Senior Risk Manager

A little bit about us

Ascent Flight Training is an established, fast growing aerospace and training company which operates across the UK, delivering flying training services to the UK Government and UK industry partners.

We want to attract and work with innovative, adaptable, and proactive people to help us achieve Our passion for training, helping our customers to realise their potential and deliver their Mission..

We offer the opportunity to work in a flexible, dynamic, and diverse environment within our Training Support Hub and on our operations sites.

You will bring expertise and fresh ideas to an environment where your contribution is really valued.

At Ascent, our values are rooted in respect – for our employees, our partners and our customer. That’s why championing diversity and inclusion is so important to us; when we embrace different perspectives and give everyone the chance to be the best they can be, we can think in new, creative ways that grow and enhance our business. We are committed to equal opportunities for all. We pride ourselves on being a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We actively practice inclusivity for all people with disabilities where we provide work place opportunities and experiences. As a supportive employer we endeavour to accommodate all disabilities and will always work with our employees to make provisions for their disability needs.

We encourage all people with disabilities to apply for relevant skilled job roles within the business. As an inclusive company we welcome all disability applications which will be processed fairly, in line with our recruitment policy. At Ascent, we also provide work place schemes for all students including those with disabilities, this includes Apprenticeships, Work Experience and Job Shadowing for a day. Ascent will continue to work towards maintaining our commitment to those with disabilities

A day in the life of an Ascent Senior Risk Manager

As the Senior Risk Manager, you will lead the development and implementation of our risk management framework to support safe, efficient, and compliant military flight training operation. Reporting to the Head of Quality and CI, you will assure the correct identification, assessment, and mitigation across the across operational, safety, financial, and regulatory domains. This is a critical role requiring strategic insight, technical expertise, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams in a high-stakes environment.
 

Key Responsibilities include: -

• Develop & maintain a comprehensive enterprise risk management strategy aligned with industry standards (e.g., ISO 31000), CAA, or equivalent MAA regulations).
• Support the Identification and assessment of risks in flight training operations, including safety hazards, equipment reliability, human factors, & environmental impacts.
• Alongside the site(s) & HQ; support risk owners Implement risk mitigation plans, including controls, contingency measures, and emergency response protocols.
• Conduct regular risk audits, assessments, and incident investigations, ensuring root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with training, operations, and engineering teams to embed risk management into daily processes and decision-making.
• Monitor regulatory compliance with military and civil aviation authorities, ensuring adherence to standards and reporting requirements.
• Provide risk management training and guidance to staff, fostering a pro-active risk-based culture enabling the business plan objectives.
• Prepare risk reports and present findings to senior leadership and external stakeholders, including customers & shareholders.

What will make you successful?

• Bachelor’s degree in risk management, aviation safety, engineering, or a related field.
• Qualification from Institute of Risk Management (IRM) – Desirable or APM equivalent
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in risk management, with at least 3 years in aviation, defence, or a safety-critical industry.
• Excellent communication & leadership skills to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Exceptional analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data & make evidence-based decisions.
• Self-Motivated with ability to work alone and with others to achieve business plan objectives
• Understanding of Military flight training operations, including simulators, live flying, and ground-based training.

What can we offer you in return?

• Competitive salary
• Equivalent to 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (Extra days with length of service)
• Private AXA health care for you and your family 
• Pension plan (Up to 6% matched)
• Life Assurance (Up to 3 times your annual salary)
• Flexible benefits (Buying and selling of holiday, BUPA dental, cycle2work scheme, retail discounts)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave and pay
• Enhanced company sick pay which increases with length of service
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 free and confidential legal and wellbeing advice)
• Annual reviews of your salary and individual learning and development plan
• Mental Health Support and subscription to the Unmind platform for you and a plus one
• Free eye tests for DSE users and money towards any subsequent corrective glasses.