Airport Operations Leader

The Ground Operations Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth and efficient daily operations at an airport. This role involves overseeing resource planning, managing staff, ensuring safety compliance, evaluating performance, and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Daily Operational Support: Address operational challenges promptly and make informed decisions to ensure smooth ramp activities; analysis of delay data to ensure accurate coding and prompt communication with airlines to review incorrect data.
• Resource Planning and Day-of-Operations Management: Develop and implement strategies to optimize resource utilization and minimize overtime; actively manage schedule changes and update GANTT charts to reduce overtime and call-ins.
• Staff Management and Performance Enhancement: Ensure consistency in shift coverage and make informed decisions regarding staff deployment; manage breaks to ensure adherence to rostered schedules and prevent complacency; monitor clocking accuracy and promote punctuality among staff members; provide coaching and support to enhance performance and drive operational excellence; facilitate Leading Hand/Supervisor meetings; ensure Ramp Duty Managers 'RDM' daily brief content reflects current trends and attendance is tracked.
• Safety and Risk Management: Minimize the occurrence of Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) by closely managing individual cases and facilitating return-to-work plans; lower insurance premiums by judiciously utilizing Workcover and managing medical expenses effectively; conduct and oversee ramp audits to ensure compliance with safety standards and quality expectations; assist with safety investigations, to identify root causes, develop corrective actions and monitor the effectiveness of controls.
• Stakeholder Management and Collaboration: Facilitate regular meetings with airline partners to identify operational issues and implement corrective actions; participate in airport meetings - i.e. Ramp Safety meetings; analyze first bag data educating and driving accurate baggage scanning processes; support airline and company initiatives to achieve safety and performance targets.
• GSE Management and Contract Implementations: Efficiently manage ground support equipment, ensuring prompt action on work orders and cost-effective utilization; lead ramp implementations for new contracts ensuring seamless integration and operational excellence; adhoc services/accounts.

Selection Criteria:

• 5 years experience in people management and good understanding of employee relations legislation;
• Ideally 3 years experience working in a similar role in an airport environment;
• Respect and be sensitive to cultural differences and treat all customers and internal staff equally and with dignity;
• Exceptional leadership qualities with the ability to support, develop, direct and empower people;
• Resilience and be able to remain composed and focused during high pressured situations making realistic and rational decisions and resolving conflict promptly;
• Ability to evaluate problems, accurately examine information and document facts;
• High emotional intelligence and exceptional communication skills and be able to articulate information in a professional, unbiased manner and without emotions;
• Ability to quickly establish rapport and build strong, professional relationships;
• Strong strategic focus and a commercial sense and be able to identify business opportunities;
• Ability to adapt quickly to change and embrace challenges with a positive approach;
• Exceptional time management and organisational skills with a focus on attention to detail and meeting timescales whilst following procedures;
• Immaculate grooming and demeanour.