Head of Airport Operations

Job Description

• Senior executive leadership of airport operations at the centre of Qantas' airline network
• Critical senior leadership role driving the operational performance of the airline
• Permanent opportunity to grow your career in Aviation, based at out Mascot Campus

We've always been pioneers, and we're proud to see that spirit in our people today. Our resilience has helped us through good and tough times, and it still drives us to keep pushing the challenging expectations today. We're constantly evolving, and this means the opportunities for our people are endless. There's opportunity to embrace personal development and career growth, own projects and make an impact.

As the Head of Airport Operations overseeing our Sydney and Canberra operations, you will play a pivotal leadership role within our Customer Service and Ground Operations team. This highly visible and influential position is responsible for driving safety, service, and operational excellence across both domestic and international airports in the region.

You will lead a diverse team and third-party service providers to deliver seamless, customer-centric airport experiences that reflect the Qantas brand. With a strong focus on people leadership, you'll build capability within your leadership team, foster a high-performance culture, and champion continuous improvement across all facets of the operation.

In this role, you'll engage with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, represent Qantas in media and VIP settings, and ensure compliance with all regulatory, financial, and performance standards.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Proven leadership experience in a large-scale, safety-first, and complex operational environment, with the ability to manage activity across multiple business areas and settings
• A strong customer focus, with a passion for delivering exceptional service and enhancing the end-to-end airport experience
• A collaborative and empowering leadership style, with the confidence to influence and drive outcomes aligned to strategic business priorities
• Demonstrated success in building team capability, coaching leaders, and fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement
• Strong analytical and planning capabilities, with a proactive and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving
• A solid understanding of employment equity, ethical conduct, and workplace health and safety principles
• Excellent executive stakeholder management skills, with a track record of effective collaboration across business units and teams
• Experience working within Safety Management Systems and applying them in operational environments
• Sound experience in managing third-party contracts, ensuring service delivery standards are met and aligned to customer expectations

Why Qantas?

You'll join a team where creativity and passion are encouraged. Our people come together to allow us to dream big and deliver successfully.

There are many different opportunities across our team, which means you'll be able to grow both personally and professionally at Qantas. Your development is a priority for us – so that you can maintain the high standards our customers have come to expect and can continue to develop over time. You'll be supported from day 1 with on-the-job training and coaching as well as our formal training opportunities. While you may start in this role, we've got a great track record of supporting our people to take their career in so many different directions, the destinations are endless.

The Qantas employee benefits program offers amazing benefits that extend well beyond travel.

• We have flexible leave options: Make use of leave opportunities including 18 weeks paid parental leave and the option to purchase additional paid leave for eligible employees.
• We'll give you access to thousands of rewards: Through our partnerships, we can offer you discounts across shopping, food and wine, insurance, health and wellbeing, leisure and entertainment. You can also take advantage of our salary packaging program including motor vehicles, eligible portable electronic devices and professional memberships.
• We'll support your wellbeing: Whether it's learning to better support your own and others' mental health, our interactive wellbeing app or your very own tailored nutrition plan.
• We love to travel: Enjoy heavily discounted air travel within Australia and across the globe, both for you and your family and friends, as well as exclusive deals on accommodation and holidays.

Leading the operations at some of Australia's busiest Airports, you will be at the centre of driving the operational performance of the airline, are you ready to take up the challenge?

Qantas is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application. Your personal information will be kept confidential in compliance with relevant privacy legislation.

Be a part of something special and play your part in the Qantas story – get in touch today.

Advertising closes: Wednesday, 15 October 2025

About us

Founded in the Queensland outback in 1920, Qantas has grown to be Australia's largest regional, domestic and international airline. Qantas has a range of subsidiary businesses that support the overall operations of the Group. The Qantas Group's main business is the transportation of customers and freight using two complementary airline brands — Qantas and Jetstar — operating regional, domestic and international services.