Vice President Operations

About the Job:

Pacific International has been retained by a global leader in airline services undergoing rapid transformation and growth. As part of this momentum, the organization is seeking a seasoned and strategic Vice President to lead operations across multiple key airport locations in a critical market. This senior leadership role will oversee a workforce of ~1,500 employees and be responsible for driving excellence across a $200M P&L.

In addition to operational leadership, this role serves as the executive face of the organization to key customers. You will build and maintain high-level strategic partnerships with major airline clients and airport authorities, ensuring service excellence, contract performance, and long-term growth. This person will play a central role in shaping the company’s regional and national footprint.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Set and execute regional strategies that align with the company’s operational and financial goals, ensuring consistent excellence across all sites.
• Multi-Site Oversight: Lead and support General Managers and their teams across four key operations, including a high-profile new site development and operational ramp-up.
• Financial Performance: Manage a $250M P&L, driving profitability, cost efficiency, and resource optimization across the region.
• Customer Leadership: Serve as the primary executive point of contact for key airline customers, building trust, resolving escalations, and identifying opportunities for deeper collaboration.
• Operational Excellence: Champion process improvement, standardization, and innovation to maximize service quality and throughput.
• Union Relations: Navigate complex unionized environments, fostering constructive labor relations and workforce engagement.
• Growth Execution: Oversee the build-out and go-live of a new flagship operation, ensuring seamless integration with existing operations.
• Workforce Leadership: Inspire and develop a diverse team of ~2,000 employees, cultivating a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Compliance and Safety: Uphold all regulatory, safety, and security standards across all locations.
• Talent Development: Identify, coach, and mentor high-potential leaders, building a strong bench for future executive roles.

Qualifications:

• A degree in business, logistics, supply chain, or a related discipline.
• 10 years experience in airline, aviation, or airline services
• 10 years of progressive operational leadership experience, including multi-site management and union labor environments.
• Proven success managing large-scale operations (1,000 employees) and substantial P&L responsibility ($100M ).
• Significant experience as a customer-facing leader, managing executive-level relationships with major clients.
• Strong strategic thinking paired with hands-on operational execution.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational change skills.
• A track record of building and sustaining high-performing, engaged teams in dynamic and fast-paced environments.

About Pacific International Executive Search:

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.

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.

For further information on this position and a confidential discussion about your career please contact: nichole.lapp@pacific-international.com