Business Manager Ground

Dnata Ltd; Crawley; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

dnata Ground Handling at London Gatwick Airport is seeking a forward-thinking Business Manager to lead our local operation. You will drive operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and a culture of safety, performance, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

Lead day-to-day operations, manage budgets and KPIs, develop staff, and drive change initiatives. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management are essential to deliver exceptional service and

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in fast-paced, safety-critical environments.
• Strong knowledge of ground handling operations and safety regulations.
• Financial acumen with budgeting experience.
• Track record of building and leading high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations at LGW, ensuring service, safety and security standards.
• Foster a proactive safety culture and oversee staff wellbeing and discipline.
• Manage the station's KPIs, budgets, and performance plans with the Finance Business Partner.
• Drive local and corporate change initiatives and continuous improvement.
• Ensure audits, regulatory readiness and adherence to KPIs and SLAs.

Skills

Leadership

Safety management

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Communication

Job description

London Gatwick Airport

About the Role

At dnata Ground Handling, we are proud to be a trusted partner to some of the world's leading airlines, delivering safe, efficient, and customer-focused services on the ground. As we continue to grow and evolve at Gatwick Airport—one of the UK's busiest and most dynamic aviation hubs—we are seeking a forward-thinking and results-driven Business Manager to lead our local operation. This is a high-impact leadership role where you will be at the forefront of driving operational excellence, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering a culture of safety, performance, and continuous improvement. If you thrive in a fast-paced, people-focused environment and are passionate about delivering exceptional service through strong leadership and strategic planning, we invite you to join our team and help shape the future of ground handling at Gatwick

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Safety

• Lead the day-to-day operations at LGW, ensuring compliance with service, safety, and security standards.
• Foster a proactive safety culture and ensure the safety of staff, equipment, and facilities.
• Oversee the development and implementation of safe and secure procedures for passenger and baggage handling.
• Ensure compliance with airport safety and security requirements, including incident investigation and emergency response planning.

People Management & Engagement

• Promote a positive and productive work environment through strong leadership and staff engagement.
• Ensure compliance with people policies and procedures, including mandatory training.
• Maintain discipline and high morale, encouraging continuous improvement and accountability.

Financial & Commercial Performance

• Prepare and deliver the station's annual P&L budget in collaboration with the Finance Business Partner.
• Drive performance against KPIs and the station's Performance Plan.
• Support commercial growth through account management, SLA delivery, and customer relationship development.

Strategic Planning & Change Delivery

• Lead the delivery of local and corporate change initiatives.
• Ensure effective operational and workforce planning to meet service demands.
• Drive continuous improvement in processes to enhance service delivery and cost efficiency.
• Participate in internal and external audits, including certification and renewal processes.

Governance & Compliance

• Implement and manage policies and procedures that meet company KPIs, customer SLAs, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure readiness for audits and compliance with all relevant aviation and safety regulations.
• Undertake additional duties as required by management, aligned with the scope of the role.

What We're Looking For

• Proven leadership experience in a fast-paced, safety-critical operational environment (aviation or transport preferred).
• Strong understanding of ground handling operations, safety regulations, and airport procedures.
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets and driving commercial performance.
• Excellent people management skills with a track record of building high-performing teams.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and change leadership capabilities.

At dnata, our values define who we are and how we work together. We are safe – making safety and security a mindset in everything we do, where every team member is empowered to speak up and prioritise wellbeing. We play to win – going above and beyond for our customers, setting ambitious goals, taking ownership, and empowering bold decision-making. We respect everyone and work as a team – building trusted relationships, embracing diversity, and creating a culture of belonging where respect and results go hand in hand. We are future-thinking – welcoming innovative ideas, taking responsibility for our impact, learning from challenges, and investing in our people's potential. If these values resonate with you and you're ready to be part of a team shaping the future of ground handling and cargo services, we'd love to hear from you