Engineering Operations Training Lead

NATS is the UK's leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Salary: £72,094.66 - £96,126.21

Closing Date: Sunday 25th October 2026

Purpose of the Job:

• To ensure competency requirements of the Service Management Command Centre (SMCC) for all new or existing assets are proactively managed, accurately recorded and achieved as efficiently as possible.
• As lead On-the-Job-Training Instructor (OJTI) provide guidance, support, and skills development to SMCC OJTIs. Introduce process and standards that reflect industry best practice and drive consistency of On-the-Job Training (OJT) in the SMCC.
• To support the continuous improvement of OJT delivery and consumption across the SMCC through the adoption of modern delivery practices, working with the Technical Learning Team on the idea generation, creation and implementation of new learning tools and materials that will improve the learner experience, optimise learning pathways, aid the effectiveness of OJT and enhancing time to competency. In addition, to plan and coordinate formal training requirements, including the scheduling and management of Technical Training Services (TTS) booked courses, ensuring alignment with operational priorities and competency pathways.
• To provide support to all SMCC learners, fostering engagement, building capability, and drive performance through coaching, feedback and support.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Lead OJT activity: Lead the planning/resourcing, delivery and coordination of all OJT activity for relevant SMCC area, and ensure it is prioritised, and is aligned with regulatory requirements and course delivery dates by Technical Training Services as well as business requirements.
• Drive OJTI Effectiveness: Lead, motivate and develop OJT skills across the SMCC to ensure learners have a consistent experience, whilst driving OJT delivery standards across all watches.
• Drive Efficiency and Co-ordination: Plan and Coordinate Formal (TTS) Training: Own the forward plan for formal training across the SMCC area, including identification of requirements, liaison with Technical Training Services (TTS), booking/scheduling of TTS courses, coordination of learner attendance, and proactive management of clashes, prerequisites and course readiness. Ensure outcomes are recorded and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
• Performance Reporting: Accountable for the accurate recording of all training & competency activity (Tracer management) across the SMCC to enable data analysis and the reporting or Learner MI and progress against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Responsible for the monthly analysis of all learning data/reports demonstrating performance against key learning KPIs, and any corrective action.
• Document Management: Provide guidance to the Technical Learning and Asset Design teams for the creation of objectives used for on-the-job-training and technical skills assessments, as reflected in the training design document, to ensure these are relevant to the operation and accurate.
• Line Management: Responsible for the line management of the team of apprentices. Manage, motivate and develop team members, undertake performance appraisals, and be a focal point for all staff related issues.
• Safety Culture: Be an advocate for Safety Culture, promoting and advancing best practice, challenging poor behaviours, and ensuring personal health & safety (H&S) by adhering to H&S and safety procedures.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure training compliance with regulations and operational needs.
• Learning Tool/Material Development: Support the Technical Learning team as SME with the ideation, design, development of innovative OJT tools to enhance the effectiveness of OJT delivery. Leveraging operational experience and subject-matter expertise of the SMCC environment. Support the implementation and adoption of such tools/materials.
• SMCC Operational Expertise and Knowledge: Gain and maintain all relevant SMCC competencies as required for the relevant site/area. This role is a regular office-hours position and does not form part of any roster or shift pattern.
• Change Management: Within the scope of training promote a culture of continuous improvement and openness to change across the SMCC. Using learning data/Management Information to pro-actively drive decisions and improvement initiatives.
• Champion Technical Learning: Be an advocate and brand ambassador for technical learning, people development and OJTI capability across the SMCC demonstrating strong interpersonal, influencing and leadership skills, representing both operations and technical learning.
• Learning Delivery: As required deliver formal training and OJT in line with business needs.

Autonomy:

• Responsible for the planning, delivery, recording (Tracer) and coordination of all OJT engineering learning activities for SMCC Engineers and Apprentices in area. , and the planning/coordination of associated formal training requirements (including TTS booked courses) to support end-to-end competency pathways.
• Drives continuous improvement in relation to (OJT) standards and consistency
• Produces learner/learning progress reports/MI at regular intervals, analyses the data and applies their judgement, experience and expertise to resolve any identified problems / bottlenecks in support of the optimisation of the learning journey.
• Engages with relevant customers and stakeholders, such as Technical Learning to ensure successful training outcomes and improved standards.
• Fosters collaboration with peers and through knowledge sharing and consultation.

Job Scope:

• Collaborates with customers and stakeholders to identify OJT needs for the SMCC to ensure the achievement of competency requirements for all new/existing assets are efficiently addressed and meet agreed objectives.
• Reporting on agreed learning KPIs and learner progress
• Support the Technical Learning Team as SME with the creation of new and improved (OJT) learning tools and materials in response to customer needs
• Deliver formal training, as SME, in line with business needs.
• Gain, hold and maintain required competencies. Role holder will manage this independently and might be required to undertake some operational shifts to maintain recency (up to 10% of working time, for which specific UHP payments would apply as this role does not qualify for full UHP)

Experience, Qualification & Skills:

• Qualifications (Engineering): Professional engineering qualification to Higher National Certificate (Level 4 or SQF Level 7) as a minimum Electronics, Telecommunications or Computer Science or other relevant Engineering discipline.

In lieu of the above qualifications the candidate will be required to demonstrate one of the following alternative criteria:

Relevant lower-level engineering qualifications such as an Apprenticeship coupled with demonstrable engineering experience in a relevant field (May include but not limited to: Military, Rail, other Safety Critical environment)

Evidence of substantial experience gained in a relevant transferable environment (such as ATSEP) gained over a significant period

Experience of resolution of incidents, service restoration, incident and problem management of systems and equipment in a Safety Critical environment such as but not limited to Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), Military or Rail.

• Qualifications (L&D): A Training or Instructional Qualification is desirable but not essential as relevant training will be provided.
• Operational Understanding: Shall demonstrate an understanding of safety critical systems and the impact they may have within our operational environment.
• Leadership Skills: Strong and effective leadership skills with the proven ability to manage a team effectively and provide appropriate challenge and support.
• Communication Skills: This role requires effective communications skills, written and oral, commensurate with a range of stakeholders, being able to present information to learners, management, peers, customers and suppliers at the appropriate level.
• Decision Making Skills: Ability to make sound and effective decisions and to negotiate and motivate is essential, ensuring outcomes are clearly communicated.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to work calmly, systematically, and analytically when working in a safety-related context.
• Teamwork: Proven ability to work in teams, take responsibility, delegate, plan, and schedule activities efficiently.
• Continuous Improvement: Keen focus on continuous improvement, and the ability to implement change effectively.

Additional Information:
Holding existing competencies or understanding relevant to SMCC operational activities would be advantageous but is not essential. If Training and competency acquisition is required, support will be provided to the successful candidate.
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