Head of Dispatch and Operations

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Gatwick Ground Services (GGS) provide airport ground operations at London Gatwick and London City Airports. As a wholly owned British Airways subsidiary we take great pride in delivering the same impeccable customer service and fully comprehensive training. We are proud to deliver the highest standard of ground handling to British Airways and our other airline partners.

Gatwick Ground Services was established in 2016, to support the ramp operations of British Airways at Gatwick. Following its success, the company branched into Aircraft Cleaning in 2018. In 2020, Passenger Services formed the newest department within the GGS business to provide an all-round ground handling option.

Our operations across two stations supports British Airways, Air India, Iberia Express, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Vueling Airlines providing a complete ground handling solution.

It's an exciting and fast-paced life when you're working in some of the world's most important travel hubs, and you'll be part of a global gateway connecting with people from all walks of life and helping to make each and every journey original and unique.

The role:

Head of Dispatch and Operations

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic individual to join our team as the Head of Dispatch and Operations at Gatwick Ground Services, based at London Gatwick. In this pivotal role you will oversee our Dispatch and Operations department, ensuring that services meet high standards of quality, safety and customer airline satisfaction. You will lead a dedicated team, managing day to day operations, coordinating with various departments, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to optimise workflow and operational performance.

If you have a proven track record in airport operations, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for delivering exceptional service, we want to hear from you.

What you'll do:

1. Overall accountability and oversight of the Dispatch and Operations Department including OCC Duty Managers, Operations Controllers, Airside Offices, Gate Coordinators and Tow Team.
2. Achieving performance service level agreements and timely aircraft departure.
3. Motivating and supervising a team of Gate Coordinators to ensure smooth running of the dispatch operation.
4. Monitoring of staff absence.
5. Staff training, development and performance reviews.
6. Manage and ensure that all health and safety in the workplace is adhered to.
7. Maintain a healthy and disciplined workforce.
8. Ensure Gate Coordinators and all necessary GGS equipment is allocated correctly.
9. Maintain the relationship with ATC, CLC, GAL, Airlines and Service Partners to ensure efficient and productive operational performance.
10. Ensure that all CAA & Gatwick Airport Limited Byelaws are complied with at all times.
11. Maintain all aircraft schedules / databases / reporting and messaging protocols.
12. Raise, Investigate and Answer GSR's in AIR or any Airline reporting system.
13. Adhere to department budget, managing overtime spend.
14. Maintain appropriate staffing levels in accordance with Airline SLA and GGS Department Budget.

What you'll bring to Gatwick Ground Services:

1. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills in order to convey information to staff and other parties, using written and oral skills.
2. Good people skills are required in order to motivate and lead effectively in difficult situations while under operational pressure.
3. A Pro-Active Approach and forward thinking attitude to move the department forward and make improvements.
4. You should have a high standard of personal expectation and the ability to lead by a professional example.

Your experience:

1. At least 8 years experience in a Ground Handling environment, with at least 5 years experience in Dispatch and Operations.
2. You will require a detailed knowledge of Dispatch, Load Control, AAA / ACDM's.
3. A good knowledge of our current customer requirements / SLA's is essential.
4. A good working knowledge of all Systems used by GGS.
5. Full UK manual driving licence.

What we offer:

We believe that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play. It's one of the reasons our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary.

Salary: Between £50,000 and £53,000 dependent on experience, as well as eligibility to our Management Variable Pay Scheme.

Key benefits include:

1. Access to discounted flights known as hotline fares, standby tickets and concessions with British Airways and other code share airlines.
2. Health benefits including free winter flu jab and access to the HSF Health Plan.
3. Cycle to work scheme.
4. Free staff parking.
5. Discounts on public transport and airport food vendors.
6. A generous leave allowance, increasing annually for the first 5 years of employment.
7. Pension scheme.

At Gatwick Ground Services you'll have the chance to take on new challenges and move forward in a way that feels right for you. We encourage all those who work for us to consider opportunities right across our business to help you develop and progress.

Inclusion & Diversity

At Gatwick Ground Services we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work. Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.

Inclusion and diversity are a key driver of innovation and we're committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves. We're looking for people from all backgrounds and cultures to join us and be a part of our journey as we continue to assist with connecting Britain with the world and the world with Britain.