Airport Manager Full Time

Founded in the Queensland outback in 1920, Qantas has grown to be Australia’s largest regional, domestic, and international airline. Qantas has a range of subsidiary businesses that support the overall operations of the Group. The Qantas Group’s main business is the transportation of customers and freight using two complementary airline brands — Qantas and Jetstar — operating regional, domestic, and international services.

Job Description

• Lead, engage and develop high-performing airport teams
• Drive operational performance and customer experience
• Permanent, full-time opportunities based in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane

As Airport Manager, you’ll lead all airport operations to deliver safe, efficient and customer-focused outcomes across customer service, ramp, baggage and regulatory compliance. You will act as Qantas’ primary airport representative, owning relationships with airport authorities, regulators, unions, ground service providers and business partners.

Working closely with the Head of Airport and the central Airports team, you’ll lead day‑to‑day operations while also driving longer‑term transformation initiatives – ensuring service standards are met while continuously improving performance, efficiency and customer outcomes.

This role combines hands‑on operational leadership with strategic planning and change management. You’ll bring strong judgment, commercial acumen and the ability to lead large, diverse teams through complexity, disruption and change, while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.

You’ll Have

• Proven senior leadership experience in a large, complex operational environment with a sizeable workforce
• A strong track record of driving safe, efficient operations and achieving KPI, financial and customer outcomes
• Demonstrated capability in leading people performance, including coaching, development, and performance management
• Experience managing industrial relations, union engagement and workforce change constructively
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including regulators, airport authorities and third‑party service providers
• Commercial and analytical capability, with the ability to assess risk, cost, labour and operational impacts
• Experience leading and embedding operational improvement and change initiatives
• A safety‑first mindset with sound knowledge of regulatory, WH&S and assurance frameworks
• The ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure in a live operational environment
• Excellent communication skills and professional presence, representing the Qantas brand at senior levels

Why the Qantas Group?   

You’ll join a team where creativity and passion are encouraged. Our people come together to allow us to dream big and deliver successfully. There are many different opportunities across our team, which means you’ll be able to grow both personally and professionally at the Qantas Group. Your development is a priority for us – so that you can maintain the high standards our customers have come to expect and can continue to develop over time. You’ll be supported from day 1 with on the job training and coaching as well as our formal training opportunities. While you may start in this role, we’ve got a great track record of supporting our people to take their career in so many different directions, the destinations are endless.    

The Qantas employee benefits program offers amazing benefits that extend well beyond travel.   

• We love to travel: Enjoy heavily discounted air travel within Australia and across the globe, both for you and your family and friends, as well as exclusive deals on accommodation and holidays.  
• We have flexible leave options: Make use of leave and flexible working opportunities including 18 weeks paid parental leave (plus superannuation payments on all paid and unpaid parental leave until your child turns 1) and additional purchased leave options for eligible employees.
• We’ll give you access to thousands of rewards: Through our partnerships we can offer you discounts across shopping, food and wine, insurance, health and wellbeing, leisure and entertainment. You can also take advantage of our salary packaging program including motor vehicles, eligible portable electronic devices and professional memberships.  
• We’ll support your wellbeing: Whether it’s learning to better support your own and others’ mental health, our interactive wellbeing app or your very own tailored nutrition plan.   

The Qantas Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion.  We embrace diversity and encourage applications from people with disability. Candidates will have the opportunity to request support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process in order to demonstrate their ability to meet the inherent requirements of our roles. 

Be a part of something special and play your part in the Qantas story – get in touch today.

Applications Close: 11:59pm AEST, Thursday, 23 April 2026