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Job Specification

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Application Questions

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Job Specification

Safety Manager

Ascent Flight Training (Management) Ltd
Competitive Salary Full-time Permanent

Safety Manager

Location: The Hub, Bristol (with travel to UK aviation training sites as required)

Help shape the future of aviation safety

At Ascent Flight Training, safety is at the heart of everything we do. We deliver world-class military flying training through a complex network of customers, partners and suppliers and are seeking an experienced Safety Manager to lead and continuously improve our Aviation Safety Management System.

This is a unique opportunity to take a strategic leadership role, providing independent aviation safety advice and assurance to our Board, Leadership Team, customers, regulators and supplier network while helping maintain the highest safety standards across one of the UK's most important military aviation training programmes. 

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Support & Services, you will act as the focal point for aviation safety across the organisation and hold the nominated Safety Manager position for our Civil Aviation Authority Approved Training Organisation (ATO).

You will:

  • Lead and continuously improve the Ascent Safety Management System (SMS)
  • Manage hazard identification, risk assessment and risk mitigation activities
  • Monitor Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) and safety assurance activities
  • Lead safety investigations and drive organisational learning
  • Chair and support internal and external safety governance forums
  • Provide independent safety advice to senior leaders and key stakeholders
  • Build strong relationships with customers, regulators and aviation service providers
  • Promote a positive, just and fair safety culture across the enterprise
  • Support regulatory audits, inspections and authority engagement activities
  • Maintain safety dashboards and performance reporting to senior leadership and the Board.

About You

We're looking for an experienced aviation safety professional who combines technical expertise with strong leadership and influencing skills.

Essential Experience

  • Significant experience in aviation safety management
  • Strong understanding of Safety Management Systems and safety assurance
  • Knowledge of UK aviation regulatory frameworks, including CAA and military aviation requirements
  • Experience operating within complex, highly regulated environments
  • Ability to analyse safety data and provide objective risk-based advice
  • Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
  • Experience presenting to senior leaders and governance boards
  • Strong report writing and investigation skills. 

Desirable Experience

  • Previous experience as a Safety Manager or Nominated Postholder
  • Defence aviation or Military Air Environment experience
  • Knowledge of ATO, CAMO and Part-145 environments
  • Duty Holders Air Safety Course (DHASC) qualification
  • Experience working with MoD Aviation Duty Holders and associated safety organisations.

What Success Looks Like

You'll be recognised as the independent aviation safety expert within Ascent, driving continuous improvement, supporting operational effectiveness, maintaining regulatory compliance, and helping ensure the safe delivery of flying training across the enterprise.

Why Join Ascent?

At Ascent, you'll work with highly skilled professionals dedicated to delivering excellence in military flying training. You'll have the opportunity to influence safety strategy at the highest levels, engage with key customers and regulators, and make a genuine difference to aviation safety performance across a nationally important programme.


We’re proud to foster a flexible and inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued. Whether working onsite or remotely, we support a culture that encourages collaboration, individuality and work-life balance. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are open to considering flexible working arrangements for all roles, including part-time hours, job share, and alternative working patterns, and we encourage conversations about individual needs during the recruitment process. We are actively working to remove barriers within our hiring practices and aim to provide a fair, accessible and supportive experience for every candidate. If you require any adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.

Personal Information

General Info

Equality Information

Application Questions

Do you have the right to work in the UK?
Are you on any form of VISA requiring employment sponsorship, or will you be requiring VISA sponsorship in the future?
Do you have any unspent criminal convictions?
An individual’s criminal record will not, in itself, debar that person from being appointed to this post. Suitable applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to the role for which they are applying. All cases will be examined on an individual basis. If you have answered yes, please provide details of your criminal record in the space here:.
As Ascent operates in an environment where our staff are exposed to technical data from outside of the United Kingdom, we are bound by both domestic and international legislation in how we manage access to this data. In order to ensure we maintain compliance with U.S Export Regulations (EAR or and ITAR) and remain compliant with our policy, we must request all details of current, and any dual and trinal nationality. If breached, these regulations carry potentially severe civil and criminal penalties for the company and/or our staff. Therefore we consider transparency in this respect to be paramount; this includes notifying the Ascent HR team of any changes to your nationality. What is your current nationality?
Do you currently hold, or have you previously held, dual or trinal nationality?
What is your expected salary for this role?
What is your current salary?
Are you currently employed by a Shareholder of Ascent?
I acknowledge that it is a key obligation of Ascent to identify and avoid or mitigate conflicts of interest in conjunction with its activities as the UK Ministry of Defence’s UK Military Flight Training System (“UKMFTS”) Training Service Partner, including engagement in negotiations for the procurement of infrastructure, aircraft and ground based training (including simulator) equipment from third party suppliers.
I declare that the information I have given is to the best of my knowledge and belief accurate and complete and that I have not withheld any information regarding any actual or potential conflict(s) of interest arising from my current or previous work history with the responsibilities and duties specified in the Job Specification for the role for which I am applying.
I acknowledge that Ascent may (without liability) promptly terminate any offer of employment or (if employment has commenced) my employment, if it is discovered on or after the date of my declaration that I have wilfully withheld any information regarding any actual or potential conflict of interest which may materially affect my capacity to discharge my responsibilities and duties relevant to the role I am is engaged to perform.
Have you been or are you involved in any previous or current work experience which would or is likely to give rise to any conflict of interest affecting your ability to carry out the responsibilities and duties specified in the Job Specification for the role for which you are applying?
Please disclose here your previous or current work experience which would or is likely to give rise to any conflict of interest affecting your ability to carry out the responsibilities and duties specified in the Job Specification for the role for which you are applying:
Do you or your family members have any financial interests, stocks in vendors, suppliers, or companies that could be considered a potential competitor or conflict of interest?
Have you received any gifts or gratuities from any vendors, contractors, or suppliers that could influence your decisions regarding their contracts or business dealings with our organisation?
Do you have any investment activities that may conflict with your duties or obligations to our organisation?
Do you own or have partial interest in any intellectual properties, patents, licenses, or copyrights that could be relevant to your work at our organisation?
Do you have access to or know any inside information about our organisation or any of our customers that could be used for personal gain?
Do you have any personal or planned future investments that could create conflicts of interest with your duties at our organisation?
Please list any companies where you are currently a registered director. If none, please state ‘None’
Do you consider yourself to have a disability, according to the definition provided in the Equality Act 2010?
Is this your first job since leaving the armed forces?
Are you a Veteran?
Have you been referred or recommended for this position by a current employee of our Ascent?
What is your current notice period or availability to start?

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