Senior Manager Global Operations

Swissport; England; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in airport services seeks a Senior Manager, Engineering to lead global operations in cargo. This role involves overseeing engineering projects, ensuring compliance with standards, and enhancing service quality in air cargo operations. The successful candidate will collaborate with various teams and act as the technical expert in innovative facility upgrades.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in engineering project management, preferably in logistics or airport infrastructure.
• Proven experience with material handling systems and facility upgrades.
• Strong understanding of air cargo operations and safety compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering project delivery for material handling systems and infrastructure improvements.
• Ensure compliance with global standards and local regulations.
• Define key performance indicators for engineering projects.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Stakeholder management

Fluency in English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Civil, or Systems Engineering

Master’s degree or PMP certification

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

MS Project

Primavera

Job description

Senior Manager, Global Operations- Engineering, Senior Manager, Global Operations – Cargo

Location: Madrid (Hybrid) OR United Kingdom (Remote)

About Swissport

We are a global leader in sustainable and responsible airport services provision, renowned for our unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and exceptional service, shaping a future where air travel thrives on reliability, efficiency, and experience.

In 2023, with the support of more than 60,000 colleagues, Swissport provided best-in-class airport ground services for some 232 million airline passengers and handled roughly 4.7 million tons of air freight at 115 cargo centres. Across a global network that is unparalleled in the industry, Swissport served airlines at 286 airports in 44 countries across six continents.

The culture of Swissport is shaped by our corporate values, which guide our actions and decision-making processes. These values are at the core of our culture, shaping our business and underpinning our commitment to measuring our impact. They capture the essence of who we are at Swissport and help us deliver value across the entire company.

"Show You Care" underlines that our actions are perceived and valued from the perspective of the people around us. So, whatever we do, we do it purposefully and consciously, taking in the perspective of our colleagues, customers, and passengers.

“Doing the right things” means that we do the things that are valuable to our colleagues, customers, and passengers. We are trained to do this safely and trusted to do the right thing in any given situation.

"Win as a Team" highlights the importance of teamwork. Either we win as a team, or we fall as individuals. Together, we can surpass ourselves and handle any situation.

These values capture the essence of who we are and our unwavering commitment to excellence, and give actionable guidance for individual behaviour of employees, leaders, and executives, serving as a compass for how to act and deliver.

Job Summary

Senior Manager, Engineering, Swissport Global Operations – Cargo leads the design, planning, and execution of engineering projects focused on material handling systems and infrastructure improvements within Swissport’s global air cargo operations. This role ensures that all projects support the strategic objectives of efficiency, safety, and service quality across cargo warehouse facilities. The successful candidate will act as a technical subject matter expert and project leader, collaborating with global and local stakeholders—including engineering teams, IT, operations, procurement, suppliers, and regulatory bodies—to deliver scalable and innovative facility upgrades and equipment installations.

Your Responsibilities:

Engineering Project Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of engineering projects involving the design and installation of material handling systems (e.g., conveyors, ULD systems, automated sorting).
• Plan and manage infrastructure improvements in air cargo terminals, including layout optimization, structural upgrades, and energy efficiency enhancements.
• Develop and maintain project scopes, timelines, budgets, and resource plans aligned with corporate strategy.

Technical Design and Standardization

• Serve as the engineering subject matter expert for cargo handling infrastructure, ensuring technical compliance with global standards and local regulations.
• Standardize the design and specifications of equipment and layouts across Swissport cargo facilities.
• Continuously assess new technologies and process innovations for their applicability and value in air cargo operations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with operations, commercial, procurement, IT, and finance teams to ensure engineering projects meet business and operational needs.
• Coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and consultants for engineering studies, system installations, and commissioning activities.
• Support local Swissport teams with technical expertise and project implementation guidance.

Project Governance and Compliance

• Prepare and present business cases and capital expenditure proposals for engineering projects.
• Ensure that all projects comply with health, safety, and environmental standards, especially regarding materials handling and cargo flow.
• Lead risk assessments and mitigation planning related to infrastructure and systems upgrades.

Performance and Quality Management

• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for engineering projects.
• Identify and implement improvements that drive warehouse throughput, reduce downtime, and enhance cargo handling safety and accuracy.
• Support operational audits and site reviews to assess the effectiveness of infrastructure solutions.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical, Industrial, Civil, or Systems Engineering; a Master’s degree or PMP certification is a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in engineering project management, preferably in logistics, cargo handling, or airport infrastructure.
• Proven experience designing and managing installations of material handling systems and facility upgrades.
• Strong understanding of air cargo operations, including safety and compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in engineering design tools (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks) and project management software (e.g., MS Project, Primavera).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage stakeholders and influence decisions across functions and cultures.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are advantageous.
• Willingness to travel globally (up to 50 %).

We offer you a permanent position in the exciting and varied working environment of air cargo and ground handling. You’ll be part of a dynamic and friendly team with flat hierarchies.

Your next step

If you are looking for this key position in The Global Ops Team at a growing and changing international group that is headquartered in Zurich, we invite you to apply. When you do, please send your resume in English via the Apply button.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to respond personally to every candidate. If you do not hear from us, please understand that we have decided to move forward with another candidate at this time. We truly appreciate your interest in the role and the time you took to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Swissport as an equal opportunity employer bases its hiring decisions on the business need and the best qualified candidates available and does not discriminate in its employment decisions based on any protected category.

Candidates who are offered employment may be subject to a criminal record and other background checks as permitted or required by company policy or applicable law.