Chief Operating Officer Ground Handling

About Swissport

We are a global leader in sustainable and responsible airport services provision, renowned for our unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and exceptional service, shaping a future where air travel thrives on reliability, efficiency, and experience.

In 2023, with the support of more than 60,000 colleagues, Swissport provided best-in-class airport ground services for some 232 million airline passengers and handled roughly 4.7 million tons of air freight at 115 cargo centres. Across a global network that is unparalleled in the industry, Swissport served airlines at 286 airports in 44 countries across six continents.

The culture of Swissport is shaped by our corporate values, which guide our actions and decision-making processes. These values are at the core of our culture, shaping our business and underpinning our commitment to measuring our impact. They capture the essence of who we are at Swissport and help us deliver value across the entire company.

\“Show You Care\“ underlines that our actions are perceived and valued from the perspective of the people around us. So, whatever we do, we do it purposefully and consciously, taking in the perspective of our colleagues, customers, and passengers.

\“Doing the right things\“ means that we do the things that are valuable to our colleagues, customers, and passengers. We are trained to do this safely and trusted to do the right thing in any given situation.

\“Win as a Team\“ highlights the importance of teamwork. Either we win as a team, or we fall as individuals. Together, we can surpass ourselves and handle any situation.

These values capture the essence of who we are and our unwavering commitment to excellence, and give actionable guidance for individual behaviour of employees, leaders, and executives, serving as a compass for how to act and deliver.

We are looking for a senior leader to take our operations in Germany & Austria to the next level based in Frankfurt with regular travel. You must have hands on Ground Handling experience and have managed 2-3 stations with at least 50 daily turn around including wide bodies, to have managed work councils, to understand P&L and to follow compliance and rules. Please DO NOT apply if you don\’t have these essential requirements.

Job Summary

This role requires a senior executive with deep hands-on airport operations experience, a strong commercial mindset, and a proven track record of leading high-performing Station Managers in demanding operational environments.

Job Responsibilities:

• Full accountability for operational performance across all stations in Germany & Austria
• Direct leadership, development, and performance management of all Station Managers and regional operational leadership teams
• Ensure operational excellence across all core ground handling functions, including passenger services, ramp, baggage, load control, turnaround coordination, and resource deployment
• Maintain the highest standards in safety, compliance, service quality, and operational resilience
• Lead performance through clearly defined KPIs including OTP, productivity, customer satisfaction, service delivery, and cost efficiency
• Own full regional P&L responsibility, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, margin improvement, and profitability
• Drive workforce planning, staffing optimization, and labor productivity initiatives across all stations
• Lead crisis and disruption management, including IRROPS, severe delays, staffing shortages, weather disruptions, and customer escalations
• Build and maintain strong strategic relationships with airlines, airports, authorities, regulators, unions, and works councils
• Drive customer retention, service excellence, and growth opportunities with existing and prospective airline partners
• Champion continuous improvement, process harmonization, innovation, and operational standardization across the region

Act as a trusted strategic partner to the CEO and senior leadership team in shaping and executing regional strategy

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Extensive senior leadership experience in ground handling.
• Mandatory prior experience in at least two Station Manager roles, including one in Germany and one in a major hub or high-volume airport environment
• Proven track record in leading large frontline teams and managing multiple Station Managers across several locations
• Deep operational understanding of all station-level processes, including passenger handling, ramp services, baggage operations, turnaround performance, staffing, and IRROPS management
• Proven success in full P&L ownership and financial performance delivery
• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to build, coach, and develop high-performing teams
• Exceptional ability to prioritize effectively by identifying critical operational, customer, safety, and compliance matters requiring immediate action, while appropriately deferring lower-priority issues and managing multiple competing demands in a fast-paced environment
• Strong decision-making capability under pressure and in time-critical operational situations
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across internal and external interfaces
• Strong experience in working with unions and works councils
• Data-driven mindset with strong focus on KPIs, service quality, and financial outcomes
• Commercial acumen with a strong customer and growth orientation
• Fluent in German and English
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multicultural, and high-pressure operational environment

What We Offer

• A key executive leadership role within a global market leader
• The opportunity to shape and transform operations across Germany & Austria
• Close collaboration with the CEO, senior leadership team, and global decision-makers
• A high-impact role with significant operational and commercial responsibility
• A culture that values leadership, accountability, innovation, and professional growth

Join Swissport and help shape the future of ground handling in Germany & Austria

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.