Assistant Operations Manager

About the role

The Assistant Operations Manager ensures compliance with safety, security, quality, regulatory and company standards, manages shift operations to achieve KPIs and deliver airline catering services within agreed SLAs, and leads shift teams to maintain operational excellence. The role involves coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, maintaining continuity during disruptions, and driving process improvements through LEAN initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with safety, security, quality, regulatory and company standards, conducting incident due diligence and escalating critical issues.
• Manage shift operations to achieve business unit KPIs, deliver airline catering services within agreed SLAs, Precision Time Schedule and on‑time performance requirements.
• Allocate shift resources and team deployment, optimise utilisation and maintain operational readiness through briefings and handovers.
• Develop shift teams through performance management, coaching, mentoring, addressing capability gaps and recognising high performance.
• Coordinate operational and service requirements with internal and external stakeholders such as Emirates Airline and other airline customers, ensuring timely communication and alignment of expectations.
• Maintain operational continuity during disruptions by working with the Operations Control Centre, implementing contingency measures and supporting Business Continuity Management testing.
• Drive process improvement and operational optimisation through LEAN initiatives and adoption of new technologies and best practices.
• Monitor operational performance and resource variances against targets, escalating deviations and implementing corrective actions.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum 6 years of experience leading shifts within large‑scale logistics, catering or airside operations.
• Proven experience in leading operational efficiency initiatives and service improvement programmes.
• Effective communication skills with stakeholders at all organisational levels.
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to constructively challenge existing practices and drive continuous improvement.