Operational Support Manager Cargo - Africa at Swissport

Job Overview:

• We are looking for a senior leader to oversee cargo operations across the Africa region. The role focuses on driving operational performance, profitability, and safety, while leading station management teams and ensuring compliance with SPI standards. The successful candidate will build strong relationships with key stakeholders, deliver innovative customer-focused solutions, and drive meaningful change across the organization.

Main Responsibilities:

Safety & Operations

• Lead cargo operations while ensuring health, safety, and compliance standards are met.
• Promote a safety-first culture and support QHSE investigations and best-practice sharing.

P&L & Performance Management

• Monitor financial and operational performance, identify trends, and implement improvements.
• Support budget preparation, capital investments, and resource planning.

Quality & Efficiency

• Ensure delivery of operational KPIs, service quality, and productivity.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and compliance with operational standards.

Leadership & People Development

• Develop and coach management teams to achieve business goals and enhance staff performance.
• Promote talent development, succession planning, and positive employee relations.

Business Growth & Customer Focus

• Build and maintain strong strategic relationships with customers and stakeholders.
• Identify commercial opportunities and drive customer retention and satisfaction.

Strategic & Change Leadership

• Challenge operational status quo and drive organizational improvements.
• Support integration of innovation and transformation projects.

Relationship Management

• Foster trust internally and externally, promoting a customer-centric culture.

Key Performance Indicators

• Safety: aircraft, GSE, infrastructure damages, occupational accidents
• Operational & Quality: productivity, workforce utilization, OTP, service times, NPS, station scorecard
• Financial: revenue, EBIT, EBIT margin

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in Operations and 5 years in a leadership position
• Strong leadership skills and a proven track record of managing and motivating all levels to achieve operational goals
• Fluency in English, other languages an advantage
• Strong understanding of financial measures and knowledge of labour laws and regulations
• Ability to build strategic relationships in the field and influence change
• Solid strategic analysis, problem solving, issue resolution and decision-making skills
• Proven ability to communicate within a multicultural environment across all levels within the organization
• Strong understanding of internal customer and external market dynamics
• Excellent ability to work well under pressure; make quick decisions and execute
• Knowledge of Ground Service equipment, GSE Maintenance, ramp and the airport environment
• Proven experience of leading teams and getting results in a multicultural environment
• Ensure adherence to QHSE policies and procedures
• Encourage early reporting of occurrences
• Excellent knowledge of IT tools (data analysis, tracking and reporting)
• Personal and professional integrity of the highest order