MD, Inflight Dining Operations

Intro

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!

Why you'll love this job

The Managing Director, Inflight Dining Operations will lead the global execution and operational performance of American Airlines’ inflight dining operations, spanning nearly 6,800 daily mainline and American Eagle flights to nearly 350 destinations in over 50 countries.

What you'll do

As noted above, this list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced. Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations including any collective bargaining obligations.

• Manage global catering operations to ensure consistent and timely delivery of high-quality products by partnering with internal and external stakeholders, including Culinary Strategy, Airports, Inflight, Procurement, Finance, Flight, and Catering Business Partners

• Oversee significant catering logistics to ensure the right equipment is at the right place at the right time with continuously improving efficiency

• Provide strategic leadership in the execution of large-scale initiatives, including initial planning, financial analysis and justification, communication, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement

• Continuously evaluate operational performance trends and refine processes to improve operational reliability and catering business partner execution

• Engage Flight Attendants and customers in forums including town halls and focus groups to obtain feedback on improving the customer and team member experience

• Collaborate across many teams, including Customer Experience, Inflight, Airports, Procurement, Government Affairs, IT, Corporate Communications, Flight, Finance, and American Eagle Operations

• Develop and enhance relationships with catering business partners and food service suppliers who are critical to operational delivery

• Represent American at industry associations and trade groups to stay current with industry trends, technology enhancements, and process automation opportunities

• Lead galley packing efforts to ensure cart/container pack out is intuitive, efficient, flight attendant friendly, and safe

• Oversee scheduling, logistics/supply chain, and billing operations for American’s inflight dining operation

• Develop a future roadmap of how inflight dining will transform with technology enhancements and process improvements

• Create a culture within the team that models the American Airlines leadership values of caring, collaboration, development, results, and focus on the future

All you'll need for success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, relevant field or equivalent work experience

• 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including leading multi-level teams and frontline team members

• 5 years leading catering operations for a major airline or airline catering company

Preferred Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Six Sigma certification or experience

• Knowledge of airline catering or airport operations

Skills, Licenses & Certifications

• Demonstrates the highest standards or personal ethics and integrity

• Ability to be an action-oriented, process and results-driven leader, with a natural aptitude for engaging team members and union leaders across multiple workgroups, as well as advocating and managing change

• Ability to lead a team with oversight of a 24/7 operation

• Ability to inspire new concepts and ideas that lead to a visionary and future-oriented mindset for the team

• Demonstrated ability to deliver results while simultaneously managing multiple priorities and projects

• Demonstrated expertise in process improvement and supply chain

• Strong strategic problem-solving skills with a proven track record of exercising initiative, judgment, and discretion

• Ability to translate data and metrics into measurable recommendations

• Ability to bring people together to build and execute clear business plans

• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams with exceptional relationship-building skills demonstrated by the ability to grow and nurture relationships

• Strong decision-making and organizational skills, with the ability to optimize the use of all available resources and deliver on multiple priorities

• Ability to influence others through outstanding interpersonal skills, collaboration, and negotiation skills

• Ability to think strategically and use sound judgment and initiative in making decisions

• Ability to build and facilitate relationships at all levels of the organization, both internally and externally

• Ability to productively and proactively adjust to dynamic situations

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively and clearly communicate a strategic and tactical vision to all levels within the organization, as well as with external agencies and business partners

• Ability to travel extensively for station visits, meetings with partners, and industry events

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and other Company systems, as needed

What you'll get

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer:

• Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.

• Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more.

• Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.

• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.

• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more

Feel free to be yourself at American

From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Team Member Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.

Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY

American Airlines maintains a continuing policy of nondiscrimination in employment. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity and access for all persons, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or other protected veteran, in all phases of the employment process and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy of nondiscrimination shall include, but not be limited to, the following employment decisions and practices: hiring; upgrading; promotions; demotions or transfers; layoffs; recalls; terminations; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; selection for training, including apprenticeship; and recruitment or recruitment advertising.