Aviation Safety Manager
British Antarctic Survey
BAS 25/141
Contract type OEA (Open Ended Assignment)
Location Cambridge
Salary: £46,743 - £51,036 Per Annum
Closing date January 5th 2026
Purpose
The Air Unit Aviation Safety Manager is directly responsible to the Head of Air Unit (Accountable Manager), for providing guidance and direction for the planning, implementation and operation of the Air Unit Safety Management System (SMS). The Aviation Safety Manager provides SMS-related services to enable compliance with Overseas Territory Aviation Requirements (OTARs) and the BAS SMS. It also provides oversight and management of the unit's compliance and audit processes, undertaken by the Aviation Compliance Manager.
The role is fundamental to the safe operation of our aircraft, not just in Antarctica but worldwide.
Proactive engagement with personnel across all aspects of the Air Unit and the wider operational team, is a critical element of the role; in order to influence the further development of our safety culture. The leadership and co-ordination of safety across BAS is a fundamental principle of the organisation and this role will work with other safety managers to assure an integrated and holistic approach to safety.
Our aircraft are maintained in in Canada, where we also undertake training flying and spend time in the DeHavilland Canada simulators. With Antarctic deployments and summer science campaigns, it is therefore not unusual for Air Unit pilots and our aircraft to spend up to 8 months of the year outside of the UK. This presents the Aviation Safety Manger with a unique and distributed environment to influence and work within. The role is Cambridge based but will require the ability to travel overseas for short periods of time.
Duties
Lead on the continued development, improvement and implementation of the Aviation SMS, covering all aspects of the Air Unit's operations (ground, engineering, flight ops, contractors and stakeholders)
* Develop, improve and implement the Aviation SMS, through refinement of the following key processes and tools:
o Hazard identification and assessment.
o Risk assessment, management and assessment of effectiveness of controls.
* Initiate and review Risk Assessments (RA).
* Review "non-Air Unit" RAs if they have an impact on the aviation SMS/operation.
o Safety case analysis and structure.
o Setting and improving our safety targets.
o Change management processes, for the introduction of new equipment and processes.
* Monitor and analyse the effectiveness of the Aviation SMS through:
o Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs).
o Safety assurance program (collect and analyse relevant safety data).
o Oversight of and direction to the Air Unit's compliance and audit processes.
Lead and advocate on improving the safety culture within BAS and the Air Unit, through direct engagement and promotion:
* Proactively engaging with the Flight Safety Officer, pilots and wider Air Unit.
* Encouraging increased hazard and near miss reporting of safety issues to management within the Air Unit.
* Improving safety performance, through facilitation of communications to Air Unit management and contracted Maintenance and Repair Organisations (MRO).
* Management and deliver of aviation safety campaigns.
• Manage and edit the Air Unit Safety Bulletin:
o Ensure aviation safety related information and organisational objectives are made clear and available to all personnel.
o Provide an update of OR/MOR incidents, investigations, closures.
Manage the Aviation Incident Reporting System as part of an Accident Prevention Program:
• Submit reports to appropriate authorities in timely manner.
• Initiate investigations and assign investigators.
• Collate actions/recommendations of Occurrence Reports (ORs) and Maintenance
Occurrence Reports (MORs).
• Seek management agreement on proposed actions.
• Oversight and review/audit of closed OR/MORs.
• Monitor and evaluate results of corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with Safety/incident reporting related regulations.
Ownership of all Aviation Safety Documentation:
• Manage the Safety Management Manual - Aviation
• Monitor and review procedures for documenting, storing and actioning ORs and MORs within the system.
Oversee and review safety training requirements for staff involved in BAS aircraft operations:
• Set aviation safety training requirements and adherence.
• Develop or provide through external providers, safety training courses.
• Manage the Air Unit's safety training budget.
Lead on the assurance and review of aviation safety:
• Ensure the organisation adheres to all applicable aviation safety regulations and standards set by our regulators:
o Civil Aviation Authority - Approved Training Organisation.
o Falkland Islands Civil Aviation Department.
o Air Safety Support International.
• Instigate regular Safety Review Panels (minimum of four annually).
• Provide annual Aviation Safety Report to SRP - including analysis of trends and SPIs.
• Instigate and co-ordinate the Aviation Risk Review Panel (Bi-annual).
Contribute to the BAS Incident Response Plan (IRP):
• Participate in IRP exercises in appropriate role (& promote aviation related practices.)
• Review aviation related aspects of IRP and update and develop as necessary.
Skills, Qualifications, and Experience
Essential
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o CGSE Maths
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o GCSE English
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o Leadership & Management e xperience
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o To have worked in an aviation operations or engineering environment
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o Experience of hazard identification and risk analysis
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o To have been involved in written procedure or manual production
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o Proficient in written and spoken English language
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o Confident in in organising & chairing meetings
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o Analysing technical data trends
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o Producing and delivering presentations
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o Communication with external organisations
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o Proficient in MS Office suite programs
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Desirable
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o Degree
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o To have been actively engaged in accident or incident reporting
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o Ability to interpret regulations
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o Aircraft operations related qualifications
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o Engineering ( elec or mech) qualifications
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o Project / Programme management
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o Effective use of and ability to build processes to deliver desired outcomes
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o Logical approach to problem solving
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o Actively looks to build relationships
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o Use of risk, safety case or performance reporting software
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o MS excel formula and spreadsheet manipulation
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o Database experience
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o Website page editing and production
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o MS Project
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As a BAS employee, you'll be eligible for the following benefits:
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o 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days
o Civil Service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution, depending on your band)
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o 24 hours/365 days access to employee assistance programme (including support with physical, mental, social, health and financial issues)
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+ Flexible and family friendly working opportunities
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+ Cycle to work scheme
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+ Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure, and lifestyle categories and much more
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We will give full consideration to requests for flexible and part time working, such as reduced hours, compressed hours or job sharing. We also offer hybrid working and recognise the many benefits this brings. The nature of the role will determine if flexible and hybrid working options are possible.
The pay band minimum is the normal starting pay for those new to a role.In exceptional circumstances, when relevant skills and experience can be identified, a higher starting salary may be considered.
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Our skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of theNatural Environment Research Council (NERC).NERCis part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org
We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our Science as well as keep the keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe! If you are looking for an opportunity to work with amazing people in one of the most unique places in the world, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you. We aim to attract the best people for those jobs.