Airport Operations Manager - CNS

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Jetstar seeks an Airport Operations Manager in Cairns to lead Cairns Airport operations, accountable for safety, performance, people leadership and stakeholder management, and acting as the senior Jetstar representative. You’ll guide a large workforce, drive continuous improvement, and own budget outcomes while coordinating with regulators and service providers. Core requirements include airport operations leadership, proven Employment and Industrial Relations experience in a unionised environment, and the ability to make sound decisions under disruption with CASA and WHS compliance. To apply, tailor your CV to show measurable safety and efficiency gains, highlight change initiatives, and provide a concise cover note linking your impact to Cairns; applications close 11 August 2026.

Company Description

We’re Jetstar. You may know us for our famous low fares, but did you also know that we’ve flown more than 400 million customers since we launched in Australia in 2004? In fact, each week we operate around 3,000 flights to nearly 40 destinations across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific. We also operate a fleet of more than 80 aircraft, including state-of-the-art Airbus A320/21 NEO aircraft and the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 787-8s. Every day we enable more people to takeoff to more places, more often.

Impressive numbers? What's even more impressive is the team of extraordinary people taking off together day in day out, flight after flight.

Our people are the real jet stars!

Job Description

• Rare opportunity to lead one of Jetstar's most important regional airport operations.
• Lead a large operational workforce, influence key business outcomes and drive a culture of safety, performance and accountability.
• Enjoy genuine ownership, career growth and the opportunity to make a lasting impact across the Jetstar network.

The Opportunity 

As the Airport Operations Manager, you will lead one of Jetstar's key regional airport operations, with accountability for safety, operational performance, people leadership, customer outcomes and stakeholder management. Acting as the senior Jetstar representative at Cairns Airport, you'll play a critical role in ensuring safe, efficient and reliable operations while leading a large operational workforce and driving continuous improvement across the operation.

You'll work closely with airport authorities, regulatory bodies, government agencies, ground handling partners and stakeholders across the broader Qantas Group. This role requires a confident and experienced leader who can make sound operational decisions, lead through disruption and act as the key escalation point for the Cairns operation. This is an excellent opportunity for an established airport leader looking to broaden their influence, lead a complex operation and continue building their career within the broader Jetstar and Qantas Group.

The core responsibilities of this role will be: 

• Deliver customer service, operational, financial and safety outcomes for Jetstar Airways at Cairns Airport.
• Lead and develop a large frontline and leadership workforce, fostering a culture of accountability, engagement and high performance.
• Manage all aspects of people leadership, including recruitment, performance management, succession planning, coaching and development.
• Build and maintain effective employee and union relationships while managing Employment Relations and Industrial Relations matters.
• Partner with HR, People Support and Employment Relations teams to ensure compliance with company policies, procedures and legislative requirements.
• Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, customer outcomes and team performance.
• Maintain financial oversight of the airport operation, delivering budget outcomes and identifying opportunities to improve operational effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with airport authorities, regulators, government agencies, service providers and stakeholders across the broader Qantas Group.
• Lead and influence operational partners to ensure the safe, compliant and efficient delivery of airport services.
• Act as the senior escalation point for operational, stakeholder and workforce matters while championing Jetstar's culture of safety, performance and customer focus.

To be considered, key skills will include:

• Significant airport operations, aviation or large-scale operational leadership experience.
• Proven experience leading large and diverse teams within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong understanding of Employment Relations, Industrial Relations and workforce management within a unionised environment.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions independently while balancing operational, people and commercial priorities.
• A track record of building high-performing, engaged and accountable teams.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience driving operational improvement, business transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with accountability for budgets and operational performance.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility and drive outcomes.
• Strong safety leadership capability and a sound understanding of CASA, WHS and regulatory requirements.
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable leading through change, ambiguity and operational disruption.

Our Culture  

Jetstar is alive with a sense of adventure. Day in and day out, our teams search for new places to fly, new ways to add value and new ideas to improve performance. If you love the road less travelled, you’ll love working here because ours is a team who innovate every day, thrive on delivery, support each other and celebrate our successes. You’ll be supported to challenge, anticipate and explore while you work will connect people and enrich lives. We encourage diversity and aim to create an environment where our employees feel valued, respected and enabled.  

Our Benefits  

Team members have access to heavily discounted fares to destinations all over the world – not only for team members, but for their favourite travel companions too. Our staff travel benefit includes discounts on airfares, accommodation, car hire and travel insurance for both domestic and international travel. Discounts can be used within the Jetstar Group airlines, Qantas and other partner airlines.  

Inclusion and Diversity   

Jetstar is an equal opportunity employer, so by coming to work for us, you’ll be part of an organisation that encourages diversity, supports charities and environmental initiatives. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. If you have any support or accessibility requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application.   

Applications close: Tuesday 11th August 2026