Managing Director

About the role

Cornwall Airport Newquay is looking for a Managing Director to lead the airport into its next phase. 

The airport already plays a significant role in the South West. It connects the region by air, supports search and rescue operations, and hosts the UK's first licensed Spaceport. Alongside the airport sits a wider masterplan, including a growing commercial estate, opportunities in future flight and defence, and more than 200 acres of land with genuine development potential. 

Operationally the airport is in strong shape. It is safe, compliant, and supported by an experienced team who know the site inside out. The task now is commercial. The airport needs to build income beyond passenger flights, develop its land and property assets, strengthen airline relationships, and reduce its reliance on public subsidy. 

This is a two-year fixed-term appointment. You will report to the Chief Executive of Corserv and work closely with the Cornwall Airport Limited Board, the Corserv Board, and Cornwall Council as shareholder. The role gives you real scope to shape a credible commercial plan, build relationships across aviation, industry and government, and help determine what this airport becomes over the next decade. 

About you

We are looking for a senior leader with genuine aviation sector experience and established credibility within the airport or airline industry. 

You will bring a strong commercial track record, ideally including airline negotiations, route development, or asset and property commercialisation within an airport or comparable aviation environment. 

You will be comfortable operating in a politically sensitive, publicly owned environment, building trust with the shareholder and explaining commercial decisions clearly and constructively. Experience of public sector governance, Board reporting, or stakeholder management in a similarly complex ownership structure will be valuable. 

You will bring resilience and tact, backed by a genuine respect for a brilliant team's expertise and experience. 

Few regional airports have this much runway for one person to make a difference. If you want to take a strategically important Cornish asset, build a genuinely sustainable commercial future for it, and leave it in a stronger place than you found it, this is a rare chance to do exactly that. 

Closing date: Midnight Thursday 29^th October

To apply:

To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (three sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (three sides of A4 maximum) detailing your experience, and achievements and addressing the key criteria for the role set out on this site and using examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements. Documents should be uploaded via our website, please include and upload the below information in two documents only. If you experience any issues whilst applying, please contact rebecca.keen@tile-hill.co.uk

Applications must include:

• Full contact details
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your notice period;
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for interview.

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email inclusion@tile-hill.co.uk

If the organisation we’re representing is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and you’d like to apply under the scheme, please mention this clearly in bold at the top of your supporting statement. If there are any adjustments that would support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.