Head of Operational Excellence (Airline)

Job Description

The Head of Operational Excellence will leverage the newly unified TUI Airline Operations management structure to establish and drive a consistent performance culture throughout the five AOCs and global functions. This role will identify critical performance measures, develop standardised reporting frameworks, and coordinate targeted improvement initiatives, so that TUI Airline can achieve competitive operational outcomes on a global scale and realise the full benefits of integrated operational management.

We are happy to consider this opportunity on a hybrid working model basis with a minimum of two days per week in the office required and/or in line with local office attendance requirements, whichever is higher. Some international travel maybe required.

Applications close 22 April 2026

ABOUT OUR OFFER

Personal benefits: Attractive remuneration, generous travel benefits, extensive health & well-being support, and more
Flexible working: Work is something you do, not somewhere you go. We encourage a healthy work-life balance with a dynamic working environment
A career to shape: Access the TUI Learning Hub to level-up and reach your ambitions
Broaden your network: We champion intercultural collaboration and provide opportunities to work on global projects and teams
Community: Get involved with incredible local charity and sustainability initiatives like the TUI Care Foundation

ABOUT THE JOB

• In collaboration with Operations Committee / Operations Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you will develop, define, implement and regularly review meaningful and competitive operational objectives, establishing measurable key results in line with strategic business goals
• Working with Data Analytics and IT functions you'll develop and publish a comprehensive TUI Airline Operations reporting suite, designing dashboard and metrics to drive Objectives and Key Results (OKR's) that enable accessibility for key stakeholders and ensure data integrity
• In conjunction with leaders from across Operations you'll conduct thorough analysis of operational processes and outcomes, determining critical factors that influence operational excellence and developing insights that can inform strategic decision-making
• Define, resource and mobilise cross-functional projects, developing a short/medium/long term prioritised plan having identified improvement opportunities that will enhance OKR performance. Gaining buy-in and support from Operations Committee / Operations SLT and mobilising expertise from across the Operations organisation to deliver against key projects
• You'll establish an airline base driven performance culture, enthusing and mobilising pilots, cabin crew, and engineers with the creation of Base-level OKRs, driving community engagement in a clear and specific set up, defining daily, weekly, and monthly performance targets and celebrating performance achievements, harnessing internal competitiveness in order to drive a market competitive mind-set
• In collaboration with the internal communication team, you'll develop communications and engagement strategies, creating initiatives to improve understanding of performance drivers in all areas of the Operations teams, building a deep commercial understanding across TUI Airline Operations back office teams, driving sharper decision-making, engaging frontline teams and extending communications to key third party partners to enable a deep appreciation of the leisure airline market, and their role in delivering competitive performance every day
• Work with HR to develop Operational Excellence capabilities across TUI Airline Operations, identifying core capabilities and critical capability gaps, curating existing learning materials and developing new learning content to bridge critical capability gaps. Develop simple effective methods to promote, communicate and publish curated content to the widest networks. To also cover suitable content for annual training at zero or low cost in line with Crew Training teams
• Lead systematic external benchmarking ensuring TUI Airline’s Operational Excellence ambitions remain aligned with industry best practice and emerging operational trends and using insights to balance internal priorities with external opportunities for improvement
• Partner closely with Technology functions, to embed a data driven approach to operational improvement and consider and deliver opportunities for automation, advanced analytics, AI integration, and predictive capabilities to enhance operational efficiency, resilience, and decision making
  
  

ABOUT YOU

• Accountability for operational excellence across a complex airline operation - 140+ aircraft, five AOCs, c.30 home bases and 180 destinations and all aspects of Airline Operations
• Identifying, shaping and driving improvements to deliver EUR39m cost savings over 3 years, including:
  • Accountability for delivering FDC savings EUR10m
  • Co-accountability with Airline Ops Director for improving OTP by 7%
  • Co-accountability with Airline Ops Director for improving turnaround time >15 mins
  • Co-accountability with Head of Customer for increased ancillary revenue by 25%
• Set up of Lean tracker overseeing c.EUR150m of improvement ideas (cost and profit)
• Mobilising senior leaders, Directors and C-suite (up to and including GEC-level) to resource and deliver projects to deliver the above
• Indirect management and coordination of activity of collaborative programme teams at senior management and Director level
• Accountable to the Operations Committee and Airline Board
  
  

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From a workplace to a place to belong. At TUI we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging everyone to come as you are, because together, our potential is limitless.

We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities and impairments so if you require any support, please do let us know.

SECURITY STATEMENT

At TUI, safety is our top priority. We conduct thorough background checks on all employees who join our Airline. Rest assured; we’ll guide you on the necessary information you need to provide at each stage.

Please note that if you are applying for a role in the UK, you must ensure you can provide a full 5 years referencing, plus a criminal record check for all countries you’ve resided in for more than 6 months in the past 5 years (some costs may apply).