Zone/Gate Control Manager

United Airlines; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 79,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flight privileges

Competitive benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

United Airlines is seeking a Manager – Operations Control to oversee gate planning, schedule integrity, and flight-process activities at a major airport. This role requires strategic thinking, strong leadership, and the ability to coordinate with NOC, Ops, and service partners to keep the hub running smoothly.

You'll guide preplanning, adapt to dynamic conditions, and maintain situational awareness to support safe, efficient operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 4 years of relevant airline management experience.

Responsibilities

• Preplanning prior to shifts and ensuring readiness for gates, crews, maintenance, WX/ATC, and staffing.

Skills

Decisive action

Strategic planning

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or 4 years of relevant work experience

Job description

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network.

Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together.

Description

At United, we fly into airports around the entire world. And we need a whole team of people to keep things running in tip-top shape! From the exceptional service at the check-in counter to the departure gate, and even behind the scenes making sure your checked bags arrive with you, our Airport Operations team keeps operations at our airports running smoothly every single day.

Job Overview And Responsibilities

The Manager – Operations Control serves as the primary management control oversight of gate planning, daily schedule integrity, and flight process activities, all while ensuring local station requirements are met and United’s core4 principles are upheld. Operations Control Managers must be able to function interchangeably as planners overseeing the hub gating plan and as flight process overseers / problem solvers within a given area of responsibility (a pod of approximately 10-20 gates).

• Responsible for preplanning prior to shifts/banks and ensuring readiness for gates, crews, maintenance, WX/ATC, and staffing Monitor flight activities within pod (including pre-arrival, arrival, ground-servicing, and departure activities) for exceptions and process failures with a given area of responsibility and engage with other team members as needed to resolve operational challenges
• Create hub gating plans that meet operational, customer, and employee needs and adapt them as needed to dynamic changes in the operational environment
• Maintain thorough situational awareness about any events that may impact gating and parking plans
• Make tactical decisions as needed and elevate significant operational challenges to the SOC shift manager
• Provide consistent, ongoing strategic gate planning communication and operational updates with all departments, service partners and external agencies
• Primary liaison with NOC Dispatch and Ops Managers regarding real time updates to the hub schedule and notable flight-level events
• Work with all stakeholders to ensure accurate flight following (FLIFO) information is maintained
• Responsible for supporting the station safety culture through strategic communication and engagement
• Responsible for coordinating analysis and communication of field conditions during irregular operations
• Responsible for partnering with local station and Network Planning in developing future flight schedules

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree or 4 years of relevant work experience
• 2+ years of airline management experience
• Proven track record for decisive action backed by strategic planning, continuous improvement, analytical thinking, goal-directed leadership and service-oriented performance
• Ability to lead peers and other leaders utilizing a philosophy focused on Safety, Caring, Dependability and Efficiency to reach best outcomes for the airline
• Proven track record for decisive action backed by strategic planning, continuous improvement, analytical thinking, goal-directed leadership and service-oriented performance
• Able to consistently manage both controlled and uncontrolled environments while making informed strategic and tactical decisions
• Strong interest and desire to develop training skills and knowledge
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and connect with diverse learners
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree
• Extensive knowledge of operations, management and logistics
• 1+ years of leadership experience with projects
• Experience in schedule design and schedule planning
• Experience working with operational programs such as Inform Real Time Stands, Unimatic, IOM, and similar programs
• Project management
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to conform to shifting priorities, demands and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Demonstrates an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and effectively leverages them for research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving. Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to company policies related to responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.

The base pay range for this role is $79,433.10 to $97,084.90.

The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k) and flight privileges.

United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact [e-mail]