General Manager, Operations - Airline Catering

Pacific International Executive Search; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific International Executive Search has been retained to identify a General Manager of Operations to lead a major airline catering facility in the United States. Reporting to the VP of Operations, this executive will drive transformation, efficiency, and service delivery in a high-volume environment.

The role requires strategic leadership, change-management expertise, and the ability to build a high-performing team while maintaining regulatory and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Significant leadership experience within airport/ramp operations is required.
• Proven success managing large-scale operations in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment.
• Experience leading operational transformation, change management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of labor management, operational KPIs, and financial performance metrics.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Track record of building and developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for a large-scale airline catering operation, ensuring safe, efficient, and profitable delivery of services.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives focused on productivity, quality, customer service, and cost performance.
• Lead and execute transformation efforts, establishing scalable processes and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing leadership team while fostering employee engagement and accountability across the site.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, regulatory, quality, and operational standards.
• Partner closely with airline customers to ensure consistent service execution and maintain strong client relationships.
• Manage key operational metrics, including safety, labor, productivity, quality, on-time performance, and financial results.
• Collaborate with corporate leadership to support strategic objectives and future growth initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Change management

Communication

People development

Operations leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Pacific International has been retained by a leading global catering organization to identify a General Manager of Operations to lead a critical, airline catering facility in the United States.

Reporting directly to the RVP of Operations, the General Manager will have full responsibility for site operations, leading a large workforce in a complex, high-volume environment. This executive will play a pivotal role in driving operational transformation, increasing efficiency, enhancing service delivery, and building the capabilities required to support continued growth.

The Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to lead a strategically important operation for a market-leading global organization undergoing significant growth. The successful candidate will be empowered to drive meaningful change, influence business performance, and shape the future of a key operation within the broader network.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for a large-scale airline catering operation, ensuring the safe, efficient, and profitable delivery of services.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives focused on productivity, quality, customer service, and cost performance.
• Lead and execute transformation efforts, establishing scalable processes and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing leadership team while fostering employee engagement and accountability across the site.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, regulatory, quality, and operational standards.
• Partner closely with airline customers to ensure consistent service execution and maintain strong client relationships.
• Manage key operational metrics, including safety, labor, productivity, quality, on-time performance, and financial results.
• Collaborate with corporate leadership to support strategic objectives and future growth initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Significant leadership experience within airport/ramp operations is required
• Proven success managing large-scale operations in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading operational transformation, change management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of labor management, operational KPIs, and financial performance metrics.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Track record of building and developing high-performing teams.

About Pacific International Executive Search:

Pacific International, a globally recognized retained executive search firm, is dedicated to empowering Fortune 500, FTSE 100, and high-growth enterprises in building exceptional C-suite, senior-level, and strategic leadership teams while championing diversity and inclusion. Our adaptability, agility, and forward-thinking ethos distinguish us in the ever-evolving business landscape.

Since 1997, we have been dedicated to building lasting client partnerships based on trust and reliability, and a proven track record of successful C-suite and mid- to senior-level leadership project delivery across many key industries globally.

Diversity Statement:

At Pacific International, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and we proudly champion diversity on behalf of our clients in every Executive Search mandate we undertake. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. In pursuit of these objectives, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities.