AAIB Operations Officer 46 views

459515 AAIB Operations Officer

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 25th May 2026

📍 Location: Aldershot

💷 Salary: £30,485 (On-call and out-of-hours allowances once full training completed – for more information, please contact the vacancy holder)
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

🕘️ Contract Type: Permanent – Full-time,

🏆️ Available Positions: 1

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.

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.

Top Responsibilities

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. 

Benefits

• 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).

• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.

• Access to the staff discount portal.

• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.

• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.

• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Responding to competing priorities under very tight deadlines.
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing including telephone and emails with internal/external stakeholders at all levels.
• Analysing and reviewing documents and/or data for quality-checking purposes.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and use of databases.

Essential licences:

• A full UK driving licence

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential licences at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

How to Apply

👉 Read the full description and apply here: https://bit.ly/4tU3e9X

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Monday 25^th May 2026