Head of Cabin Appearance

Velora; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Velora is seeking a Head of Cabin Appearance to set strategic direction and lead end-to-end cabin appearance services across customer airline operations. You will oversee transit cleaning, deep cleaning, disinfection, and cabin dressing while managing budgets, resources, and performance metrics.

You will build a high-performing team, maintain relationships with airlines and airport authorities, and drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Management, Airport Operations, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
• MBA or aviation-related discipline preferred.
• Minimum 11 years of relevant aviation, airport, airline, or ground handling experience, including at least 5 years in a management or senior leadership role.
• Proven experience leading large operational teams and managing service quality, turnaround performance, budgets, and customer-facing operations.
• Strong knowledge of aircraft turnaround operations, safety management, quality assurance, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall cabin appearance strategy, governance, and operational performance across all airline customers.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery of cabin cleaning services, including transit cleaning, deep cleaning, disinfection, and cabin dressing.
• Manage departmental budgets, manpower planning, operational resources, and commercial performance.
• Build and lead a high-performing workforce through recruitment, training, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Maintain strategic relationships with airlines, airport authorities, and key stakeholders to ensure service excellence and customer satisfaction.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, operational readiness, technology adoption, and service enhancement programs.
• Ensure compliance with safety, security, quality, hygiene, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Commercial acumen

Financial acumen

Operations management

Stakeholder management

Decision making

Change management

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor's in Aviation Management

MBA or Aviation-related discipline

Job description

Job Purpose

The Head of Cabin Appearance sets the strategic direction and provides functional leadership for the end-to-end cabin appearance function, ensuring the safe, compliant, consistent and commercially sustainable delivery of cabin appearance services, including transit cleaning, general cleaning, deep cleaning, disinfection and cabin dressing, across customer airline operations. The role is responsible for operational performance, financial management, workforce capability, customer relationships, service excellence, and continuous improvement.

Key Job Accountabilities

• Lead the overall cabin appearance strategy, governance, and operational performance across all airline customers.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery of cabin cleaning services, including transit cleaning, deep cleaning, disinfection, and cabin dressing.
• Manage departmental budgets, manpower planning, operational resources, and commercial performance.
• Build and lead a high-performing workforce through recruitment, training, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Maintain strategic relationships with airlines, airport authorities, and key stakeholders to ensure service excellence and customer satisfaction.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, operational readiness, technology adoption, and service enhancement programs.
• Ensure compliance with safety, security, quality, hygiene, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Management, Airport Operations, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field. A relevant diploma may be considered with significant senior operational experience.
• Postgraduate qualification (MBA or Aviation-related discipline) is preferred.
• Minimum 11 years of relevant aviation, airport, airline, or ground handling experience, including at least 5 years in a management or senior leadership role.
• Proven experience leading large operational teams and managing service quality, turnaround performance, budgets, and customer-facing operations.
• Strong knowledge of aircraft turnaround operations, safety management, quality assurance, and regulatory requirements.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Strategic planning and operational management capability.
• Commercial and financial acumen.
• Ability to manage large-scale operations and service delivery.
• Excellent stakeholder and customer relationship management skills.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and change management abilities.
• Ability to perform effectively in fast-paced, operationally critical environments.