General Manager

About the Job

Pacific International has been retained by gategroup, the global leader in airline catering and hospitality solutions, to identify a General Manager to lead its Newark, New Jersey hub operation. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the General Manager will have full operational and P&L accountability for one of the company's most strategically important facilities.

This executive will oversee a complex, high-volume airline catering operation supporting hundreds of daily flights while driving operational excellence, customer satisfaction, workforce engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Opportunity

The successful candidate will play a key role in stabilizing and optimizing operations, integrating processes across multiple facilities, and delivering exceptional service to one of the company's largest airline partners.

About gategourmet

https://www.gategroup.com/our-brands/gategourmet/

gategourmet has been serving the airline industry for more than 70 years and has become the world’s largest independent provider of airline catering and logistics. They prepare tens of thousands of tasty, nutritious passenger meals and snacks daily and reliably service more than 2 million flights a year in “last mile” operations worldwide.

gategourmet is the core business behind gategroup, the leading independent global provider of products, services and solutions related to an airline passenger’s onboard experience. Their 27,000 employees work to serve people on the move with their expertise in catering and hospitality, provisioning and logistics, and onboard solutions. They serve over 250 carriers in more than 30 countries and provide our customers with expertise and solutions tailored to their guests, service offerings, and geographic regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide full leadership and operational accountability for airline catering unit performance, financial results, and customer service delivery.
• Manage all aspects of P&L performance, budgeting, labor costs, productivity, and overall operational efficiency.
• Lead a cross-functional leadership team spanning Operations, HR, Finance, Compliance, and Continuous Improvement functions.
• Drive positive relationships with airline customers while ensuring service excellence and on-time performance.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean manufacturing principles, process optimization, and operational best practices.
• Ensure full compliance with all food safety, security, customs, regulatory, and company standards, including HACCP and FDA requirements.
• Develop, mentor, and coach leadership teams to build organizational capability and strengthen employee engagement.
• Identify root causes of operational challenges and implement sustainable corrective actions to improve performance.
• Oversee workforce planning, talent acquisition, succession planning, and labor relations activities within a unionized environment.
• Support capital expenditure and business improvement projects that enhance operational performance and scalability.
• Execute corporate initiatives and strategic priorities while maintaining alignment with company standards and objectives.
• Drive a culture of safety, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the operation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field required.
• Minimum 15 years of management experience within airline catering, in-flight catering, or food manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale, complex operations with full P&L responsibility.
• Proven experience leading teams of managers and supervisors in high-volume, fast-paced environments.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, labor costs, and operational performance metrics.
• Experience driving Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or operational transformation initiatives preferred.
• Previous customer-facing leadership and account management experience required.
• Labor relations and union management experience required.
• Comprehensive understanding of food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and security requirements within a highly regulated environment.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and team-building capabilities.
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a change agent and drive operational performance improvements.

For more information, please contact: Sullivan.Sims@pacific-international.com

About Pacific International:

Pacific International, a globally recognized retained executive search firm, is dedicated to empowering Fortune 500, FTSE 100, and high-growth enterprises in building exceptional C-suite, senior-level, and strategic leadership teams while championing diversity and inclusion. Our adaptability, agility, and forward-thinking ethos distinguish us in the ever-evolving business landscape.

Since 1997, we have been dedicated to building lasting client partnerships based on trust and reliability, and a proven track record of successful C-suite and mid- to senior-level leadership project delivery across many key industries globally.

Pacific International Diversity Statement:

At Pacific International, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering, and we proudly champion diversity on behalf of our clients in every Executive Search mandate we undertake. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. In pursuit of these objectives, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities.