THE FOLLOWING VACANCY HAS BEEN ADVERTISED EXTERNALLY
NPAS Operations Centre
National Police Air Service, Wakefield
Flight Dispatcher
Career Progression Scale 4 to Scale 5
2 full-time permanent posts (37 hours)
CLOSING DATE 16th August 2026.
Scale 4 Salary: £27,204 to £29,859 and Scale 5 Salary £30,333 to £31,749 rising incrementally. In addition, 20% shift allowance and 14.16% weekend enhancements (as applicable). This takes the total salary to £36,303 to £42,629 for Scale 4.
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is the national provider of air support to all the Police Forces of England and Wales with West Yorkshire Police currently being the lead Force.
NPAS is looking to recruit Flight Dispatchers to join our Operations Centre based in Wakefield.
We need you to ensure and support the efficient and safe deployment of air assets to Police forces. Receiving, recording, and communicating information regarding requests for specialist air provision; maintaining the trust and confidence of aviation staff and customers nationwide.
The role includes considering multiple requests and prioritising deployments in accordance with procedures. Full training will be given to support this.
This challenging and exciting opportunity would suit candidates with excellent communication skills both verbal and written. Capable of dealing with challenging customers with empathy and understanding in a fast-paced and safety-critical environment.
You will be playing a critical role in the arrest of offenders and ensuring public safety, often at major, high profile events nationally. You will also require a working knowledge of computerised systems such as databases and information input and recording.
The NPAS Operations Centre provides around-the-clock service. NPAS Flight Dispatchers are therefore required to work shifts, provide 24/7 cover in accordance with departmental working patterns, occasionally work at other locations as may be reasonably required.
We offer generous entitlements and supportive policies to enable a better work-life balance. Some of which are listed below:
• Generous annual leave allowance – 25 days per year (pro-rata) rising to 30 days after 5 years
• Public holidays
• Generous local government pension scheme
• Access to a range of occupational health facilities
• Employee assistance service – accessible 24/7 and providing counselling and financial advice for
you and your immediate relatives.
• Cycle to work scheme
• Sports and social clubs with discounted tickets for events
• Access to the national high street ‘Blue Light’ discount scheme
The NPAS Ops Centre work 12-hour shifts (with an occasional 8-hour shift). As a dispatcher you would usually work two dayshifts (0700hrs to 1900hrs) followed by two nightshifts (1900hrs to 0700hrs), followed by four rest days. Different shifts are applicable for job share roles.
As part of the selection process you will be asked to undertake a typing test.
The 2024 version of the Competency Values Framework applies to this process. Please disregard the link to the 2016 version which is contained in the ROLE PROFILE.
