Kia ora!
To operate a world-class airline, you need world-class people. Air New Zealand is committed to being globally competitive in the aviation industry and exceeding customer expectations. Our operational and front-line customer leadership roles are critical to the success of the Air New Zealand business.
We are looking for an Airport Operations Manager for our Sydney Operation.
Working closely with our third-party contractors and the wider Air New Zealand operational teams your role is to manage daily operational issues and mitigate against any impacts from a customer, operational or business perspective. With a passion and disciplined approach for continuous improvement, you will be driven and focused to identify and implement customer experience improvements, operational efficiencies, champion customer and operational excellence to ultimately meet and exceed performance standards and business targets.
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead daily airport operations to meet On Time Performance (OTP) and service targets in a safe and sustainable way
- Analyse operational metrics to identify trends and drive improvements in resource allocation and equipment use
- Champion safety by ensuring risks are identified, reported, and managed, and that all staff are appropriately trained
- Implement solutions to enhance operational efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction
- Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, including ground handlers, airline ops, and customer care teams
- Develop planning strategies to optimise resource utilisation and minimise disruption from unforeseen events
What you’ll bring:
- 3 – 5 years of broad-based airport operations experience
- Tertiary qualification in a business-related field or significant airport experience
- Advanced Carina Check-In and Service Control experience
- Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex operational environments
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
- A flexible and resilient mindset
What’s in it for you:
At Air New Zealand, we believe in taking care of our people. Some of the benefits you could enjoy including
- Exclusive flight deals for you and your whānau across our global network
- Opportunities to lead and grow in a high-impact, future-focused role
- Smart tools and data at your fingertips to support bold thinking and better decisions
- Work with purpose - What you do every day will help ensure our operations are safer, smarter, and more sustainable
- Heaps of perks from hotel discounts to health cover add-ons
To take the next step in your leadership career, please apply online via our careers page with your CV and cover letter.
To apply for this role, you must be able to work legally and permanently in Australia.
Application close on Tuesday 13 January 2026.
Additional Information
At Air New Zealand, we are proudly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in creating a truly inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. Our people are our greatest asset – because while everything else we do in our operation can be replicated by our competitors, it is our people that truly set us apart. We are firm believers in celebrating the differences and diversity of thought our people bring to their roles.
Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata. Ko te pae tata whakamaua, kia tina.
"Seek to bring distant horizons closer. Once near, seize them and make them your reality."
