Meet James

Head of Subcontracting for Germany and the UK in Airframe Engineering
Airbus

James - Head of Subcontracting for Germany and the UK in Airframe Engineering

From Airbus to the Coastline: My Two Worlds of Leadership

I’m James, Head of Subcontracting for Germany and the UK in Airframe Engineering at Airbus. My responsibility spans a global network of suppliers, ensuring the delivery of essential services for aircraft design, test, and build. 

The real focus of my role is leading a large, diverse team, understanding that motivated and valued people are crucial for success. Beyond spreadsheets and negotiations, strong personal relationships are paramount.

Outside of Airbus, I lead His Majesty’s Coastguard Rescue Team at Clevedon. This contrast, from discussing supply chain logistics to responding to coastal emergencies, is something I deeply value. 

Airbus has been incredibly supportive of this with flexibility to respond to Coastguard calls. Recently, Airbus was honoured with a special award from HM Coastguard in recognition of this support, which means a great deal to me.

Volunteering with the Coastguard for over 15 years has been an incredible journey, originally motivated by expanding medical knowledge and meeting new people. Now, leading the Clevedon team involves coordinating rescues, training volunteers, and conducting activities to promote coastal safety. Balancing this with my Airbus role can be challenging but is deeply fulfilling. The Coastguard's recognition of Airbus for supporting me underscores the importance of organisations enabling staff to respond to emergencies during the workday.

Leading in both environments utilises different skills, but core leadership principles remain. Balancing family, work, and emergency call-outs, and keeping volunteers engaged, presents unique challenges. Adaptability is key. Staying calm under pressure is essential in both critical situations at Airbus and precarious coastal rescues. I adjust my approach to each situation, prioritising safety and effective decision-making. 

As someone who is neurodiverse, this unique perspective aids in connecting with people and finding solutions others might overlook.

My journey at Airbus began as a Project Controller in 2009. Central to my professional development was building a network, actively engaging with colleagues and industry peers to expand my professional circle and acquire new skills. This network helped me get involved in projects outside of my core responsibilities.

Being at Airbus and with the Coastguard has taught me to be brave, trust my team, leverage resources, and be authentic. My Coastguard work enriches my professional life, teaching me the importance of staying calm under pressure, which translates directly to my Airbus role. In both worlds, the focus is on making a difference. While balancing commitments is a constant, I wouldn't have it any other way.

If I could give any advice to candidates looking for roles at Airbus it's that there’s a job for all kinds of skills here. If you’re not sure what kind of career you want - a company like Airbus is also a great place to be - you can have very many different experiences here.

If you want to see what volunteers like me deal with, check out this video

I'm incredibly grateful to HM Coastguard and all the volunteers for their service. 

It’s a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together to help others.