Senior Manager, Operational Insights and Excellence

JFK International Air Terminal; Hempfield Township (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

JFK International Air Terminal (JFKIAT) seeks a Senior Manager to lead data-driven transformation of Terminal 4 operations, driving performance and passenger experience through analytics and strategic governance.

You will mentor a team of data professionals, define KPI-based reporting, and collaborate with airlines and partners to implement sustainable improvements in processes and performance metrics.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in analytics/operations.
• 5+ years of experience performing Operations business analysis/intelligence.
• Experience with aviation systems, terminal operations, regulations, and industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation and process improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.
• Partner with airlines and internal stakeholders to establish SOPs and contingency plans.
• Develop and execute data analytics strategies to support long-term objectives.
• Manage a team delivering operational insights, dashboards, and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Data analytics

Process improvement

Stakeholder collaboration

Project management

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Aviation operations knowledge

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Master’s degree in engineering, business administration, business analytics, statistics, or related field or experience.

Tools

Process improvement software

Data analysis tools

Project management software

Job description

Full-Time Position

Position Overview:

This position will be responsible for creating data-driven business value through optimizing and enhancing various operational processes, including but not limited to check-in, Security Check Points, arrival Domestic & International, airside functions, and boarding processes. The position will play a critical role in creating operational long-term strategies, and contingency plans with partners and internal colleagues. This role will collaborate with the leadership team and stakeholders to identify opportunities and insights to improve the performance/customer service of the business. The primary responsibility for this position is to enhance operational excellence of Terminal 4 operations, and to achieve continuous improvements based on insights from key performance indicators. The Senior Manager will lead a team of business process and data analytics to deliver actionable insights and create data strategies that support data-informed transformation initiatives across operations.

Reports To

Vice President, Operations

FLSA Status

Exempt Status

Salary Range

$140,000 - $150,000

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Lead Operational Transformation and Process Improvement:

• Lead the development, prioritization, and implementation of transformation and process improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, minimize delays, reduce costs, improve on-time performance, passenger experience, airline satisfaction, and employee engagement
• Partners with Airlines, JFKIAT’s internal departments and other stakeholders to identify opportunities, establish and revise SOPs, develop contingency and recovery plans, apply process improvement methodologies, and ensure sustainable results

Drive Data, Analytics, and Performance Strategy:

• Develop and execute comprehensive operational data and analytics strategies that advance data maturity, strengthen data-driven decision-making, and support long-term business objectives.
• Lead the use of quantitative, qualitative, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, including capacity planning, passenger volume forecasting, performance benchmarking, scenario analysis, and root-cause analysis, to identify trends, anticipate operational challenges, and develop actionable recommendations

Lead Analytics Team and Data-Driven Culture:

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of data and analytics professionals responsible for delivering operational insights, dashboards, reporting, and decision-support capabilities
• Establish standards and best practices for data and analytics while promoting data literacy, organizational awareness, and adoption of data-driven decision-making across all levels of the organization

Establish Performance Management and Business Intelligence:

• Partner with stakeholders to define and continuously improve KPIs, performance measures, dashboards, analytical tools, and reporting frameworks
• Translate business needs into clearly documented requirements and establish processes to monitor performance, measure benefits realization, identify gaps, and communicate actionable insights, recommendations, and progress to senior management, Airlines, partners, and other stakeholders

Drive Strategic Alignment, Innovation, and Operational Excellence:

• Establish priorities and performance goals aligned with the operations business plan and broader organizational strategy. Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners to drive alignment, collaboration, change adoption, and accountability.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, automation, and best practices to identify opportunities for innovation and continuously improve operational performance. Foster a culture of continuous improvement through coaching, collaboration, recognition, and accountability

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience

• Master’s degree in engineering, business administration, business analytics, statistics, or related field or experience.
• 5 years’ experience performing Operations business analysis/intelligence, such as quantitative and qualitative business case development, operations analysis, etc.

Special Requirements

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check and obtain and maintain federally mandated security clearances required to work at an airport.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Experience and understanding of a wide variety of statistics, analytical processes, tools, and approaches
• Experience in leading process improvement initiatives and projects, including project management, data analysis, and root cause analysis
• Understanding of data gathering and transformation tools
• Understanding of aviation systems, terminal operations, regulations, and industry standards

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and vendors
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities concurrently
• Proficiency in using process improvement software, data analysis tools, and project management software
• Leadership skills to inspire and motivate team members and staff towards a culture of continuous improvement
• Strong Microsoft Office skills
• Active learning: Understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision making
• Active listening: Give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and not interrupt at inappropriate times
• Time management: Manage one’s own time or the time of others
• Coordination with others: Adjust actions in relation to others' actions
• Judgement and decision making: Consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one

Abilities

• Ability to understand a problem, structure the analysis needed to solve it and come up with innovative and insightful solutions and data-driven recommendations
• Experience structuring and delivering presentations and communications targeted to company leadership and stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and efficiently, often without direct supervision
• Ability to quickly learn potentially unfamiliar topics
• Excellent verbal and communication skillsAviation industry experience preferred
• Comprehend oral information: Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
• Speak: Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
• Comprehend written information: Read and understand information and ideas presented in writin
• Write: Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand
• Recognize problems: Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong
• Reason to solve problems: Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense
• Make sense of information: Quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against a qualified individual with a disability. To be qualified for this position an individual must meet the following standards and/or be able to perform the essential functions and activities. The physical activities for this position involve pulling, pushing, and standing, sitting, stooping, walking, crouching, kneeling, and jumping. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to travel from floor to floor and in varying outdoor weather conditions. An individual in this position may be required to lift and/or move more than 10 pounds. The essential sensory and communicative activities include feeling, hearing, and vision abilities to include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

All JFKIAT employees must commit to supporting our 4 strategic pillars:

And our corporate values designed