Associate People Director - East Midlands Airport

Bring People Leadership to Life at One of the UK’s Busiest Regional Airports

At East Midlands Airport (EMA), we connect people, enable effortless travel and power seamless trade across the UK and beyond. As the country’s largest pure freight operation and a key contributor to global trade, we operate in a fast‑moving, commercially focused environment where everyone gets stuck in – we’re a close-knit team of Journey Makers that shows up for each other every day.

Following an internal promotion, we’re looking for an Associate People Director to help shape the future of our airport and its people. Supporting around 1,000 Journey Makers, you’ll lead a small on‑site People team and work closely with communications, learning, talent and wider MAG stakeholders. In this strategically important role, you’ll partner with the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team to strengthen organisational performance, guide complex change and build a high‑performing, values‑driven culture - contributing directly to MAG’s ambition to be the UK’s No.1 airport group.

Where you’ll make an impact

• Turning commercial ambitions into a long‑term workforce plan with the right people, skills and capacity to deliver our business plan.
• Designing and evolving our organisational structure so teams are clear, connected and set up to succeed.
• Growing leadership capability through coaching, development and succession planning.
• Leading the people elements of major change programmes - ensuring colleagues are engaged and supported.
• Building constructive relationships with trade unions and employee representatives to protect operational continuity and support strong partnership working.
• Using people analytics to inform decisions and strengthen employee experience, wellbeing and safety.

What will make you successful

• Senior HR leadership experience in a complex, customer‑focused environment.
• A trusted partner to senior leaders, able to influence and coach at every level.
• Experience navigating complex industrial relations with confidence and fairness.
• A change agent who challenges the status quo and leads with clarity and empathy.
• Curiosity, resilience and a passion for creating a great place to work.
• CIPD accreditation.

If you’re excited by shaping a workplace, culture and leadership community that keeps the airport moving every single day - and contributes to MAG’s ambition to be No.1 - we’d love to hear from you!