Chief Operating Officer

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) operates a network of 11 regional airports across a very large geographical area covering the Highlands and Islands and Tayside. 

HIAL’s airports are an essential part of Scotland’s transport infrastructure and are situated at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick. They enable lifeline services and essential air connectivity for a wide diversity of communities across the region from growing cities to our most remote islands. 

HIAL is unique, with airports ranging from small community airports, such as Barra with a beach runway, to Inverness with direct links to London airports and Amsterdam, providing the region with connectivity to the rest of the world.

As a key member of the senior management team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for driving operational performance across the HIAL Group. You will also act as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Accountable Manager and have overall responsibility for the safe operation of all HIAL’s airports.

You will identify and manage the delivery of key strategic priorities across the HIAL Group and provide oversight to and a range of operational support functions including but not limited to, Air Traffic, Fire and Security as well as Infrastructure and Project Management.

You’ll have a proven track record of operating in a strategic leadership position in a regulated environment, ideally with previous experience in Airport Operations Management as well as subject matter expertise in at least one key discipline, Aviation Safety and Risk Management; Aviation Security and Infrastructure Project Management/delivery.

Your professional background will have provided you with broad experience of leadership and managing change in one of the following key disciplines, Airport Operational Management, Corporate Risk, Aviation Safety Management or the Management of large-scale Infrastructure Projects.

As an ambassador for HIAL you will have excellent interpersonal, communication and public speaking skills and experience of managing relationships with key partners and customers.

Team working is crucial to this role as is a positive, flexible, and collaborative approach to balance conflicting and changing pressures.

In return we offer a great benefits package, including an excellent company pension, generous annual leave entitlement, a staff benefits package, and an employee assistance programme. 

Closing date for all applications is midnight on Sunday 13th October 2024.

It is currently anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing 4th November 2024.

The post holder would be expected apply for Secret Clearance through the Department of Transport as the accountable person for all security matters as determined by CAA regulation. All applicants must have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years.