Transportation Supervisor

gategroup•Cincinnati, OH

About The Position

The Transportation Supervisor oversees drivers and driver assistants who coordinate services between the kitchen and drivers and control dock activities. The role ensures flight catering teams, vehicles, equipment, and galleys are prepared and transported safely and according to airline specifications, schedules, company procedures, and regulatory requirements. The supervisor coordinates with operations, kitchen, maintenance, airline, and management staff to support daily service and improve unit performance. This position manages employee staffing, assignments, workstations, training, performance, and compliance. It includes workforce planning, coverage decisions, break compliance, employee retention, performance feedback and corrective action, and ensuring appropriate job titles, cost centers, and (where applicable) union pay rates. The supervisor also monitors quality, safety, cleanliness, productivity, labor and material costs, maintenance schedules, and required reporting and training.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
At least 2 years of supervisory experience in a high-volume manufacturing, food production, restaurant, or catering environment, or equivalent related experience, preferred.
Strong leadership skills and ability to manage a staff of 30 or more hourly employees.
Ability to train others.
Ability to provide employees with positive and corrective feedback on a daily basis.
Excellent time-management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining focus on priorities.
Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
Ability to make operational changes to improve the work environment and unit performance.
Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
Ability to obtain ServSafe Certification.
Clear and effective verbal and written communication, attentive listening, and ability to ensure communication is understood by all parties.
Ability to supervise and coordinate staffing and operations for shifts; the described team may include up to 80 direct reports, with an average of 16.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree preferred.
Current or previous labor relations experience is a plus.
ServSafe Certified preferred.
Bilingual ability in English and Spanish, Chinese Mandarin, Vietnamese, Hindi, or Polish is a plus.

Responsibilities

Maintain quality production standards for all accounts.
Obtain control sheets and assign team drivers to flights daily.
Check the dock to ensure employees have required equipment and trucks depart on schedule.
Verify teams are catering the correct aircraft and flights.
Ensure employees follow safety procedures and Airport Transport Authority badging requirements.
Work with management staff to improve unit performance.
Assist teams with late flights and equipment changes.
Obtain service requirements and updates from airlines.
Maintain radio contact with the Operations Manager, meal planner, and leads during operations.
Check the kitchen regularly to ensure equipment is not left behind after flights leave.
Ensure galleys are secure and transported properly, and vehicles are clean.
Ensure safety, quality, customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and company policies and procedures are followed.
Ensure specifications, airline diagrams, and other standards match airline requirements and products are coded according to Gate Gourmet procedures.
Coordinate with maintenance staff on preventive maintenance schedules for machinery and fleet, and report repair and maintenance issues promptly.
Maintain company policies and procedures and airline customer specification books.
Manage financial goals for materials, productivity, overtime, and labor.
Prepare required management reports, including attendance, HACCP, and labor reports.
Supervise drivers and driver assistants; evaluate, coach, counsel, and prepare corrective actions in coordination with HR and other support functions as appropriate.
Balance workflow and divide responsibilities among employees on each shift, including workstation assignments.
Manage daily manpower planning and employee schedules; determine when to call employees in to cover staffing needs and determine staffing levels by shift with department leaders.
Ensure compliance with Wage & Hour policy, including required rest and meal breaks and company processes.
Train and monitor employees on proper work procedures to maximize productivity while minimizing labor and food expenses.
Support employee retention and reduce turnover.
Ensure corrective actions for employees comply with applicable union or collective bargaining agreements.
Review whether employees in the chain of command are assigned to the correct cost centers and job titles, and verify union employees’ pay rates against wage scales and seniority where applicable.
Ensure employees complete company-required training, including ServSafe, and comply with required company policies, procedures, and processes.