Operations Manager - Airline Catering Operations
About The Position
SkyChefs has been a leader in culinary excellence since 1942, partnering with major airlines and retailers to deliver millions of meals annually across 43 US sites. We are committed to setting industry standards in aviation culinary, airline services, logistics, and retail commerce. Our people are central to our success, and we offer opportunities for growth, leadership, and impact in a fast-paced, team-driven environment. The Operations Manager will provide leadership across operational areas, focusing on day-to-day execution, problem resolution, and overall performance. This role requires a strong, adaptable operator who can lead teams effectively and drive results in a dynamic setting. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader ready to contribute immediately to various operational functions.
Requirements
- Three to five years of management experience in large-scale operations such as culinary production, logistics, warehouse, or similar.
- Experience in using and managing Variable Production Systems and schedules.
- Strong presentation, communication, training and interpersonal skills.
- Proven success in improving work processes and leading change in a complex, fast environment.
- Excellent analytical and conceptual skills.
- Demonstrable record of understanding and meeting customer expectations.
- Proven track record of understanding the drivers of product and labor cost variances.
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows-based computer application.
- Experience working in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments.
- Exposure to process improvement or continuous improvement initiatives.
- Experience developing or improving operational processes and SOPs.
- Experience managing both salaried and hourly employees, including frontline supervisors with an oversight of 30+ team members in department.
Responsibilities
- Strategically plan, organize, and manage a department with regards to daily hours, schedules, productivity, quality and safety.
- Responsible for department costs to budget through effective manpower planning, scheduling and overtime usage.
- Ensure compliance with customer specifications, quality standards, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), safety, health, environmental and other regulations.
- Ensure on-time and accurate production in the preparation of food/equipment and catering of flights.
- Investigate customer quality issues, develop and implement corrective actions.
- Maintain an ongoing, positive and pro-active relationship with all internal and external customers.
- Attend the daily operations briefing.
- Ensure par levels of customer inventory and customer specific goods.
- Provide data for the development of an annual business plan and budgeting for the department.
- Ensure optimal deployment of human, technical and material resources in the department.
- Initiate and control continuous optimization of processes.
- Ensure that the area of responsibility is properly organized, staffed and directed.
- Guide, motivate and develop the subordinate employees within the Human Resources Policy.
- Participates in coaching the expanded Global Performance System (GPS) process, as well as additional career development activities to enhance the effectiveness and potential of the team.
- Make the company's values and management principles live in the department(s).
- Plan / Implement and control the cost budget in the area of responsibility; initiate and steer corrective actions in case of deviations.
- Participate and support company sponsored initiatives such as Global Quality Standard (GQS), HACCP, Lean Manufacturing, Employee Safety Knowledge.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
