AAIB Operations Officer

Are you able to work effectively under pressure, managing competing priorities with accuracy and attention to detail?Are you able to work professionally and with empathy when handling sensitive information or when engaging with people?

Would you be interested in joining the Civil Service in a fast-paced operational role supporting aviation safety?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is part of the Department for Transport (DfT). Its purpose is to ‘Improve aviation safety by determining the causes of air accidents and serious incidents and making safety recommendations intended to prevent recurrence.’ The AAIB investigates accidents and serious incidents to civil aircraft in the UK (including its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) and overseas where there is a UK interest.

The AAIB is also the UK Authority for the investigation of spaceflight accidents (SAIA), authorised to conduct safety investigations when there are space flights in or over the UK.

Due to the nature of AAIB operations, the successful candidate will be exposed to information and material including imagery (video and photographs) which may be distressing. They will also be required to speak with potentially traumatised accident victims, bereaved family members and witnesses. It is essential that candidates take this into consideration before applying for the post.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at the AAIB and the Department for

Transport at the following links

Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) – About us & Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

As a member of the AAIB’s Operations Centre team of six, you will work closely with AAIB Inspectors and support staff responding to notifications of air accidents and serious incidents and support the investigation lifecycle throughout the various stages. You’ll be at the centre of the AAIB’s operational response to emerging events, helping ensure the right information, people and resources are in place at the right time.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to

• Ensuring accident and incident notifications are received, logged, and processed accurately and effectively, and supporting Duty Co-ordinators in their role.
• During office hours, ensuring the AAIB accident and serious incident reporting line is staffed, remaining flexible to work outside the standard Operations Centre hours (0830 hrs – 1700 hrs) to support operational activity.
• Responding to developing situations including early engagement with multi-agency partners such as the police, airports, airlines and cross-government colleagues to capture initial intelligence and rapidly establish effective working relationships.
• Sensitive handling of evidence including witness statements and scene photographs and video.
• Facilitating the deployment of investigation teams by co-ordinating early engagement with key stakeholders in the UK and overseas, including co-ordinating travel and accommodation.
• Maintaining and quality checking case-related information entered into the AAIB’s case management system.
• Working closely with Inspectors of Air Accidents directly supporting investigations including victim and family liaison activity as required.
• Proof reading and preparation of reports including publication on the GOV.UK website.
• On-call rota responsibilities.

Due to the nature of AAIB operations, the successful candidate will be exposed to information and material including imagery (video and photographs) which may be distressing. They will also be required to speak with potentially traumatised accident victims, bereaved family members and witnesses. Applicants who are offered an interview will be required to participate in a wellbeing and traumatic stress risk review and online personality questionnaire in advance of their interview. The risk review will include a short questionnaire which is followed up by a short telephone call with a psychologist. It is essential, therefore, that candidates take these requirements into consideration before applying for the post.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.