Job Description

The Aviation Team sits at the heart of Heathrow's growth agenda, protecting and growing more than £2bn of aeronautical income, strengthening Heathrow's position as the UK's hub airport and developing the strategic airline partnerships that enable sustainable passenger, network and revenue growth.

The Head of Aviation – Airline Partnerships & Engagement is accountable for leading Heathrow's strategic relationships with a significant proportion of the airport's airline customer base, representing approximately half of Heathrow's operational slot portfolio. The role plays a critical leadership position in shaping Heathrow's aviation growth agenda, protecting long-term enterprise value and strengthening Heathrow's position as the UK's leading international gateway.

Working closely with the Aviation Director and senior leaders across Heathrow, the role develops strategies and cultivates senior partnerships with our airline customers that influence capacity deployment, commercial performance and customer outcomes.

• Lead Heathrow's strategic relationships with key airline customers, alliance groups and industry stakeholders, influencing long-term commercial, operational and network decisions that support Heathrow's growth objectives.
• Lead complex, high-value discussions with airline executives, balancing commercial, operational, regulatory and reputational.
• Shape Heathrow's aviation strategy through insight into airline market developments, competitive dynamics, alliance priorities and emerging industry trends, providing strategic advice and recommendations to senior Heathrow leadership that embeds voice of the customer into our decision-making.
• Establish the standard for airline account intelligence, ensuring robust commercial, operational and strategic insights are generated and leveraged to inform business decisions and investment priorities.
• Own and continuously evolve Heathrow's Airline Engagement Strategy, establishing governance, measures of success and enterprise-wide engagement frameworks that drive consistency, improve organisational effectiveness and strengthen customer advocacy across the business.

• Significant experience leading strategic customer, commercial or partnership portfolios within aviation or similarly complex, customer-centric and regulated industries.
• Deep understanding of airline business models, network economics, commercial drivers and industry challenges.
• Demonstrated experience influencing executive-level stakeholders and leading negotiations involving significant commercial, operational or strategic value.
• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of delivering sustainable growth, value creation and successful strategic partnerships.
• Proven ability to shape business strategy and deliver organisational outcomes through influence across complex matrix environments.
• Experience operating at the intersection of commercial, operational, regulatory and political considerations, exercising sound judgement in complex and ambiguous environments.

#LI-Hybrid

There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement. Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities.

Every day, you’ll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and end the day buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.

It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.

Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there’s no place like Heathrow.

Our rewards

We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance-based annual bonuses and our longer-term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market-leading pensions. With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you’ll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.

Working Location

Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of HeathrowWorking arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You’ll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.

Sustainable Travel to work

Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.