Terminal Operations Manager

Air New Zealand Limited; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff travel benefits

FlexiLeave

Learning culture

Employee perks

Wellbeing support

Life insurance & KiwiSaver

Job summary

Air New Zealand Limited is seeking a driven Terminal Operations Manager to lead Auckland's airport hub activities across international, domestic, and regional terminals. You will shape performance, drive safe and efficient ground handling, and ensure high standards of customer experience while coordinating with network teams and offshore stations.

You will develop and empower operational leaders, nurture a culture of safety and continuous improvement, and lead recovery during disruptions to

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience within an airline operational environment.
• Proven success leading teams in high pressure, fast moving operational settings.
• Operational management experience with the ability to make confident, critical decisions.
• Strong understanding of aviation regulations and operational requirements.
• Experience building effective relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including operational and union environments.
• Commercial and strategic thinking, with experience contributing to business planning and operational strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the daily operation of Auckland's International, Domestic and Regional terminals, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient ground handling performance.
• Inspire, coach and develop operational leaders, creating a high performing team that delivers outstanding operational discipline and customer outcomes.
• Drive on time performance across Auckland and collaborate with offshore stations and network teams to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Build trusted relationships across operational, planning and stakeholder groups to influence decisions and deliver successful network outcomes.
• Lead operational recovery during disruptions and emergency events, ensuring timely decision making and an exceptional customer experience.
• Champion safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement by identifying risks, improving processes and delivering measurable performance outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Airline operations

Stakeholder management

Safety culture

Problem solving

People development

Job description

Kia ora!

Lead one of the most complex and visible airport operations in New Zealand. As our Terminal Operations Manager, you'll shape the performance of theAuckland Airport Hub, ensuring safe, seamless and efficient operations that keep our customers moving and our network performing at its best.

At Air New Zealand, we connect friends and whānau across Aotearoa and the world. As part of our whānau, you'll thrive in a fast paced operational environment where doing the basics brilliantly makes every journey special. Recently voted New Zealand's most attractive employer, we're recognised globally for our strong culture, exceptional customer service and commitment to innovation. This is your opportunity to lead a high performing operation that has a direct impact on millions of customer journeys every year.

How you'll make an impact

• Lead the daily operation of Auckland's International, Domestic and Regional terminals, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient ground handling performance.
• Inspire, coach and develop operational leaders, creating a high performing team that delivers outstanding operational discipline and customer outcomes.
• Drive on time performance across Auckland and collaborate with offshore stations and network teams to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Build trusted relationships across operational, planning and stakeholder groups to influence decisions and deliver successful network outcomes.
• Lead operational recovery during disruptions and emergency events, ensuring timely decision making and an exceptional customer experience.
• Champion safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement by identifying risks, improving processes and delivering measurable performance outcomes.

Success in this role includes improving on time performance, strengthening operational resilience, developing high performing teams and delivering safe, efficient operations that support the wider Air New Zealand network.

What we're looking for

• Significant leadership experience within an airline operational environment.
• Proven success leading and developing teams in high pressure, fast moving operational settings.
• Operational management experience with the ability to make confident, critical decisions.
• Strong understanding of CAA regulations and Part 121 operational requirements is ideal.
• Experience building effective relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including operational and union environments.
• Commercial and strategic thinking, with experience contributing to business planning and operational strategy.
• A strong commitment to safety, customer outcomes and continuous improvement.

If you meet the majority of the criteria and are excited by the opportunity, we'd love to hear from you.

What we can offer you

We want our people to live their best lives and access great benefits that support life both inside and outside work.

• Generous staff travel benefits on Air New Zealand, plus access to standby travel on many international airlines for you, your friends and whānau.
• FlexiLeave, giving you the option to purchase up to four additional weeks of leave each year.
• A learning culture with development opportunities, meaningful experiences and on the job growth.
• Access to a wide range of work perks, including discounts on hotels, retail, banking, insurance and more.
• Wellbeing support through our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme and peer support networks. Permanent New Zealand based employees also have access to life insurance, discounted medical cover options and KiwiSaver or FlexiSaver employer contributions.

Ready for take-off?

If you're an inspiring operational leader who thrives on complexity, enjoys developing high performing teams and wants to shape the future of airport operations, we'd love to hear from you. Join Air New Zealand and help deliver safe, seamless journeys for our customers while building the future of one of the world's most admired airlines.

Applications close on 12th September 2026.

Additional Information

At Air New Zealand, we are proudly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in creating a truly inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. Our people are our greatest asset – because while everything else we do in our operation can be replicated by our competitors, it is our people that truly set us apart. We are firm believers in celebrating the differences and diversity of thought our people bring to their roles.

Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata. Ko te pae tata whakamaua, kia tina.

"Seek to bring distant horizons closer. Once near, seize them and make them your reality."