Air and Space Operations Specialist (ASOS)

An exciting opportunity to work at the heart of military aviation operations has arisen for an experienced Air & Space Operations Specialist (ASOS) or someone wanting to take their first steps into an exciting and interesting profession where a full training package will be provided. The role would also be suitable for a service veteran wanting to move into a career after leaving service.

RAF Cosford is a large and diverse station with a transient population home to a diverse range of station support elements supporting its resident and parented units to achieve their defence output delivery. This role within the Operational Support Wing (OSW) is part of a small yet highly skilled team that plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of the unit’s operational and flying output and activities.

It is integral to the training and development pipeline of future RAF pilots through its support to the University of Birmingham Air Squadron (UBAS), No. 6 Flying Training School (6FTS), No 1 Flying Training School (1FTS), as well as providing support to the official RAF Air Show held annually.

The position is advertised at 37 hours per week and operates a rostered working pattern covering five days out of seven including weekends, which attracts weekend working allowances. Personnel should be aware of this and expect occasional ad-hoc and out of hours working as part of routine operational support and for major station activity and events.

Due to the nature of the role the position is not suitable for part-time or job share applicants.

As a member of the Air & Space Operations Specialist team, you will contribute directly to the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the airfield. Working closely with military and civilian stakeholders, you will support flying operations, airfield activity, and wider station outputs, ensuring the highest standards of service delivery and operational effectiveness are maintained.

As an integral part of Air Traffic Control (ATC) at RAF Cosford, the post holder is responsible to the Senior Air Traffic Controller (SATCO) for the provision of operational support, coordination, analysis, and assurance activities that enable the safe, efficient, and effective delivery of Air Traffic Services. The role supports ATC operations, aerodrome management activities, training coordination, information management, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that air traffic operations are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements, Defence policy, and local procedures.

The post holder will work within a dynamic operational environment, supporting military flying operations, visiting aircraft activity, training organisations, and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. You will also provide integral support to Station operations as required as well as to the annual RAF Air Show held every June.

Full Terms of Reference (TORs) are available from the point of contact on request.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and transferrable skills; qualification details, and any previous skills and experience.

Candidates will also be required to provide a Personal Statement of no more than 500 words providing evidence of suitability for the advertised position.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Personal Statement of suitability, and the following CS Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

At interview, candidates will be assessed against the following:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Please construct your answers to these using the STAR format demonstrating evidence against the Civil Service Behaviours as described in the Success Profiles that can be assessed at the sift stage.

If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the Civil Service Behaviours listed as well as experience-based questioning against the criteria detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification.

Interviews are currently scheduled for 02/03 December 2026 although this could change for operational reasons.

Further information:

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.