Salary - £71,149.84 - £94,017.38 Closing date - 27th February 2026 Location - Whiteley or Prestwick 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. Purpose of the Role: NATS is modernising UK airspace in line with the UK government's priorities to improve efficiency, increase capacity and reduce the environmental impact for the skies of the future. The Operations Implementation Lead is a key role within NATS Airspace Development team, accountable for delivering significant airspace design work packages across a portfolio of projects as required. The role holder will be accountable for developing airspace changes and delivering them into operations, using their personal judgement with limited supervision. Other duties include: Lead project development activities on behalf of the team, and act as the air traffic control lead for the delivery of projects and programmes. Lead air traffic control and cross-functional teams to ensure air traffic control end user engagement during all stages of projects in order to adequately define requirements, support development activities, manage expectations through effective channels of communication and support operational needs. Lead the delivery of Business Management tasks at a project/programme level and within Airspace Development. These tasks will include resource management, monthly reporting and significant business improvement activities in people, process and technology domains. Represent Airspace Development, liaising with operational staff, to ensure the correct derivation of air traffic control user requirements and secure the delivery of these requirements through successful change implementation. Act as the air traffic control focal point for the raising, progressing and implementation of Change Requests and Change Proposals. Provide solutions to senior managers on complex operational procedures and air traffic management system related functionality to support the provision of a safe and effective air traffic management operation. Provide Airspace expertise to NATS safety activities, lead safety activities, providing safety analysis relating to current and future airspace change and safety rationale/mitigations for identified risks Utilise a benefit focussed, and data driven approach to support modernisation. Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Educated to degree level or equivalent experience. Experience of creating air traffic management strategies and concepts of operations; able to provide leadership and motivation to see commitments and long-term strategies through to operational implementation Experience of budgetary management and Work Package / Contract Work Package management. Experience of leading teams in delivering desired business outcomes, with the ability to inspire and motivate others. A comprehensive understanding of the current en-route air traffic control operation and airspace change process is essential in this role. A wide experience of air traffic control operations and the ability to apply that experience to the development of airspace modernisation. The ability to contribute with confidence in technical forums, project & team meetings using influencing skills where necessary to achieve the desired outcome. Excellent verbal, written and presentational communication with a wide-ranging audience, both internally and externally. The ability and willingness to react with flexibility to changes in business direction. The post-holder must be able to connect NATS' direction to activities undertaken by their team(s) and demonstrate a broad awareness of industry developments. Understand the need to treat all colleagues in a fair and respectful manner. Appreciate and value the diversity of our employees and the inclusive environment we work in. Additional Vacancy Information: We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS? - NATS If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe - we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry. We recognise not every candidate will meet every requirement outlined above. If this role interests you and you believe you could make a positive contribution, we strongly encourage you to apply. Department: UKADS Location: Whiteley & Prestwick, GB,. job-location.job-location-inline { display: inline; } Country/Region: GB Postal Code:. Job Code: 1231 Salary Range: £71,149.84 - £94,017.38 Date: 11 Feb 2026