Airport Operations Manager

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Kia ora, Air New Zealand seeks an experienced Airport Operations Manager to lead the Wellington Airport team on a shift basis, delivering safe, on-time performance and excellent customer service in a fast paced, highly regulated setting. You’ll guide daily operations, manage disruptions, drive continuous improvement, and champion a strong safety culture while coordinating with Crew, Engineering and contractors. This role requires people leadership, data driven decision making, and the ability to navigate regulatory and industrial relations considerations. To apply, tailor your resume to show a proven track record in complex live operations, crisis management, and stakeholder collaboration, quantify OTP improvements, demonstrate resilience under pressure, and align your cover letter with Air New Zealand values before 12 February 2026.

Job Description

Kia ora! 

At Air New Zealand, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re proud to be a world-class airline, and we’re looking for an experienced Airport Operations Manager to join our Wellington Airport team and help us deliver seamless, safe, and customer-focused operations every day.  

About the role:  

As an Airport Operations Manager working on shifts, no two days are the same.  You will be supporting and leading your team through the many challenges that working in a fast-paced Airport environment brings. You will be responsible for leading the daily airport operations to ensure On Time Performance (OTP), safety, and customer satisfaction targets are consistently met, capturing lessons from disruptions to improve and refine recovery plans.  You’ll lead with a strong safety mindset, proactively identifying risk, encouraging open reporting, and ensuring controls are embedded in everyday decision-making. 

Leading from the front with your strategic thinking, you will help to bring our Air New Zealand strategies to life by delivering better basics, driving continuous improvements and ensuring we achieve operational excellence.  

This role is about building talent and teams, having a strong customer focus with the ability to identify operational challenges and implementing efficient solutions.  We are looking for a leader who can demonstrate their ability to collaborate and work as part of a cohesive team, while having experience in operational delivery in a complex regulatory environment. 

Key responsibilities include:  

• Accountable for regulatory compliance across safety, emergency management, and security, including required assurance and reporting 
• Leading daily airport operations to achieve safe, on-time performance (OTP) and service targets, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational integrity 
• Acting as the senior escalation point during significant incidents, coordinating with Crew, Engineering, and Operations to drive timely resolution and recovery 
• Role-modelling Air New Zealand's leadership principles and values to build a strong, accountable, and customer-focused team culture 
• Analysing operational performance data to identify trends, then recommending and implementing targeted improvements 
• Implementing practical solutions to improve operational efficiency and productivity, while delivering consistently excellent customer experiences 
• Building strong relationships with key stakeholders and contractors  
• Leading proactive resource optimisation by reviewing schedules and demand patterns, while maintaining on-the-day oversight to protect the operation during off-schedule events

What are we looking for?  

• Successful track record of working in complex environments, ideally within airport operations 
• An approachable people leader who demonstrates visible leadership, builds strong connections, coaches operational leaders and future leaders, and is passionate about driving a culture of trust and high performance 
• Demonstrated success managing complex live operations and navigating disruption calmly, applying sound processes, risk aware judgement, and timely decision making 
• High level of resilience and ability to stay calm under pressure   
• Experience in analysing data, strategic planning and the ability to lead process and cultural change to deliver superior results 
• Proven ability to build and maintain positive stakeholder relations
• Familiarity with airport industrial relations practices and the application of collective agreements 

Why join us?  

At Air New Zealand, we’re more than just an airline, we’re a team of passionate individuals committed to delivering exceptional experiences. You’ll be part of a supportive and inclusive culture where your ideas and contributions are valued. Please note this is a shift-based role, and we offer competitive benefits, career development opportunities, and the chance to be part of an iconic Kiwi brand.  

Applications close on Thursday 12 February 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."