Assistant General Manager

gategroup; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company match

Paid time off

Company sponsored life insurance

Voluntary disability insurance

Voluntary life, accident and hospital

Employee Discounts

Weekly pay for union employees

Free hot meals

Job summary

gategroup in Chicago is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to lead the Culinary/Hot Kitchen, Assembly and Transportation teams within our airline catering unit. You will drive production standards, cost controls, sanitation, and customer service across 1,000+ employees.

The role requires a proven track record in airline catering or food manufacturing, strong leadership, and Lean/Six Sigma knowledge to optimize operations while meeting regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of management experience in airline catering or food manufacturing.
• Proven experience managing a team of supervisors and managers for a single operating unit.
• Lean manufacturing principles and/or Six Sigma knowledge preferred.
• Labor relations experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead Culinary/Hot Kitchen, Assembly and Transportation departments to meet production standards.
• Drive to meet business objectives related to costs, sanitation, quality and service goals.
• Maintain key performance metrics for the departments.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, FDA, TSA and airline specifications.
• Develop SOPs and oversee security and regulatory programs.
• Oversee annual performance evaluations and labor relations across departments.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Problem solving

Project management

Change agent

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Multi-tasking

Lean/six sigma

Employee relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Reporting to the Hub BU Leader, this position leads and manages the Culinary/Hot Kitchen, Assembly and Transportation departments of the airline catering unit or “flight kitchen” with gross revenues of $100+ million and direct and indirect headcount of 1,000+ employees.

Annual Hiring Range

• $150,000 to $155,000 /Per Year plus 20% STIP
• Paid time off
• 401k, with company match
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Voluntary short-term/long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Weekly pay for union employees
• Free hot healthy meals for unit operations roles

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leads and manages Culinary/Hot Kitchen, Assembly and Transportation departments to ensure production standards and customer service requirements are met.
• Drives to meet business objectives and goals set by superior related to food costs, labor costs, sanitation, quality assurance, market track goals, airline goals and objectives, and all other specific goals set thereof.
• Responsible for the maintenance of key performance metrics for the departments.
• Ensures Customer requirements/specifications and service requirements are complied with on all airline accounts; this includes production processing, on-time performance, equipment inventory, and quality assurance controls.
• Maintains customer communication with all local and corporate airline representatives to ensure all request, investigations, and/or related are concluded to the satisfaction of the customer and company.
• Supports customer audits and government audits to meet compliance.
• Monitors all menu cycles to ensure customer service and satisfaction is not interrupted.
• Ensures that all HACCP, FDA, Local Airport, Quality Assurance, and Airline Specifications are maintained at the highest level.
• Supports and assists Lean initiatives, and Quality initiatives to achieve OPEX targets.
• Ensures that proper equipment is maintained and controlled in the Unit for operation excellence.
• Ensures all Corporate Policies and Procedures are followed and maintained.
• Develops Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensures the security of the facility by monitoring and maintaining existing programs including all TSA, local airport and corporate requirements.
• Manages operation staff on a day-to-day operation aspect to drive for exceeding set targets.
• Responsible for annual performance evaluations of direct reports in compliance with corporate initiatives.
• Monitors employee relations in each Department, ensures compliance with the National Master and Local Addendum labor agreements in the Departments.
• Assists the BU leader on projects, investigations, training, corporate goals and objectives, and airline requests.
• Completes Hazard Analysis and Risk Based Preventative Controls (HARPC) Preventative Controls for Human Food training and certification course to be a PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) according to company policy.
• Completes all company required training including but not limited to ServSafe Sanitation Manager Certification.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field required

Work Experience:

• Successful track record as a Manager or Assistant Manager in airline catering required.
• Minimum 10 years of management experience in in-flight catering or food manufacturing environment required.
• Proven experience successfully managing a team of supervisors and managers for a single operating unit required
• Demonstrated knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and/or six sigma and continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
• Previous customer service and/or account management experience required.
• Strong track record of innovation and making changes to the operation to further improve the work environment and unit performance
• Labor relations experience is required

Technical Skills: (Certification, Licenses and Registration)

• Must have strong and effective leadership skills
• Must be comfortable with all levels of employees and have the ability to drive positive program change.
• Must be a Team builder with the ability to lead and motivate a diverse management and hourly staff
• Excellent problem solving skills, planning and scheduling capabilities managing multiple account requirements
• Ability to effectively manage multiple operations while maintaining compliance in a heavy regulated environment e.g. FDA, HACCP and security
• Advanced Microsoft office tool skills (excel, word)
• Knowledge of quality auditing, inspection methods
• Detail oriented and excellent project management skills
• Strong organizational skills, able to prioritize responsibilities and multi-task
• Change Agent
• Able to obtain an AOA badge and customs seal.

Language / Communication Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with multiple departments and customers
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.