Are you ready to drive operational excellence in a dynamic, fast-moving industry? Join  dnata and lead operational excellence across dnata Australia’s Ground Handling network.

In this pivotal role, you will identify, analyse, and resolve performance challenges while driving a culture of continuous improvement. Using data-driven insights and systematic process reviews, you’ll uplift operational standards, uncover root causes, and implement sustainable solutions that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and customer experience.

As the Operational Excellence Manager, you’ll play a key role in improving efficiency, strengthening service delivery, and embedding best-practice ways of working across the business

About You and the Role:

• Lead operational performance reviews across all stations to identify gaps, risks, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Drive the delivery of Operational Excellence initiatives aligned to global standards, SLAs, and local requirements.
• Conduct deep-dive operational diagnostics, including workflow analysis, process mapping, resource utilisation, and service delivery assessments.
• Develop structured improvement plans and support station leadership to execute corrective actions, ensuring sustainable closure of issues.
• Analyse operational, safety, and financial data to identify emerging trends, recurring issues, and performance bottlenecks.
• Partner with GMs, Station Managers, and department leads to uplift consistency in operational delivery, SOP adherence, and productivity benchmarks.
• Lead continuous improvement projects across ramp, baggage, and passenger services to reduce waste, improve turnaround performance, and increase efficiency.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops to embed best practice, standardisation, and lessons learned across the network.
• Support change management related to new systems, technology, equipment, and operational processes.
• Champion a culture of operational excellence, frontline engagement, and root cause thinking across all levels of the organisation.
• Ensure all improvement actions are tracked, measured, and reported to senior leadership with visibility of impact, timelines, and dependencies.
• Collaborate with the Workforce Planning, Training, Safety, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure holistic and integrated operational solutions.
• Conduct periodic performance audits to validate compliance with dnata procedures and identify opportunities for further enhancement.

What you'll need to succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in business, operations management, aviation, logistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in operational leadership, continuous improvement, or performance management roles.
• Proven experience identifying operational issues and leading complex improvement programs across multi-site operations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and drive data-driven decision making.
• Demonstrated capability in process optimisation, root cause analysis, and operational problem-solving.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in ground handling, aviation operations, or logistics.
• Formal certification in Continuous Improvement (Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt).
• Experience delivering performance uplift within a high-volume, safety-critical operational environment

So... does this sound like you? If so, Apply Now!

Application closing date: 5pm 15 February 2026

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, which values diversity and inclusion. We support applicants from all backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disabilities, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and all ages. We also have a solid focus on gender balance within the organisation and encourage women to apply.