Summary
Overview
Work history
Skills
Education and Personal Development
Additional Information
Timeline
Generic

Ross Cowles

Darlington,County Durham

Summary

Highly influential manager in the client facing environment, dedicated to developing colleagues whilst promoting, and delivering new and existing strategy to the whole workforce, building strong working relationships between internal and external agencies.

Passionate about identifying talent in the workplace whilst coaching and mentoring the best talent to enhance team building abilities and setting regular new targets and objectives whilst monitoring results.

Strong communicator at the very highest level, presenting to Board Level Directors, stakeholders, and customers, influencing, and persuading a variety of colleagues at all levels.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work history

Business Improvement Manager

Mears Group
06.2024 - 02.2025
  • Working across all contracts within the Mears Housing Maintenance portfolio supporting operational teams, ensuring they are provided with the processes to operate to Mears defined standards, delivering best in class customer service, whilst satisfying all safety, quality and cost control standards relating to budget, profitability and resource deployment
  • Involved in projects from instigation, through mobilisation, to handover, providing support to the PM team through the provision of user guides and process mapping
  • Initiated business improvement strategies, resulting in improved performance.

Housing Operations Manager

Mears Group
10.2023 - 06.2024
  • Co-ordinate the daily activity of 5 Housing Managers responsible for a portfolio of upwards of 200 properties, and over 350 service users as part of a large scale, high profile UKGOV contract
  • Ensuring KPI, contractual and legislative compliance through accurate reporting and timely task allocation
  • Identifying appropriate use of assets to fully utilise the workforce and maintaining a high quality service
  • Responsible for the career management of staff through an extensive appraisal programme, identifying training needs and opportunities for career progression

Principle Air Operations Manager

Ministry of Defence
06.2021 - 10.2023
  • Manage the professional development and competency of upwards of 20 personnel in support of flying output
  • Heading the units training and standards organisation ensuring compliance with policy and high-level strategy
  • Effectively manage, analyse and document training strategy in order to train personnel and ensure compliance with policy
  • Individually accountable for all career management including appraisals, promotions, and personal career development plans
  • Provide expert advice on a daily basis on trade specific matters to unit executives
  • Point of contact for the welfare of over 50 personnel, signposting to relevant agencies as appropriate
  • In regularly contact with Head Quarters to ensure efficient communication of high- level direction, providing updates on progress
  • Utilised to provide expert advice as part of various working groups to improve the efficiency and working environment of over 2000 personnel across the establishment

Senior Air Operations Manager

Ministry of Defence
01.2017 - 06.2021
  • Directed all aspects of day-to-day operational management of a military airfield
  • Co-ordinating internal and external agencies to provide a safe airfield environment to support over 100 aircraft moves per day
  • Providing career management, leadership, and training support to over 50 personnel
  • Oversight of individual and team training activity and allocation of duties accordingly
  • Briefing unit executives on a daily basis, communicating any issues and avenues for resolution
  • Provided 24 hours cover to respond to, and co-ordinate emergency response to various incidents, in support of Local Government and the Ministry of Defence

Career in The Royal Air Force

Ministry of Defence
01.2000 - 01.2023
  • Joined as a Leading Aircraftsmen before rising to the rank of Flight Sergeant, completing over 22 years of exemplary service both in the UK and overseas, receiving several operational medals

Skills

  • Influential communication
  • Contract review and interpretation
  • Innovation and creativity
  • Building cross-functional relationships
  • Performance Management
  • Process mapping
  • Effective time management
  • Project leadership
  • Decision making under pressure
  • Organisational development strategies
  • Team Leadership
  • Process Improvement
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Stakeholder communication
  • Cross functional collaboration

Education and Personal Development

· ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership & Management.

· APM Project Management Fundamentals Qualification.

· Trauma and Risk Management – Practitioner.

· Health and Safety at Work – Risk Assessor.

· Error Management Foundation & Continuation training.

· APMG Change Management Foundation & Practitioner (Booked for Mar 25).

Additional Information

· A proud and dedicated member of the Veterans community, in particular The Royal British Legion, I play a regular part in the Remembrance celebrations. As part of the Poppy Appeal I have been involved in the raising of thousands of pounds as part of collections in the local community.

Timeline

Business Improvement Manager

Mears Group
06.2024 - 02.2025

Housing Operations Manager

Mears Group
10.2023 - 06.2024

Principle Air Operations Manager

Ministry of Defence
06.2021 - 10.2023

Senior Air Operations Manager

Ministry of Defence
01.2017 - 06.2021

Career in The Royal Air Force

Ministry of Defence
01.2000 - 01.2023
Ross Cowles