Airport Operations Manager - Deployment

AIR CANADA; Dorval; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Canada is seeking an Airport Operations Manager - Deployment to lead and optimize same-day airport activities. You will oversee planning, resource allocation, and coordination across sectors to meet schedules and regulatory requirements.

You will coach a unionized team, drive safety culture, and ensure punctuality while adapting to changing conditions. The role demands strong leadership and a customer‑focused mindset.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education or equivalent operational experience.
• At least two years of leadership or equivalent operational experience.
• Ability to obtain RAIC and ROC-A.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work 24/7 shifts.
• Experience with unionized personnel and collective agreements.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex daily airport operations activities in the assigned sector to ensure smooth and efficient execution.
• Ensure daily compliance with safety protocols and SOPs.
• Represent the Air Canada brand and customer service excellence.
• Collaborate in supervising unionized personnel and ensure accountability within collective agreements.
• Coach staff to develop their skills and empower decision-making.
• Participate in regular feedback sessions to foster teamwork and safety culture.
• Mitigate performance issues through coaching, guidance, and disciplinary measures as needed.
• Promote safety culture and proactive incident reporting using AQD.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team management

Time management

Problem solving

Customer orientation

Education

Post-secondary education

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Joining Air Canada is about joining a Canadian symbol, Air Canada recently voted best airline in North America. Take off your career by joining our innovative and diverse team at the forefront of passenger air transport.

As an Airport Operations Manager - Deployment, you will play an important leadership role in achieving our ambition to be recognized as one of the top 10 airlines in the world, by managing same-day operations to ensure efficient and safe activities. Your priority will be to oversee the planning and coordination of all airport operations to ensure the efficient use of resources, compliance with flight schedules, and adherence to regulatory requirements.

Your priority will be to create a safe, positive, and supportive environment in which your leadership empowers members of our unionized team (IAMAW and Unifor) to excel. By coaching your team empathetically with a focus on their development and building trust, you will enable them to exceed customer expectations and maintain our warm sense of hospitality.

Responsibilities:

• Be responsible for leading complex daily airport operations activities, with care and class, in the assigned sector, to ensure smooth and efficient execution.
• Ensure daily compliance with safety protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs), thereby fostering a safety-first, always culture.
• Represent the Air Canada brand and the company's vision for customer service excellence, reflecting our commitment to a warm welcome and representing our country with pride.
• Collaborate in leading and supervising unionized personnel, and encourage employees to be accountable while respecting collective agreements.
• Play an influencing role to foster a sense of responsibility among staff, and empower employees to use their judgment and experience to 'do the right thing' when needed.
• Participate in regular feedback sessions with team members to foster team collaboration and the 'United to Succeed' behavior.
• In collaboration with other operational managers, mitigate performance issues, including establishing development needs and unsatisfactory performance, through coaching, guidance, and disciplinary measures.
• Promote and enhance the safety culture across all areas of operations by encouraging proactive reporting and quickly managing incidents using Air Canada Safety Management System reports hosted in the Aviation Quality Database (AQD).
• Monitor and ensure punctuality by overseeing operational processes and procedures and collaborating with team members to manage and resolve delays or issues, while supporting our safety-first culture.
• Manage and resolve operational disruptions, emergencies, and customer concerns promptly.
• Conduct on-site incident investigations and ensure complete, prompt, and accurate reporting.
• Monitor multiple screens and cameras simultaneously to stay informed of ramp activities while responding to a high volume of calls and radio communications.
• Develop operational plans and oversee their implementation for daily activities, including resource allocation and contingency planning.
• Adjust staffing levels based on operational changes due to internal or external factors.
• Assume responsibility for establishing daily staff work schedules, including filling vacancies, reassigning employees, assigning overtime, managing deficit hours, and determining exceptions.
• Lead contingency planning to mitigate the effects of operational irregularities, such as disruptions related to weather conditions or staff shortages.
• Adapt to new concepts, technologies, and processes as the industry evolves, embracing change and leading by example.
• Participate in emergency response training.
• Communicate in a fast-paced environment via internal chat, telephone, radio, and email.
• Brief unionized team members on new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensure they implement them.
• Stay up-to-date with annual recurrent training.
• Be available to work in different airport sectors as needed, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability to meet changing operational requirements.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education, minimum, or equivalent operational experience.
• At least two years of leadership experience or equivalent operational experience.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire, coach, and empower employees.
• Managerial courage to make tough decisions to ensure operational integrity, safety, and punctuality.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to interact effectively with team members, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal relationships (within the organization and the team).
• Aptitude for independent time management.
• Customer orientation and commitment to delivering high-quality service.
• Ability to work shifts in 24/7 airport facilities, including weekends and holidays.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Restricted Operator Certificate (ROC-A) (for radiocommunications in Canada) issued by Industry Canada.
• Proven dynamic situational responsiveness, with the ability to adapt to unpredictable task changes throughout the day in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions, especially in high-stress situations.
• Ability to adapt to new technologies and share knowledge accordingly.
• Punctuality and reliability to support the overall success of the team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of airport and ramp operations, an asset.
• Experience working with unionized personnel and understanding collective agreements, an asset.
• Knowledge of safety protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), an asset.
• Knowledge resulting from work experience with unionized work groups, an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with various systems and programs used in the airline industry, an asset.

Employment Conditions:

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country concerned at the time an offer of employment is presented and are responsible for obtaining necessary work permits, visas, or other authorizations. Proof of eligibility must be provided before the start date.

Language Requirements

All else being equal, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Diversity and Inclusion

Air Canada is firmly committed to diversity and inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible, and rewarding workplace that highlights the unique contribution of our employees to our company's success.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage diverse applications so that we can have a workforce that is varied and representative of our customers and the communities where we live and serve.

Air Canada thanks all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.