Performance Manager

Jetstar Airways; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Jetstar Airways is seeking a Performance Manager to lead a busy port’s frontline team in Cairns. You will be the vital link between senior leadership and on‑the‑ground staff, driving engagement and operational excellence to deliver exceptional customer outcomes.

Leading a shift-based workforce, you will balance empathy with accountability, manage performance and recruitment, and support change initiatives to ensure business continuity. This 12-month contract may extend.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading large frontline teams.
• Experience managing performance, development and employee relations with fairness and empathy.
• Strong workforce planning, recruitment and talent development experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead large frontline workforce with accountability and high performance.
• Partner with Airport Manager to identify workforce challenges and opportunities.
• Manage performance coaching, development conversations and reviews.
• Lead recruitment activity across the airport, including onboarding and talent pipelines.
• Monitor rosters and respond to short-notice changes to ensure service delivery.

Skills

People leadership

Workforce planning

Recruitment

Performance management

Coaching

Change management

Job description

• 12-month contract with the possibility to extend
• Championing people and operational excellence.
• Build your leadership profile in a highly visible role.

Takeoff with your next opportunity

As the Performance Manager for this busy port, you'll be the backbone of the operational team, acting as the vital link between senior leadership and the team on the ground. You understand that operational excellence and exceptional customer outcomes start with engaged, supported and motivated people. You know what is happening across your workforce and take pride in building strong relationships that allow you to stay connected to your team while delivering results.

Leading a team of up to 80 employees, you are a highly visible and approachable leader who genuinely listens. People trust you because they feel heard, valued and supported, whether they are raising a concern, seeking guidance or navigating change. You balance empathy with accountability, creating an environment where people can perform at their best while feeling supported to do so. You understand that leading a shift-based workforce requires flexibility and visibility. Whether it's an early morning briefing, a late operational disruption or supporting a team member outside traditional office hours, you're willing to adjust your schedule to ensure your people feel supported and connected.

About You

As Performance Manager, your focus will include:

• Leading and developing a large frontline workforce, fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion and high performance.
• Partnering closely with the Airport Manager to maintain visibility across the operation, proactively identifying workforce challenges, risks and opportunities.
• Managing employee performance, including coaching, development conversations, performance reviews, recognition and addressing performance concerns where required.
• Leading recruitment activity across the airport, including workforce planning, selection, onboarding and supporting the development of future talent pipelines.
• Monitoring workforce requirements and reviewing operational rosters, responding to short-notice operational changes to ensure service delivery and business continuity.
• Supporting the resolution of employee concerns and workplace issues with empathy, professionalism and a solutions-focused approach.
• Leading and supporting airport change initiatives, ensuring clear communication, stakeholder engagement and successful implementation.
• Managing operational disruptions and crisis situations, providing calm, decisive leadership while maintaining a focus on safety, people and customer outcomes.
• Developing leadership capability across Team Leaders through ongoing coaching, mentoring and succession planning initiatives.
• Ensuring the consistent application of company policies, procedures and employment obligations while maintaining a fair and supportive employee experience.

We’re searching for someone who:

• Has a genuine passion for people leadership, with proven experience leading large frontline teams
• Builds strong relationships at all levels and is known for being approachable and making people feel heard
• Maintains a strong understanding of their workforce, staying connected to day-to-day team dynamics, emerging issues and operational priorities.
• Has experience managing performance, development and employee relations matter with fairness, empathy and confidence.
• Can balance people outcomes with operational requirements, making sound decisions in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.
• Brings experience in workforce planning, recruitment and talent development, ensuring teams are set up for both immediate and long-term success.
• Is highly organised and action-oriented, following through on commitments, responding to issues quickly
• Communicates effectively, adapting their style to a range of audiences a
• Remains calm and solutions-focused during operational disruptions, roster challenges, employee concerns and other unexpected situations.

Your Life At Jetstar Is Unlike Any Other

Put the craft in aircraft: There’s a new fleet of A321LR NEO’s waiting for your arrival. Beyond Jetstar, our teams get exposure to projects related to the Qantas Group’s A320/1, B787 and A321 Freighters.

Live the travel dream: You and your nominated travel companions can takeoff more with our famous Qantas Group Staff Travel discount.

Make work feel like a holiday: Join a fun, driven team where work feels like a holiday. Our people take every opportunity to takeoff together and find ways to help their teammates soar.

There’s a place for everyone at Jetstar: For us, travel and meeting new people go hand in hand. We invite our people to get involved in various Employee Network Groups that play an important role in creating our inclusive and supportive culture that we are fiercely proud of. We believe that teams with a diversity of ideas and experiences are more creative, innovative and solve problems quickly. We welcome applications from anyone who wants to takeoff with us. If you have support or access requirements, just reach out and let us know what you need.