Airfield Operations Lead

Melbourne Airport; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Wellness program

Annual leave enhancements

Employee discounts

Career development

Staff parking

Life at the airport

Job summary

Melbourne Airport is seeking an experienced Airfield Operations Lead to join our Aviation team. You will support the Airfield Operations Manager in safe and efficient airfield delivery and champion a strong safety culture.

You will provide subject matter expertise on Ground Handling, IGOM and MOS 139, lead risk controls, and drive continuous improvement while coordinating with tenants and airfield users. This role offers hybrid working arrangements, a focus on professional development and

Qualifications

• Background in Airfield Operations with safety and compliance focus.
• Understanding of ground handler activities and ramp needs.
• Knowledge of CASA MOS 139 and IATA IGOM.
• Proven leadership and ability to influence behaviours.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Current driver’s licence and Airside Driver’s Authority.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational safety oversight of the airfield.
• Monitor compliance with airfield safety, operational and GSE requirements.
• Drive safety interventions and resolve issues with airfield users.
• Monitor ASO team performance using Airside Tracker and operational data.
• Build relationships and promote a positive airfield safety culture.
• Provide ASO SME input to airfield projects and design reviews.
• Translate changes into SOPs and guidance for ASO and Car 2 teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve airfield safety, operability and user experience.
• Provide timely operational intelligence to Airfield Operations leadership.
• Escalate and communicate complex safety information clearly.

Skills

Airfield Operations

Ground Handling

IGOM knowledge

MOS 139 knowledge

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Safety culture

Job description

We currently have an exciting new opportunity for an experienced and high performing Airfield Operations Lead to join our Aviation team.

The Airport Operations Lead supports the Airfield Operations Manager and wider team in the safe and effective delivery of airfield operations, promoting a strong airfield safety culture and accountability across all airfield users.

The role provides technical expertise in Ground Handling operations, applying a high level of practical knowledge and a deep understanding of the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) to support operational decision-making, airfield works and continuous improvement. A key focus of the role is the identification and management of current and emerging airfield risks, ensuring appropriate risk controls are applied to maintain safe, compliant and effective airfield operations.

Explore how we are thinking big with exciting projects like the Third Runway, state-of-the-art terminals, and thriving business park developments. You can also learn more about life at Melbourne Airport – our culture, values, and what makes us unique at https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/corporate/our-culture-and-values. Join us in shaping the future of aviation as we propel Melbourne Airport towards becoming Australia's favourite Airport destination.

Key responsibilities:

• Providing operational safety oversight of the airfield, monitoring airfield activities, identifying hazards and ensuring appropriate risk controls are in place to maintain a safe and compliant operating environment.
• Monitoring and promoting compliance by airfield users with airfield safety, operational and GSE requirements, including identifying and addressing unsafe or non-compliant practices.
• Driving effective safety interventions and follow-through, engaging with airfield users to resolve issues, influence behaviours and ensure identified actions achieve the required outcome.
• Monitoring ASO team performance and reporting, using Airside Tracker data and operational intelligence to assess performance, identify emerging risks and align ASO activities with current airfield priorities.
• Building strong relationships and promote a positive airfield safety culture, working collaboratively with Ground Handling, tenants and other airfield users and supporting safety culture initiatives.
• Providing ASO subject matter expertise to airfield projects and operational changes, including design reviews, assessment of impacts to ramp users and advice on project staging and implementation.
• Translating operational and project changes into effective ASO procedures, developing and implementing SOPs, briefings and other guidance to ensure ASO and Car 2 teams are prepared for changes to the operating environment.
• Continuously identifying opportunities to improve airfield safety, operability and the user experience, using operational insights, stakeholder feedback and data to drive continuous improvement.
• Providing timely operational intelligence and recommendations to Airfield Operations leadership, including contributing to tactical planning and supporting informed decision-making on emerging risks and operational priorities.
• Exercising sound judgement in managing operational issues and escalations, resolving matters where appropriate, escalating effectively when required and communicating complex safety and operational information clearly to different audiences.

The successful candidate will have:

• A background in Airfield Operations, with a sound understanding of airfield safety, compliance and operational requirements.
• Strong understanding of Ground Handler activities and processes and the operational needs of ramp users.
• Sound knowledge of CASA Manual of Standards (MOS) 139 and the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM).
• Demonstrated leadership capability, with evidence of successfully leading people, influencing behaviours and driving positive outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and confidently manage challenging situations.
• Strong safety judgement and decision-making capability, with the ability to assess risk, apply appropriate controls and make evidence-based decisions.
• Ability to interpret data and operational intelligence and translate insights into improved safety, performance and operational effectiveness.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities to improve processes, systems and the airfield operating environment.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex safety and operational matters to different audiences.
• Demonstrated competence as an ASO or SASO will be highly regarded.
• Current Driver’s Licence and Airside Driver’s Authority

Melbourne Airport (Australia Pacific Airports Corporation) is proud to be one of Australia's premier transport hubs and Victoria's gateway to the world, connecting us to the global marketplace. We are committed to creating connections that matter and enhancing the traveller experience across every aspect of our organisation to deliver our vision of becoming Australia's favourite Airport destination. Currently, in an exciting phase of change, we are delivering rewarding career opportunities, making Melbourne Airport a dynamic and fast-paced place to work for our people.

APAC is a majority Australian-owned private company that also operates Launceston Airport, the tourism gateway to Tasmania and an industry multi-award-winning airport.

Culture and Values:

By joining the team at Melbourne Airport, you will work within a friendly, high-performance culture with a focus on our people and their development.

Our vision is to become Australia's favourite Airport destination and our people are paramount to achieving this success. We provide a supportive environment, with values that encourage all of our employees to Be You, Think Big, Own it and Work Together.

Benefits:

• Free access to Higher State, our state-of-the-art Fitness Club & Wellness Hub at Novotel & ibis Styles Airport hotel.
• Airport car parking 24 hours/365 days a year for both business and personal use
• Hybrid flexible working arrangements
• Airport Holiday, an additional day of leave
• Wellness Day, a further additional day of leave
• Discounted onsite childcare at Creative Garden Early Learning
• Mental health and well-being initiatives, including Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term career and professional development opportunities
• Active social culture and participation in a range of social impact days and activities
• Signature Experiences including an airfield family day
• Access to an employee benefits scheme including access to corporate rates and airport retailer discounts (including SkyBus)

APAC is committed to weaving Diversity into our DNA. We believe that Diversity and Inclusion will help us realise our greatest potential as a company, and maximise the potential of all our team members. We strive to create a culture where our team members understand that each individual is unique and that embracing diversity makes us more flexible, productive, and creative.

APAC provides equal opportunity and advancement in employment regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, cultural background, caring responsibilities, disability or socioeconomic background. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our workplace values of Being You, Thinking Big, Owning It and Working Together.