Head of Operations & Delivery

About the company

Qantas began in the Queensland outback in 1920 and has since become Australia’s largest airline group, serving regional, domestic, and international markets. The business also includes subsidiary operations that help support the wider Group. Its core activity is moving passengers and freight through the Qantas and Jetstar brands across regional, domestic, and international routes.

Role overview

The Head of Operations & Delivery is a senior leadership position based in Sydney and reporting to the Executive Manager Freight. This role is responsible for safe, dependable, and punctual freight operations across Qantas Freight’s terminal and trucking network, with complete profit and loss ownership. It also involves leading a large, varied workforce and delivering strong customer and operational results in a highly regulated setting.

The role will also drive strategic direction and major business transformation, including changes to digital systems, technology, and operating models to improve productivity, support growth, and strengthen competitive advantage. In addition, the position requires close collaboration with senior internal and external stakeholders to influence investment decisions, commercial partnerships, and the long-term direction of the Freight business.

Key responsibilities

• Take full accountability for the performance of Qantas Freight operations, including safety, service delivery, and P&L outcomes across terminals and trucking.
• Lead large-scale change initiatives across operating models, digital capability, and technology to improve efficiency, growth, and competitiveness.
• Contribute to enterprise strategy and commercial decision-making by influencing senior stakeholders in a complex, tightly regulated environment.
• Direct safe, reliable, on-time freight operations across the terminal and trucking network.
• Manage and develop a large workforce, strengthening accountability, engagement, and capability across the team.
• Partner with senior leaders across the Group and beyond to shape investment choices and support business success.
• Build commercial relationships that strengthen Freight’s position in a competitive global market.

What you need

• At least 15 years of senior executive leadership experience in large, complex industrial organisations.
• A strong background in leading major transformation across operations, digital, or technology environments.
• Solid commercial judgement, including experience with P&L ownership, investment decisions, and financial performance.
• The ability to influence and partner effectively with C-suite stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Experience managing large, diverse, and unionised teams in high-pressure environments.
• Proven strength in strategic planning, operational execution, and leading cross-functional programs at scale.
• A people-first leadership style focused on building high-performing, accountable, and engaged teams.
• Resilience and flexibility to lead through uncertainty, complexity, and change.
• A commercial and customer-focused mindset with a commitment to performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Tertiary qualification required; postgraduate study is considered an advantage.

Benefits

• Substantially discounted air travel within Australia and internationally for you, your family, and friends, plus special offers on accommodation and holidays.
• Flexible leave options, including up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave and the option to purchase additional leave for eligible employees.
• Access to a wide range of discounts through partner offers in shopping, food and wine, insurance, health and wellbeing, leisure, and entertainment.
• Salary packaging options, including motor vehicles, eligible portable electronic devices, and professional memberships.
• Wellbeing support such as mental health resources, an interactive wellbeing app, and personalised nutrition planning.

Additional information

Applications close on Sunday, 21 June 2026.

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.