Monarch Airlines Ground Operations Officer

Department Description

Monarch is the UK’s longest-established, privately owned airline group and a great place to develop your career. The company includes a scheduled airline, in-house tour operator and an award-winning engineering division.   Flying from 5 UK bases, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds-Bradford and Luton where it is headquartered; the airline offers 7 million sector seats to leisure destinations.   With a strong heritage, the tour operating division offers package holidays across the airlines scheduled network focussing on beach, city and ski breaks.

Brief Description

This is a dual function role, operating on an 8 week working pattern, based alternately in the Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) and actively out in the operation at overseas destination airports. Responsible to the Overseas Performance Manager, the Ground Ops Officer is a critical role in the consistent delivery of all Ground Operations & Airport Customer Service functions. The role holder will be expected at all times to proactively represent the Ground Operations department and all associated functions.

Detailed Description

Operating in a dual capacity will require the role holder to have significant operational understanding of all aspects of Ground Handling and Customer Service.

The IOC function involves working on a days & nights shift pattern, supporting the airline H24 operations centre, and is responsible for monitoring day-to-day progress of the flying program and providing consistent support & communication to all Ground Handling Agents and 3^rd party suppliers in the UK and Overseas. A key accountability is ensuring that proactive communication regarding disruption and changes to the flying program is shared with suppliers and internal and external customers. This includes managing customer welfare, in line with EU261 regulations, in the event of flight delays and disruption.

Working out in the live operation, they will be expected to ensure that superior Customer Service is delivered at every airport touch-point of the customer journey. In addition they will be responsible for the safe, secure and efficient operation. Supported by the Monarch Ground Handling Agents, other 3rd party suppliers and airport authorities, key accountabilities will be customer advocacy/satisfaction regarding on-time performance, the airport experience, airport ancillary & retail revenue sales and managing customer disruption.

The role holder will demonstrate exemplary/positive behavioral skills to not only achieve but to continuously improve both the customer service experience, on time performance objectives and operational efficiency. Capable of accurate communication, timely decision making, influencing and challenging the status quo are skills vital to the delivery of this role.

The expectation is for a flexible approach to working hours to manage the key objectives of the role, including shift work, weekend working and extensive travel to overseas airports, which may include overseas detachments, in line with Monarch peak operational periods.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• A good working knowledge of airline and local standard operating procedures.
• Ensure robust compliance monitoring is in place for Front of House and Airside activities, such as queue times; baggage delivery, cleaning, catering, de-icing etc.
• Support activities to build/maintain “Just Culture” around safety reporting.
• Ensure any non compliance is raised with relevant 3^rd party supplier / airport operator.

Airport Operational Performance & Customer Service

• Monitoring the delivery and ongoing performance management of Airport Front of House Performance & Customer Service:
  • Check in & queue management, including local Monarch branding
  • Boarding process
  • Arrivals – baggage delivery
  • Flight Disruption Management
  • Maximizing airport ancillary & retail revenue

• Work in partnership with the Monarch Travel Group/Airport/GHA to deliver Superior Customer Service.
• Deliver, train & coach Monarch product knowledge, WorldHost Customer Service & NewSkies training to airport service providers as required.
• Responsible for operational performance relating to:

• • Airside/Ramp Ground Handling; e.g. turnaround performance, baggage delivery, baggage reconciliation
  • PRM supplier
  • Catering Operations
  • Cleaning and Aircraft Presentation

• Liaise with local airport management teams to ensure delivery of customer service, on time performance and safety compliance KPI’s

• Provide the Overseas Performance Manager with detailed revenue, customer service, operational and safety compliance KPI’s

• Implement robust processes to monitor/ record overseas travel, accommodation etc.
• Accountability for delivery against airport ancillary & retail revenue targets
• Actively seek out ways to improve cost efficiency

Integrated Operations Centre / Ground Ops Liaison

• Monitor the progress of the daily flying program in conjunction with the IOC Duty Operations Managers:

• • Anticipate the impact to Ground Handling Agents, airport authorities and other service providers
  • Provide advance notice/instructions as necessary to airport service providers to protect customer service and network integrity

• Provide primary point of reference for all agent and customer enquiries within the airport environments:

• • Conditions of carriage
  • Medical requests
  • Immigration requests etc

• Ensure accurate and timely communication to:
  • Internal and external customers
  • Ground Handling Agents
  • Other 3^rd party suppliers
• During disruption proactively manage, communicate and coordinate customer communication

• • Letters
  • 15 below
  • SMS texts
  • Liaise with Monarch Social Media teams

• Manage and issue customer welfare in liaison with the Ground Handling Agents & tour operators in accordance with EU261 regulations.
• Provide the Overseas Performance Manager with detailed welfare reporting to monitor/record EU261 welfare expenditure for disrupted flights.

Job Requirements:

Knowledge:

• Proven record of delivering high customer service and quality achievement
• Detailed understanding of Ground Ops airside activities
• Proven record of delivery against revenue and cost saving targets
• Airline/Airport operational knowledge  

Skills:

• Strong influencing and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
• Competent in Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Highly motivated, hard working, excellent reasoning ability.
• Strong planning and motivational skills.
• Effective under pressure.
• Able to deliver clear objective results.
• Ability to lead/coach external suppliers.
• Ability to dissipate customer anxiety

Experience/Education:

• Proven experience in airline/airport ground operations
• O-Level / G.C.S.E – English / Math’s
• Foreign languages (Spanish/Portuguese/Italian) would be advantageous  

Competencies:

Communication;

Approachability;

Customer Focus;

Effective planning;

Building effective teams;

Motivating others;

Timely decision making;

Results Driven.

Additional Details

This is a permanent full-time role