Air & Space Operations Specialist (Air Traffic Control) Administrative Officer

Job summary

Do you have military Air Traffic Control or Flight Operations experience, or are you looking to build a career in this exciting field?

We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Air Traffic Controller to join our team at RAF Leeming. In this role, you will support the safe and efficient operation of military and visiting aircraft, playing a key part in flying training, operational exercises, and wider Defence activities.

Working closely with Air Traffic Control and Operations personnel, you will be responsible for maintaining the flow of flight safety-critical information, coordinating aircraft and airfield activities, and supporting emergency response procedures. Your duties will include updating flight programmes, recording weather observations, maintaining operational statistics, conducting safety-related checks, and helping to ensure the smooth delivery of daily flying operations.

The role also includes first-line supervisory responsibilities, supporting colleagues on shift and helping to coordinate daily activities within the team.

This is a varied and rewarding opportunity to work in a dynamic aviation environment where your skills, attention to detail, and commitment to safety will make a direct contribution to operational success. Whether you already have military Air Traffic Control or Flight Operations experience, or are keen to develop your knowledge and skills in a unique operational setting, conducting safety-related checks, and helping to ensure the smooth delivery of daily flying operations.

The role also includes first-line supervisory responsibilities, supporting colleagues on shift and helping to coordinate daily activities within the team.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As an Assistant Air Traffic Controller, you will support the safe and efficient operation of military and visiting aircraft at RAF Leeming. You will act as a key point of contact within Air Traffic Control, ensuring flight safety-critical information is communicated accurately and promptly to both internal and external stakeholders. The role involves maintaining and updating Air Traffic Control systems with weather observations, flight programme information, aircraft movements, and operational data, as well as compiling movement statistics and supporting navigation briefings through the collation and dissemination of NOTAMs.

Working closely with Air Traffic Control and Operations personnel, you will coordinate ground vehicle communications, monitor aircraft movements, and assist in maintaining situational awareness across the airfield. You will support emergency response procedures by assisting with the alerting and dispatch of emergency services and operating the station tannoy.

You will carry out airfield and aircraft safety checks, including monitoring arriving and departing aircraft, identifying potential safety concerns, and escalating issues appropriately to ensure the continued safe operation of flying activities. You may also be required to conduct aerodrome surface friction assessments using specialist equipment and ATC vehicles when conditions require.

You will provide first-line supervision for a team of colleagues, helping to coordinate daily activities, allocate resources, maintain adequate shift cover, and support the welfare and effectiveness of the team. This is a varied role that combines operational support, flight safety responsibilities, and team leadership within a dynamic military aviation environment.

Person specification

We are looking for a highly motivated, reliable, and safety-focused individual with excellent communication and organisational skills. You should be able to work accurately under pressure, remain calm in a fast-paced operational environment, and demonstrate strong attention to detail. The successful candidate will be comfortable using computer-based systems, capable of working both independently and as part of a team, and committed to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety.This position would suit someone with previous military Air Traffic Control or Flight Operations experience, but we also welcome applications from individuals with transferable skills who are keen to learn and develop within a unique aviation environment. Full training will be provided, making this an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build a career in aviation operations while contributing directly to flight safety and military flying activities. Essential :

• Full UK Driving Licence due to the location of the site.
• Essential completion of the Air Support Operations Specialist Course (ASOSC) or equivalent course .
  

If successful candidates have an equivalent qualification/course they will still be required to attend and successfully complete the Air Support Operations Specialist Course (ASOSC) at RAF Shawbury. This training forms an essential part of the role and will provide the knowledge and skills required to undertake Assistant Air Traffic Controller duties safely and effectively.

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence due to the location of the site

Qualifications

Essential completion of the Air Support Operations Specialist Course (ASOSC) or equivalent course

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,866, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,072 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (by 1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service.
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King's birthday.
• Discounts on a wide range of services within and external to the civil service.
• Free onsite parking.
• Onsite catering facilities.
• Subsidised membership to onsite fitness suite and lunchtime/evening military led fitness classes
• Onsite shop.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Stage 1 - Application online

Stage 2 - Attend interview at RAF Leeming

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (500 Word count)

At sift, Candidates will be assessed against their CV and Statement of suitability and the following behaviours:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
  
• Managing a Quality Service
  
• Delivering at Pace
  

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, the sift will be conducted on your Lead behaviour Making Effective Decisions and your Personal Statement.

At interview, Candidates will be assessed against the following:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
  
• Delivering at Pace

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Flt Lt Dan Ackroyd, Flt Lt Matt Harris
• Email : Matthew.Harris150@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

Air Command's Applicant Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 499kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)