In 2023, Swissport International AG provided best-in-class airport ground services for some 232 million airline passengers (2022: 186 million) and handled roughly 4.7 million tons of air freight (2022: 4.8 million) at 115 air cargo centers worldwide. Several of its warehouses have been certified for pharmaceutical logistics by IATA’s CEIV Pharma and by the British MHRA. At the end of December 2023, the worlds leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, with currently around 60,000 employees, was active at 286 airports in 44 countries on six continents.
Ground Handling is responsible for passenger interaction including reservations, ticketing, baggage processing, terminal/gate check-in, jet way operation, greeting passengers, handling of VIPs, passenger assistance, and passenger complaint escalation. Ground Handling is also responsible for managing and executing "under-wing" services including loading and unloading baggage and cargo, marshalling, water and lavatory servicing.
Station Director is responsible for overall station performance, combining cross-business line know-how, leadership skills, commercial acumen and the ability to coordinate the support functions that enable your station to perform. The outcome of your efforts should be a smooth operation that achieves defined productivity levels.
You are the highest local escalation point for customers and other local stakeholders for operational issues. At the same time, you will maintain a longer term, strategic perspective on station performance and needs. You are the first touchpoint for Country MDs, cluster heads, and global / cluster support functions on station-related questions.
Key Performance Indicators
Quality targets as set by Swissport and/or as agreed with customers
Other KPI as defined by the business unit
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Operational responsibility
- Accountable for all aspects of operational execution at the station level, with a good understanding across all business lines (Ground Handling, Fueling and Cargo)
- Ensures station operational and financial performance as measured by the relevant KPIs is in line with or exceeds cluster / sub-cluster strategy and objectives
- Accountable for safety in the station; embed QHSE culture in operations in alignment with Cluster, enforces QHSE inspections and audits as required, lead and facilitate investigations, put in place corrective measures
- Implements policies, procedures, and standards from Group / Region, including QHSE, Training and GSE and ensures compliance; identify opportunities for ops. efficiency & process improvement
- Maintains a wider time horizon lens (12 – 18 months) on station strategy and provides input on budget or forecasting processes
Leadership responsibility
- Ensures frontline leadership is effective and capable to perform all responsibilities at their level
- Ensures retention of key talent in the organization
- Responsible for articulating and approving recruitment & training needs in collaboration of Rostering Support, Planning CoE and Training academy
- Serve as direct line manager for BLLs
- Responsible for active Labor Relation management at station level in coordination with local, regional, and country HR business partners
Commercial responsibility
- Builds and maintains customer relationships at the local level, as well as with local stakeholders such as airports, proactively managing questions or complaints
- Meet with customers on a regular basis to get feedback and monitor satisfaction levels
- Focuses on continuous improvement of quality / productivity and customer retention
- Has an entrepreneurial mindset in scoping for future opportunities at the station in coordination with Cluster Commercial
- Possesses good financial understanding of the P&L; Monitors and analyzes the P&L statements for any variances and take appropriate action
- Provide inputs around local complexities for RFPs
Support functions responsibility
With support from Business Line Leads and Duty Managers, refines and signs off on centrally provided resource plans based on latest customer schedules, changes in employee availability, or other related events, in order to ensure ability to meet operational targets
Manage contracted services providers (security, cleaning, porters, staff transport, drivers) to ensure that Swissport standards are upheld and that performance is in line with Standard Level Agreements
Closely engage with all CoE functions to ensure support services are provided to the station
Support preparation of country-level regulatory and financial reporting where required together with the country finance team (especially for Country HQs)
Qualifications and Competencies
Excellent working knowledge of business management principles and practices, financial concepts, and key drivers of profitability and operational performance.
5 years’ experience with P&L responsibility, preferably in the Aviation Industry
Fluent spoken and written English
Strong strategic skills and commercial acumen combined with the ability to motivate teams to deliver high quality standards
Ability to establish and maintain positive, professional, internal and external work relationships with all stakeholders and interest groups
Team focused management style that fits into a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
A sense of urgency and a passion for improving the delivery of services with a commitment to continuous improvement Personal and professional integrity of the highest order
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Swissport as an equal opportunity employer bases its hiring decisions on the business need and the best qualified candidates available and does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of any protected category. Candidates who are offered employment may be subject to a criminal record and other background checks as permitted or required by company policy or applicable law.
