Sr. Operations Manager - Airline Catering

LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 104,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

SkyChefs, a leader in aviation catering, seeks an experienced Sr. Operations Manager to oversee the Customer Service Center and related production activities in Philadelphia. You will lead multiple departments, drive efficiency, and ensure adherence to safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Key responsibilities include strategic planning, budgeting support, resource deployment, and continuous improvement initiatives, while developing leaders and ensuring alignment with customer contracts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Five to seven years of related experience preferred.
• Experience supervising multiple departments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations across production and service activities.
• Direct planning, scheduling and coordination to meet targets.
• Drive performance improvements and cost control.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and customer requirements.
• Lead and develop supervisors and managers within CSC context.

Skills

Excellent communication

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership abilities

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Windows-based applications

Job description

Sr. Operations Manager - Airline Catering

Job Title: Sr. Operations Manager - Airline Catering
Job Location: Philadelphia-USA-19153
Work Location Type: On-Site
Salary Range: $104,000.00 - 134,000.00

About us

Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to new heights. As a trusted partner to the nation’s leading airlines and retailers, we proudly deliver millions of meals and exceptional service experiences every year across 43 sites throughout the United States. Built on a legacy of operational excellence, culinary expertise, and continuous innovation, we are committed to setting the industry standard in aviation culinary, airline services, last-mile logistics, and retail commerce. From the kitchen to the runway, our teams work together to deliver quality, reliability, and service at every altitude. Our people are the heart of everything we do. At SkyChefs, a career is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to grow, lead, and make an impact in a fast‑paced, team-driven environment. Join America’s first, foremost, and finest and take your career to new heights.

Role Purpose Statement

We are seeking an experienced Operations Leader to support our expanding Customer Service Center (CSC). This newly created role is critical to enabling growth and ensuring operational excellence across all production and service activities. The successful candidate will be a strong people leader with a proven track record of managing supervisors and managers, driving performance, and leading teams through change in a fast‑paced operational environment. This role is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating multiple operational and production activities to achieve business objectives, maintain competitiveness, and ensure compliance with company standards, customer requirements, and regulatory guidelines.

Main Accountabilities

Business Strategy, Policies and Tools

• Execute the implementation of the CSC planning
• Ensure compliance with the policies provided by CSC and Corporate

Managing Business

• Provide data for the development of an annual business plan and budgeting for the CSC
• Implement the short -term manufacturing (or operation) planning in coordination with other relevant interfaces. Ensure efficient and timely corrective actions in case of significant deviations
• Oversee the CSC economic and operating performance. Ensure that the CSC is managed and controlled efficiently in line with the company’s framework and market requirements.
• Ensure optimal deployment of human, technical and material resources in the CSC
• Ensure the ordering of all materials needed at the CSC
• Ensure that the CSC work methods are in line with the company’s standards and customer contracts
• Initiate Capex requests
• Initiate and control continuous optimization of processes
• Ensure the compliance with safety, health, environmental and quality guidelines provided by Corporate and local regula¬tions and customer requirements
• Ensure clear communication and close cooperation with all relevant internal and external interfaces

Leadership

• Ensure that the area of responsibility is properly organized, staffed and directed
• Guide, motivate and develop the subordinate employees within the Human Resources Policy
• Participates in coaching the expanded Global Performance System (GPS) process, as well as additional career development activities to enhance the effectiveness and potential of the team
• Make the company's values and management principles live in the department(s)
• Plan / Implement and control the cost budget in the area of responsibility; initiate and steer corrective actions in case of deviations
• Participate and support company sponsored initiatives such as Global Quality Standard (GQS), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Lean Manufacturing, Employee Safety

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• In addition, five to seven years of experience in related field required
• Experience in managing multiple departments
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Polished presentation and interpersonal skills
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows-based computer applications

SkyChefs is an EEO and Aff…