Airport Manager
hace 2 días
Gatwick
Company Description Vip First LTD is a premier ground handling services provider based in Terminal 4 at Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest and most respected airports in the world. The company delivers comprehensive support to airlines and airport partners, including passenger handling, ramp services, aircraft cleaning, baggage handling, and load control. With strategically located offices and 24/7 operations, Vip First LTD ensures seamless, safe, and efficient turnarounds for both commercial and VIP aviation. Teams are made up of highly trained professionals who work to the highest international standards while maintaining a client-first, performance-focused culture. The organization combines operational integrity with personal attention to create a high-quality experience for airline partners and passengers alike. As part of our continued growth, we are expanding our airport operations to Gatwick Airport. This is an exciting opportunity to join the business during a significant phase of development and play a key leadership role in supporting the successful expansion of our services. • Job Summary We are seeking an experienced, commercially minded, and dynamic Airport Manager to oversee the daily operation of our airport station. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and profitable delivery of all airport activities while maintaining exceptional customer service standards and leading a diverse workforce. This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive leader with strong operational, organisational, and people management skills to contribute to the continued success and growth of our airport services. The Airport Manager will hold full financial and operational accountability for the station and will ensure safe, profitable, and high-quality performance in line with customer expectations, corporate objectives, business strategy, and operational plans. You will provide leadership and direction across a diverse workforce (including multi-site operations where applicable), ensuring teams remain engaged, customer-focused, and performance-driven. A key part of this role will also involve developing customer relationships, identifying opportunities for business growth, and supporting initiatives that increase customer satisfaction, retention, and revenue. • Key Responsibilities, • Operational Leadership, • Oversee daily airport operations, including passenger services, security, facilities management, and ground handling activities., • Ensure safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of all operational activities in line with aviation regulations and company standards., • Develop and implement operational procedures and policies to improve efficiency, service quality, and safety performance., • Monitor operational KPIs, identify risks and opportunities, and lead continuous improvement initiatives., • Manage budgets, resources, staffing levels, and schedules to achieve operational and financial targets., • Maintain accurate operational, staffing, compliance, and administrative records., • People Management, • Lead, coach, and develop airport teams through effective recruitment, training, performance management, and succession planning., • Organise staff rotas and allocate resources to meet operational demands., • Promote a positive and inclusive working environment that encourages collaboration, accountability, and professional development., • Provide clear leadership and guidance across a diverse workforce and foster a culture of high performance., • Customer & Commercial Growth, • Build and maintain strong relationships with existing airline customers, airport authorities, and key stakeholders., • Identify opportunities to increase customer satisfaction, strengthen customer retention, and support business growth initiatives., • Develop and implement local customer engagement strategies to attract new airline, handling, and operational opportunities., • Actively seek opportunities to expand services and increase station revenue through operational excellence and value-added solutions., • Conduct regular customer reviews and gather feedback to improve service delivery and strengthen long-term partnerships., • Collaborate with commercial and business development teams to support bids, presentations, and customer proposals., • Drive a customer-centric culture through your teams by understanding customer priorities and adapting services to meet evolving business needs., • Represent the station at customer meetings, networking events, and industry forums to enhance business visibility and attract new opportunities., • Stakeholder Management, • Act as the primary point of contact with airport authorities, airlines, security agencies, ground handling teams, and external stakeholders., • Build trusted relationships internally with Station Manager peers, Business Unit Heads, and support functions including Finance, HR, and QHSE., • Manage customer complaints, escalations, and service recovery actions professionally to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction., • Skills & Experience, • Proven management experience within the aviation or airport operations sector, with a strong background in leading teams., • Demonstrated commercial awareness and experience contributing to customer growth and business performance., • Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to motivate and develop diverse teams., • Excellent organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment., • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills., • Strong understanding of aviation security procedures, safety standards, and regulatory compliance requirements., • Experience managing operational budgets, KPIs, and performance reporting., • Customer-focused mindset with experience building strong stakeholder relationships., • Excellent administrative and reporting skills with strong attention to detail., • Professional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels. This position is ideal for a results-driven leader who thrives in a fast-paced operational environment and is passionate about delivering exceptional airport services while driving customer growth, operational excellence, and commercial success.