Airline Cargo Handling Supervisor

Swissport; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site parking

Uniforms provided

Career advancement

Annual leave accrual

Personal leave accrual

Job summary

Swissport Melbourne is seeking an Airline Cargo Handling Supervisor to lead a frontline cargo team in a fast-paced environment, ensuring safe, secure and timely processing of inbound and outbound freight 24/7.

You will balance people leadership with operational execution, uphold safety and compliance, and drive efficiency through coaching, teamwork and accountability across shifts.

Qualifications

• Experience in air freight, logistics or similar environment.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience.
• Forklift licence or willingness to obtain.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead a team during peak periods with attention to detail.
• Sound knowledge of safety, compliance and security procedures.
• Willingness to work a rotating roster including nights, weekends and holidays.
• Proficient in English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate day-to-day cargo operations, ensuring safe and timely handling of freight.
• Supervise and motivate your team to meet performance, safety and compliance targets.
• Support workforce planning, task allocation and on-the-ground training of new team members.
• Monitor adherence to security protocols, workplace safety and SOPs.
• Act as first point of escalation for delays or issues.
• Ensure accurate documentation and cargo tracking for imports and exports.
• Liaise with airline representatives, freight forwarders and airport stakeholders.
• Champion a clean, safe, and efficient work environment at all times.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Forklift licence

Communication

Safety compliance

English proficiency

Attention to detail

Job description

Are you ready to take flight in a dynamic and fast-paced aviation industry? As a global leader in aviation services, Swissport provides Ground Handling, Cargo Handling, and Passenger Services to over 300 million passengers annually. Our mission is simple – “To provide the aviation industry with consistent and tailor‑made solutions around the globe, for a better customer experience.”

We believe that our people are what differentiate us from our competition. At Swissport, we are driven by our core values of Show You Care, Do the Right Things and Win as a Team, and we are currently seeking dedicated individuals, who align with these values, to join our team at various locations across the globe.

Job Summary

As an Airline Cargo Handling Supervisor, you’ll play a hands-on leadership role at the heart of our air cargo operations. Overseeing a team of dedicated cargo agents, you'll ensure the safe, secure, and timely processing of inbound and outbound freight. This is a critical frontline position, responsible for maintaining operational excellence, meeting service level agreements, and keeping our logistics chain moving 24/7.

You’ll lead by example — balancing people leadership with operational execution, fostering a strong safety-first culture, and driving efficiency through team engagement and accountability.

Your activities

• Lead and coordinate the day-to-day cargo operations, ensuring safe and timely handling of freight
• Supervise and motivate your team to meet performance, safety, and compliance targets
• Support workforce planning, task allocation, and on-the-ground training of new team members
• Monitor adherence to security protocols, workplace safety, and operational SOPs
• Act as the first point of escalation for any operational delays or issues
• Ensure accurate documentation and cargo tracking for imports and exports
• Liaise with airline representatives, freight forwarders, and other airport stakeholders
• Champion a clean, safe, and efficient work environment at all times

Your profile

• Previous experience in air freight, logistics, warehouse operations, or similar environment
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience is highly regarded
• Forklift licence or willingness to obtain
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to lead a team through peak periods while maintaining attention to detail
• Sound knowledge of safety, compliance, and security procedures
• Willingness to work a rotating roster including nights, weekends, and public holidays
• Physically fit and capable of handling freight up to 32kg
• Proficient in English (spoken and written)
  

What we offer

• On-site employee parking available.
• Uniforms Provided
• Opportunities for career advancement.
• Accrual of annual and personal leave.
• Comprehensive training and ongoing support provided.

At Swissport, we believe in diversity, equal opportunity, and the power of our values to drive our success. We are committed to providing a workplace that fosters inclusion and where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Only permanent residents of Australia or New Zealand, or those who have the right to work in Australia or New Zealand may apply.