Vice President, Operations Canada

About the company

Swissport is a worldwide aviation services provider supporting ground handling, lounges, cargo handling, and passenger services for more than 300 million travelers each year. The company’s purpose is to deliver reliable, customized aviation solutions across the globe and improve the customer experience.

Its culture is shaped by three core values: showing care, doing the right thing, and succeeding as a team. Swissport is looking for people who share these values and can contribute in a fast-moving, high-energy environment.

Role summary

The Vice President, Operations Canada will be accountable for leading all day-to-day ground handling operations across Canada. The role is focused on ensuring operational efficiency and performance in line with corporate strategy, objectives, and plans.

Key responsibilities

This position is responsible for managing operational performance, driving revenue and growth objectives, and building a standardized, KPI-led operating culture that improves efficiency and controls costs. It also includes preparing operating budgets and business cases for capital spending and investments in infrastructure, technology, equipment, systems, and other resources.

The role requires close oversight of quality, safety, QHSE, and security practices to ensure alignment with Swissport’s global standards and to maintain a safe workplace across all clusters. It also involves leading cost-reduction and efficiency programs such as productivity improvement, performance management, process redesign, and Swissport Formula initiatives, while supporting the adoption of new technologies and automation to reduce costs.

In addition, the Vice President will work with commercial leadership on customer and partner relationships, develop and guide the operational team, and ensure the Swissport Management System is effectively implemented and maintained within the area of responsibility. Adequate resources must be provided to meet safety, QHSE, and security requirements.

Performance measures

Success in the role will be evaluated using operational, safety, and financial indicators. Operational metrics include productivity, workforce utilization and overtime, on-time performance, check-in waiting times, and baggage delivery times. Safety measures include aircraft damage, damage to ground support equipment and infrastructure, and occupational accidents. Financial metrics include revenue, direct labor ratio, EBITDA, EBIT, and EBIT margin.

Qualifications and competencies

The ideal candidate holds a bachelor’s degree along with a relevant finance qualification. A minimum of 10 years of operations experience is required, including at least 5 years in a leadership role. Strong knowledge of financial measures, labor law, and regulatory requirements is essential.

The position also calls for fluency in English, with French considered an advantage. Candidates should be able to build strategic relationships, influence change, analyze complex situations, solve problems effectively, resolve issues, and make sound decisions. Experience communicating across all management levels in a multicultural environment is important, as is a strong understanding of internal customer needs and external market conditions. High personal and professional integrity is expected.

Equal employment opportunity

Swissport is an equal opportunity employer and makes hiring decisions based on business needs and the best-qualified candidates. Employment decisions are not influenced by any protected category. Selected candidates may be required to complete criminal record and other background checks, subject to company policy and applicable law.

Additional information

Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Employment type: full-time and onsite.