Transportation Manager - Airline Catering

About the Role

This transportation-savvy leader ensures control, maintenance, and continuous improvement of all transportation activities according to customer policies and requirements within Customer Service Centers (CSC) and in alignment with the corporate team. Responsible for supporting the achievement of CSC budgets as agreed by the GM of the CSC.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily ground transportation and dispatch operations ensuring accurate and timely aircraft meal delivery.
• Manage and train drivers, dispatchers, and support staff to meet on-time performance (OTP) and safety standards.
• Ensure compliance with airport security protocols, FAA, DOT, FDA, USDA, OSHA, and HACCP guidelines.
• Analyze logistics performance data and implement process improvements to enhance service reliability and reduce costs.
• Collaborate closely with airline partners, tower control staff, and internal teams to ensure efficient flight catering operations.
• Oversee fleet maintenance, scheduling, and route optimization using logistics software.
• Represent the transportation department in leadership briefings, audits, and customer meetings.
• Guide, motivate, and develop your team to consistently meet and exceed performance goals.
• Proactively identify, escalate, and resolve operational issues in a timely manner.

Requirements

• Demonstrate ability to effectively manage up by providing concise, timely recaps to senior leadership on operational performance, key challenges, corrective actions, and potential risks.
• Ability to develop and lead others to obtain desired results and achieve budget.
• Lead through oversight and accountability, ensuring managers and supervisors execute operational tasks effectively rather than performing all tasks personally.
• Experience in managing a manpower planning and scheduling tool (e.g., VPS).
• Solid understanding of shift bids, staffing models, headcount planning, and productivity metrics.
• Strong knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), FDA, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
• Strong knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and HACCP guidelines.
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills.
• Demonstrable record of understanding and meeting customer expectations.
• Proven track record of understanding the drivers of product and labor cost variances.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows-based computer applications.
• 5+ years of aviation and/or supply chain management experience is required.
• Experience with Groundstar is a plus.