This role is for an immediate start.
About us:
Virgin Balloon Flights operates flights in and around the Peak District. Our base is located in Tibshelf and from there we drive out to our launch sites around Derbyshire, Sheffield and Stafford. We are a professional, fun and rewarding group giving our customers the flight of a life time. Our goal is to provide our passengers with the most enjoyable and seamless experience both on the ground and up in skies as they travel on their hot air balloon flight.
Our work environment includes:
- On-the-job training
- Thinking on your feet
- Practical & outdoors
- Customer facing role
- Feedback and Debrief after each flight
The role:
Virgin Balloon Flights is looking for a full time ground crew team member that will work predominantly by driving our balloon vehicle and trailer to the launch sites, greeting passengers and assembling the hot air balloon. Once the balloon is in flight, the crew member will follow the balloon, working with the pilot using radio communications, meet with land owners and assist to pack up the hot air balloon before driving the equipment from our landing location back to the base in Tibshelf to refuel and prepare for the next flight. The role also includes helping to sell our photo package at the end of each flight, for which you will take a commission.
For this position it is mandatory to have experience with large trailer driving, reversing and manoeuvring. The trailer we use is a 14ft triple axle trailer. You must also be competent driving a 4x4 and have experience with hitching and unhitching trailers. Another must have quality is navigation - whilst following the balloon you will be using online and offline maps to help find the balloon and then locate the farm to ask for permission to enter. Being comfortable using google maps and other navigation apps on a smart phone is essential.
A moderate level of fitness is necessary due to the nature of this role - working outdoors, handling the balloon and associated equipment is sometimes laborious and working in a rural environment through open fields, sometimes on more tricky terrain. The candidate will possess the necessary skills and tools to think on their feet, every flight is different and the balloon does not land in the same location. Good communication and interpersonal skills to engage with passengers and land owners are essential skills for the role.
Typical shifts will be early morning, starting before sunrise, and late evenings as we provide sunrise and sunset experiences (start and finish times varying over the year with daylight hours). Shifts usually take 6 hours but can fluctuate and are ad hoc with the weather. The pay structure consists of a monthly retainer (paid regardless of the number of flights) with a fixed per flight commission and additional commission through number of photo sales.
This role will require the candidate to learn about hot air balloons, understand official procedures for the safety of flight, landing, assembly and disassembly of all equipment. All of which training is provided.
For this full time role, occasional work outside the flying shifts will also be completed, including general maintenance of equipment, routine stock checks, cleaning of vehicles, and conducting land owner relations.
The role offers a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working outside, using practical skills and interacting with people. No two shifts are the same, and it can be very rewarding helping to facilitate providing passengers with a great experience.
Pay:
After a training period and handover with experienced ground crew, the chosen candidate will have the option to take a full time retainer payment plan which is as follows:
- £1000 per month.
- Plus £40 commission per flight.
- Plus £4 per photo sale (we typically average 5 photo sales per flight).
Must have:
- Experienced towing large trailers.
- Navigational skills.
- People skills, managing a group of up to 16-20 people.
- Competency using a smart phone (WhatsApp, Google maps, Camera)
Responsibilities:
- Driving vehicle and trailer.
- Maintain vehicle cleanliness and carry out safety checks.
- Engage with passengers.
- Gas safety when refuelling - training provided.
- Work with pilot to ensure a seamless experience for our passengers.
More information about this role can be provided further into the application process.
This is a physical role, to assemble and disassemble the balloon requires a certain level of general fitness. Walking through fields to locate the balloon on uneven ground is not uncommon. If you can walk at a moderate pace on a slight incline for 10 minutes this is a good benchmark for the level of fitness required.
Lastly, hot air balloons are very weather dependent, you need to be ok with the work shifts being very ad hoc and being able to be on standby for when the weather allows us to operate.
Tibshelf, Derbyshire
