Head of Dept, NA - Operations Performance

Benefits

• Paid time off
• 401k, with company match
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Voluntary short-term/long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee Discounts

Main Duties and Responsibilities:
• Lead the design and delivery of regular performance reporting to senior leadership and external stakeholders, aligned with budget performance targets and KPIs, as well as global reporting.
• Analyze operational performance trends and identify areas of risk, inefficiency, or opportunity.
• Support the development of annual budgets by providing data-driven insights into operational performance and resource needs.
• Lead workforce planning and optimization to ensure the proper staffing levels, productivity, and cost efficiency.
• Oversee materials planning and utilization to minimize waste and ensure supply reliability.
• Ensure optimal renewal, deployment, and maintenance of operational assets, fleet, and facilities to maximize availability and efficiency.
• Lead and support change management initiatives to drive cultural adoption of performance excellence.
• In partnership with the Head of Department – Standardization and Operational Excellence, implement and oversee operational improvement projects that enhance efficiency, service delivery, and cost-effectiveness.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to harmonize processes, tools, and best practices across locations.
• Lead operational audits to ensure compliance with internal standards, customer requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
• Establish corrective action plans and ensure follow-through to address audit findings.
• Build and support an operational audit process and schedule annually.
• Oversee governance processes to maintain accountability for operational performance at all levels.
• Direct the regional or enterprise PMO to ensure effective planning, execution, and delivery of strategic initiatives.
• Establish frameworks, tools, and reporting for program governance and benefits tracking.
• Monitor the performance of major projects and ensure alignment with overall business objectives.
• Participate in defining regional operational performance targets and support the development of annual budgets, strategic growth plans for all North American operational units.
• Build, mentor, and lead the Operations Performance team, fostering a culture that embodies gategroup’s core values.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and proactive risk management.
• Ad hoc projects to drive Continuous Improvement.

Qualifications

Education and Certifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) preferred.
• ERP system expertise, with a strong focus on data management and analytics.


Work Experience:
• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations or performance management, ideally within airline catering, aviation, logistics, or large-scale foodservice.
• Strong track record of setting and delivering against operational KPIs.
• Proven experience in budgeting, workforce planning, and resource optimization.
• Solid knowledge of change management, project management methodologies, and audit frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to manage fleet, facilities, and material planning at scale.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

Competencies:
• Strategic thinker with operational execution capability.
• Analytical and data-driven decision-maker.
• Skilled in influencing and driving accountability across diverse teams.
• Customer- and results-oriented, with a focus on efficiency and reliability.
• Resilient, adaptable leader who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Language / Communication Skills:
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to manage, lead, and collaborate with multiple managers and project team members.


Job Dimensions

Geographic Responsibility: North America (US and Canada)

Type of Employment: Full Time

Travel %: up to 50%