Operations Manager

Dnata; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

dnata USA is seeking an Airport Operations Manager to oversee daily ground handling and cargo operations at IAD. You will manage staffing, safety, and performance to ensure on-time operations while maintaining high customer service standards.

The role requires 2–3 years in aviation management, strong leadership, and excellent communication. Proficiency with Office 365 and a flexible schedule are essential as duties vary with operations and shift coverage.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of aviation management experience.
• Effective people management and planning/organizing skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to work under pressure and as part of a team.
• Strong customer focus and quality awareness.
• Proficiency with Office 365, Word and Excel.
• Willingness to work flexible hours.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations, staffing, safety compliance, and customer relations.
• Drive excellence through appropriate disciplines and best practices.
• Utilize customer technologies to support safe, on-time operations and carrier SOPs.
• Assist with loading/unloading as needed and ensure safe handling of baggage and cargo.
• Read and interpret load sheets, baggage tags, and cargo labels; enter weight/balance data.
• Coordinate with drivers and equipment to support ground handling activities.
• Adhere to and enforce dnata, TSA, FAA regulations and policies.
• Foster a safety-first culture through briefings, audits, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned and maintain attendance standards.

Skills

Aviation management

People management

Conflict resolution

Communication

Under pressure

Customer focus

Office software

Flexible hours

Education

Associate's degree

Job description

IAD VIRGINIA, 23941 Cargo Dr, Dulles, Virginia, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Monday, August 17, 2026 at 4:00 AM

dnata is more than a global air and travel services provider. We connect people with possibilities and opportunities across 130+ airports in 34 countries through ground handling, cargo, travel, and catering & retail services. Our purpose is clear: to deliver on the promises our customers make. We are powered by a bold vision to be the world’s most admired air and travel services provider, which guides our strategy, culture, and every role across our teams. Our core values fuel everything we do: we are safe, we play to win, we respect everyone and work together as a team, and we are future thinking. At dnata we foster diversity, nurture ambition, and celebrate achievement. If you're inspired by purpose and motivated to be part of a global team shaping the future of aviation and travel, we’d love to have you onboard.

On the ground, dnata USA keeps 27 of the country’s major airports connected – both with each other and the world - including John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City. Handling 200,000 tonnes of cargo, guiding 15,000,000 passengers and keeping 50,000 flights in the air each year, the work that the dnata USA team complete on the ground is crucial to keeping the country in the air.

The Airport Operations Manager

• Oversight of daily operations to include staffing assignments, oversight of operational safety, adherence to company policy while maintaining a professional manner with both internal and external customers
• Drive excellence through appropriate disciplines
• Use applicable customer technologies to support Safe and on-time operations to include individual carrier SOP’s
• Lift baggage and or cargo weighing up to 70lbs. when loading/unloading aircraft, carts, and containers
• Loading/unloading may require lifting over 100 items for a single aircraft
• Push/pull loaded and empty carts and containers during loading/unloading operations
• Couple/uncouple carts and/or cargo container dollies
• Ascend/descend jet-way stairs while carrying baggage
• Bend/stoop and crawl to move and stack/unstack cargo in aircraft and containers
• Stand for up to 4 hours in all weather conditions to upload or unload cargo and direct traffic
• Walk continuously to load/ unload cargo from pallets, containers, carts, or conveyor belts
• Complete safety checklists for motorized equipment
• Drive and operate motorized equipment (Tug, Belt Loader)
• Read and interpret aircraft load sheets, checked baggage tags, and cargo labels
• Operate a computer to enter and retrieve data for weight and balance purposes
• Count baggage/cargo being uploaded/ unloaded during operations
• Connect support equipment to aircraft such as PC Air, GPU etc.
• Use signalling devices to communicate with co-workers or flight crew
• Ensure compliance with dnata, TSA and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and policies
• Carries out management responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws
• Establishes a culture that promotes safety through daily observation, shift briefings/safety meetings, routine audits, training and documented safety procedures.
• Conducts oneself in such a way as to become the benchmark for the Station in integrity, fairness, personal attitude and respect for others
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Can meet the Station’s attendance standards

Job Qualifications

• 2-3 years Aviation Management Experience Required
• Effective people management and planning / organizing skills, customer focused and analytical with good judgment, able to work under pressure and a team player
• Ability to deal with conflict
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Customer focus and quality awareness
• Computer proficiency, Office 365, Word/Excel
• Must be able to work flexible working hours

Education-associate's degree from college or university; or three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

IAD VIRGINIA, 23941 Cargo Dr, Dulles, Virginia, United States of America