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Director Airline Operations Management Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sky Chefs

The Director provides thought leadership with all transportation directors and managers across Sky ... Airline catering, aircraft ground operations or airport operations experience required * Strong ...

Akima, LLC

Operations Agents

Anchorage, AK · On-site

Provides direct assistance to airline customers and crew members, ensuring their needs are met and ... Performs other tasks as assigned by the Operations Manager to support overall company goals.

Amat

Director, Operations Management

Tempe, AZ · On-site

$156K - $214K/yr

Provides leadership, guidance, mentorship, and personal development of his/her direct reports in the areas of daily operational management, systems development, and optimization. Identifies process ...

Houston Airport

TERMINAL OPERATIONS OFFICER - HOBBY

TX · On-site

$1K - $2K/wk

... with direct related experience in airport ramp operations or airline operations / ramp safety operations - safety management systems (SMS), airline operations and administrative skills within an ...

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Director Airline Operations Management information

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$34K

$107.7K

$179.5K

How much do director airline operations management jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for director airline operations management in the United States is $107,680.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,500.00 and $135,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Airline Operations Management vs Airline Operations Manager?

AspectDirector Airline Operations ManagementAirline Operations Manager
CredentialsBachelor's degree, often advanced certifications in aviation or managementBachelor's degree, relevant experience in airline operations
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership, overseeing multiple departmentsOperational oversight, managing daily airline activities
Employer & Industry UsageAirlines, aviation companies, large transportation firmsAirlines, regional carriers, airport operations
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior roles in airline operationsOperational roles, daily management tasks

The main difference is that the Director Airline Operations Management focuses on strategic leadership and overall airline operations at a high level, while the Airline Operations Manager handles daily operational activities and ensures smooth functioning of airline services. Both roles require relevant experience, but the director position involves broader oversight and decision-making responsibilities.

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What cities are hiring for Director Airline Operations Management jobs? Cities with the most Director Airline Operations Management job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Airline Operations Management jobs? The most popular types of Airline Operations Management jobs are:
What states have the most Director Airline Operations Management jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Airline Operations Management jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Director Airline Operations Management jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Director Airline Operations Management jobs are:
Director Airline Operations Management jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Airline Operations Management job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 2% Full Time, 95% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,680 per year, or $51.8 per hour.

Director Transportation - Airline Catering Operations

Sky Chefs

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Director Transportation - Airline Catering Operations 
Job Location: Irving-USA-75039 
Work Location Type: Hybrid 
 

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.
Position Overview

The Director of Transportation, Airline Catering Operations serves as the organizational subject matter expert (SME) for all transportation-related operations within airline catering. This role is responsible for designing, optimizing, and standardizing transportation strategies that ensure safe, compliant, productive, and on-time delivery of catering services to aircraft for North America. The Director provides thought leadership with all transportation directors and managers across Sky Chefs kitchen facilities in the US, drives continuous improvement, and partners cross-functionally to align transportation capabilities with operational and commercial objectives.

 
This newly created role is responsible for driving process standardization and operational excellence across our U.S. transportation function. The position leads the development and implementation of consistent reporting, dashboards, and best practices, while also overseeing the training and onboarding of newly hired Directors supporting transportation operations. In addition, this role serves as a key member of the SWAT/SME team, providing support for new site start-ups, addressing complex operational challenges, and ensuring the successful execution of critical initiatives.
  • Given the complexity and scope of this role, we are seeking candidates with transportation experience in one or more of the following areas: airline catering, aircraft ground handling services, or airport operations
  • Travel requirement for the Director role is 65-80% domestic travel
Main Accountabilities

Subject Matter Expertise & Strategy

  • Act as the NAM expert on all transportation operations, routing, and airside logistics.
  • Define and implement best practices across all locations to drive consistency and operational excellence.
  • Advise Senior Director and Executive Leadership on transportation strategy, risks, and investment decisions.
  • Lead benchmarking efforts to compare internal performance against industry standards.

Operational Excellence

  • Oversee transportation performance across locations, ensuring alignment with on-time departure (D0) and service level agreements.
  • Identify inefficiencies in routing, staging, and people utilization; implement scalable solutions.
  • Develop contingency plans for irregular operations (IROPs), weather events, and disruptions.

Data, Systems & Innovation

  • Serve as SME for transportation operations systems (Groundstar, Forms).
  • Drive data-driven decision making through KPI development, dashboards, and performance analytics.
  • Identify and deploy automation opportunities with CI Teams (e.g., dispatch optimization, predictive analytics).

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Partner with operations, commercial, and airport stakeholders when applicable to align transportation with production and flight schedules.
  • Support new business launches, station startups, and contract expansions.
  • Act as the escalation point for complex transportation challenges across the network.

Talent & Capability Development

  • Build and develop transportation leadership at each location.
  • Standardize training programs.
  • Promote a culture of accountability, safety, productivity minded and continuous improvement.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation/Logistics related field
  • 8+ years of transportation experience in airline catering, aircraft ground handling services or airport operations required
  • Airline catering, aircraft ground operations or airport operations experience required
  • Strong understanding of airside operations and aviation transportation requirements
  • Experience managing multi-site or network-level operations
  • Proven track record in process improvement and cost optimization
  • Familiarity with transportation management systems and analytics tools
  • Strong technical systems proficiency
  • Ability to travel domestically up to 80%

Sky Chefs is an EEO and Affirmative Action Employer of Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.

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