Job Details
Salary: Competitive
Hours: Full Time
Location: Crawley
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 7th July 2025
Many of our staff at Virgin work flexibly and in many different ways, including different core hours or remote working. Please talk to us at your application or interview stage about the flexibility you need. We can't promise to give you exactly what you want, but we are happy to explore what's possible for the role.
In a nutshell
At Virgin Atlantic, our purpose is to ensure everyone can take on the world. Our vision is to be the most loved travel company. To achieve both, we're harnessing our spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation to reimagine the world and create thoughtful experiences that feel thoughtfully different at every opportunity.
Our people are game changers who see the world differently. Acting as a loud and proud voice for positive change for our people, places, and the planet, they're not afraid to roll up their sleeves to take on the big things while never forgetting the importance of the small details. So, if you're ready to take your career to new heights, read on.
The Operational Safety Senior Specialist will play a pivotal role in helping the airline to run safely, supporting the Head of Safety, Manager Operational Safety and the wider Safety Team in a variety of areas including undertaking safety reviews & investigations into reported incidents, accidents and near misses.
Day to day
You will contribute to the development and evolution of corporate safety standards across the Operational (and non-operational) areas of the wider business and assisting in maintaining those high standards through proactive Safety/Risk Management, and the continuous improvement of the Corporate Safety Management System.
You'll be working closely with the various Operational areas including Engineering, Flight, Cabin and Ground Operations team following up on events that have occurred during flight or on the ground. Reviewing technical information to determine any trends or issues arising. Understanding and interpretation of the data to highlight any trends.
Through collaboration and discussion, the Senior Specialist – Operational Safety will communicate and promote our safety standards and Just Culture; raising those standards through the provision of open reviews, safety inspections, ‘challenging the normal’ and investigations.
You will use the outputs as one of the drivers, along with safety data and information, to safeguard the company’s assets and staff, customers, 3rd party Service providers, in the UK and across our global operations. Key to the success of this role is your ability to adapt, assess priority, engage collaborators (internal & external) in order to build strong networks and relationships to embed safety as one of our core values.
About you
Are you an aviation safety professional with a strong all round safety abilities and excellent communication skills? If this sounds like you and you have the below skills and capabilities, then we'd love to hear from you!
- Extensive experience in aviation safety, operational risk management, or safety investigation roles.
- Bachelor’s degree in aviation, safety management, engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Proven and demonstratable Knowledge and understanding of Airline Operations including Engineering, Flight, Cabin and Ground operation.
- Experience in conducting safety investigations, risk assessments, and safety audits.
- Completed safety investigations and risk management training.
- Demonstrable knowledge of Safety Management Systems (SMS) principles and regulatory frameworks (e.g., ICAO, CAA, IATA).
- Proficiency in safety reporting systems and data analysis tools.
- Able to communicate across all levels of the Organisational Management with strong influencing and diplomatic skills.
- Integrity and independence with an ability to balance safety and risk against business and operational demands.
- Able to balance multiple tasks / investigations in sometimes fast paced and dynamic situations.
- Be a self-starter and able to work unsupervised
- Ability to think analytically and creatively to achieve effective solutions and data interpretation experience
- Excellent IT skills crucial
- Excellent presentations skills and comfortable presenting to all management levels and business area groups
- Relevant safety investigation skills / qualifications and techniques, and a solid understanding of Risk Assessments.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proven attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.
- Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to influence and drive safety culture improvements.
- High level of integrity and professional ethics.
- Display the attributes of a safety champion with strong communications skills.
Internal info
Hiring manager: Mark ThompsonGlobal grade: C
Our recipe for leadership
At Virgin Atlantic, our leaders empower teams to thrive through collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Explore our Leadership Recipe and discover the 20 core ingredients that define what it means to lead with us, driving our mission to be the most loved travel company and achieve sustainable profit. Want to learn more? Click here
Be yourself
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, ([email protected]) feeling confident that we’ve got your individual considerations covered.