.
- Provide operational context and support to AOC members during new systems, processes and regulatory requirements.
Operational resilience and disruption
- Represent AOC airlines and handlers in seasonal readiness, resilience, contingency and disruption planning.
- Ensure below-wing impacts are considered in weather disruption, IT failures, airfield incidents, baggage system failures, infrastructure works, industrial action and other disruption.
- Work with Heathrow, NATS, ground handlers and stakeholders to develop practical contingency arrangements.
- Support airlines and handlers during incidents and disruption, ensuring effective communication and a swift return to normal operations.
- Support incident reviews, lessons learned and improvement activity.
Operational change, projects and investment
- Provide operational input into projects and change programmes affecting below-wing operations.
- Work with the AOC Airport Development Manager to assess the operational impact of capital projects and infrastructure changes.
- Ensure operational impact is properly considered in capital investment decisions.
- Maintain visibility of Heathrow expenditure and investment in below-wing, airfield, ramp, cargo and baggage facilities and services.
Regulatory framework
- Maintain awareness of regulatory and operational changes affecting below-wing activities.
- Support AOC members during implementation of relevant regulatory frameworks and industry standards, including IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) requirements.
- Work with Heathrow on communication and engagement regarding Airfield Operational Safety Instructions and other operational requirements.
Communication and reporting
- Provide clear written and verbal updates, briefings and reports for AOC members, the AOC Executive and senior stakeholders.
- Translate complex operational issues into concise, evidence-based and actionable information.
- Maintain clear records of key decisions, risks, actions and escalations.
- Support AOC communications with relevant operational content and information.
About you
You will be an experienced aviation or airport operations professional with strong knowledge of below-wing airport processes and the confidence to operate effectively in a complex, high-profile environment.
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Essential experience
- Significant experience in airport, airline or aviation operations.
- Strong understanding of airfield, ramp, baggage, cargo and ground handling operations.
- Experience working with multiple stakeholders in a complex operational environment.
- Experience in operational performance, service improvement or operational change.
- Proven ability to challenge and influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, communication, problem-solving and operational judgement skills.
- Experience working under pressure in a live operational environment.
- Experience producing clear written briefings, reports or stakeholder updates.
- Ability to work with varying and conflicting stakeholder views to achieve understanding and consensus.
Desirable experience
- Direct Heathrow operational experience, particularly in airfield, baggage, cargo or ramp operations.
- Experience representing airline or handler community interests.
- Experience working with ground handlers, baggage system providers, airfield management or ATC/NATS.
- Knowledge of Heathrow governance forums and operational structures.
- Experience working with an airport authority or management company to improve processes, deliver projects and review performance.
- Understanding of CAA expectations, airport regulatory frameworks and operational performance measures.
- Experience of operational readiness, project implementation or infrastructure transformation.
- Experience assessing capital expenditure, operational investment or value-for-money decisions.
What success looks like
You will strengthen the airline and handler community’s voice on below-wing matters and improve engagement between airlines, handlers, Heathrow and other operational stakeholders.
Success will include:
- Earlier identification and resolution of below-wing operational risks.
- Improved airfield, ramp, baggage and cargo performance.
- Improved punctuality performance through effective below-wing interventions.
- Stronger engagement between airlines, handlers and Heathrow.
- More effective representation in operational forums and change programmes.
- Better performance reporting, escalation and improvement plans.
- Improved operational resilience and disruption preparedness.
- Greater visibility and appropriate challenge of Heathrow expenditure and investment.
- Stronger focus on tangible operational benefits and value for money.
- Practical, collaborative solutions to long-standing operational challenges.
- Trusted relationships across airlines, handlers, Heathrow, NATS and the wider airport community.
Benefits
- Salary: £68,000–£72,000
- Pension
- Life assurance
- Private medical benefits
- Car parking included
- Further benefit details to be confirmed.
Application details
- Closing date: 4 September 2026
- Interviews: Phase one will take place on 14, 17 and 18 September 2026, with phase two on 23 and 24 September 2026. Dates and times will be agreed with candidates within these timeframes.
- Applicants should submit a CV.
- Candidates must have the right to work in the UK and be able to demonstrate a five-year employment/reference history, including any gaps, to meet airport ID pass requirements.
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