Operations Manager (Transportation/ Dispatch)

About the role

Join Newrest, a global leader in in-flight catering, as an Operations Manager. Oversee daily operations, ensure the highest levels of service and quality, and lead the team to meet Newrest’s high standards. This key role sets the tone for the unit's culture, ensuring team members accomplish goals and are treated equitably and respectfully. The Operations Manager provides vision and motivation for the unit to improve recruitment and retention efforts, consistently looks for ways to enhance operations and flow, and maintains the quality and safety of Newrest standards.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Infuse the Newrest culture throughout the facility through the Operations Managers and by example.
• Hold managers accountable for meeting expectations and KPIs.
• Mentor and coach managers to ensure performance and adherence to policy and culture.
• Train, coach, and mentor managers and other direct reports to provide a strong talent bench for succession planning and career advancement within the unit and other units throughout the country.
• Ensure all policies and procedures are followed per Newrest and client’s requirements.
• Communicate effectively with all crew members and team members.
• Hold managers accountable for all expectations.
• Other job duties may be assigned based on operational needs.

Operations and Logistics

• Fully responsible for the operations of the entire unit, including production, logistics, supply, safety, quality, personnel, and customer service.
• Ensure that everyone adheres to all quality and safety procedures and programs.
• Ensure that all catering needs are met promptly.
• Meet all KPIs according to customer requirements and KPI standards.
• Properly plan and foresee issues that may cause delays in timely arrival, poor quality, or safety hazards.
• Develop and implement operating methods and procedures to eliminate operating problems and improve product quality.
• Other job duties may be assigned based on operational needs.

Finances

• Review finances with the CFO and Country Manager to ensure proper use of fiscal resources.
• Stay within the proposed budget for all items.
• Drive improvements in productivity, cost reduction, plant output, capacity, and waste while delivering quality products on time to the customer.
• Other job duties may be assigned based on operational needs.

Quality and Safety

• Ensure that all processes conform to the customer and Newrest specifications.
• Always comply with good hygiene and manufacturing practices (e.g., hazard analysis and critical control points [HACCP], FIFO).
• Investigate and complete incidents/accidents documentation.
• Enforce safety processes and legal requirements for all processes.
• Other job duties may be assigned based on operational needs.

Administrative Tasks

• Evaluate the talent of team members and drive actions to address performance issues and behavioral concerns.
• Enhance employee morale by driving engagement and establishing an environment of trust and respect.
• Handle employee and management concerns and escalate concerns to the HR department.
• Other job duties may be assigned based on operational needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s in operations management, Business Management, or related field.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in in-flight catering or airport hub environment, manufacturing, logistics, or food industry.
• Experience indirectly managing 100+ exempt-level employees.
• Strong leadership experience with experience in start-up or turnaround environments.
• Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with non-exempt to upper management levels.
• Ability to effectively handle conflict and de-escalate emotionally charged situations.
• Good understanding of OSHA, HR, and other employment laws.
• Good knowledge of investigation procedures and root cause analysis.
• Understanding of lean manufacturing principles and operational processes.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP & food safety standards.
• Strategic thinker with creative and excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Resilient self-starter who can act independently and learn quickly within a rapidly evolving environment.
• Aptitude in showing self-initiative and follow-through.
• Detail-oriented and ability to see the big picture.
• Strong ability with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent organizational and motivational skills.
• Outstanding attention to detail and observation ability.
• Strong analytical skills for interpretation of data to effectively manage risk.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with site operations, functional leaders, external clients, and vendors.

Physical Environment

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential responsibilities of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these responsibilities.

• Stand, walk, talk, listen regularly, and use your hands to handle or feel.
• Lift, push, and move up to 50 pounds.
• Work environment will be in an open warehouse, with temperatures ranging from room temperature to very hot and noise levels varying from moderate to very loud.

Benefits

• Free lunch every day.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family.
• Health Savings Accounts.
• Life insurance paid by the company.
• Additional life insurance.
• Short-term disability insurance.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Transportation assistance.
• Paid Time Off.
• Sick Leave Award.
• Holiday pay.
• Recognition and incentive programs.
• Career progression opportunities, including roles such as Assistant General Manager and General Manager.