Airport Manager at APG Central Asia — NeverHard

Cathay Pacific Airways, represented in Kazakhstan by its official General Sales Agent, APG Central Asia, is seeking qualified candidates to join its team in Almaty. Responsibilities: Safety First, Quality Always Ensure rigorous implementation of corporate safety, security, and quality policies to maintain full compliance across the station, employees, and suppliers with all regulatory and internal standards. Drive operational excellence by achieving zero safety incidents and security breaches. Champion a “Just Culture” by fostering open, constructive engagement with stakeholders in root cause investigations and analysis. Proactively identify and mitigate personal, safety, and security risks in the airport environment for both customers and employees, including suppliers. Collaborate with local airport management to cultivate a culture of zero tolerance for safety and security incidents, reinforcing shared accountability and continuous improvement. Serve as the Airline’s Operational Duty Holder (ODH) at the airport, adhering to the established risk escalation process to the Functional Duty Holder (GM Airport Service Delivery). Operational Excellence Lead the team to deliver error-free operational excellence, with a strong focus on safety management, on-time performance, baggage handling, and the future airport experience. Drive a proactive mindset by continuously seeking opportunities to exceed published standards, airport policies, and procedures. Strategically deploy resources to maximize operational efficiency and effectiveness. Champion and celebrate best practices, while actively identifying opportunities to integrate technology into ramp operations. Oversee and play a key role in ensuring continuity of airport operations under all circumstances. Take full ownership of airport operational issues, resolving them with pragmatic, commercially sound, and legally compliant solutions. Perform any other reasonable duties as required. Outstanding Product and Service Inspire the team to embody Cathay’s core values—Thoughtful, Progressive, and Can-Do—to foster genuine connections and deliver memorable experiences across all customer touchpoints. Actively explore and implement modern technologies to enhance the customer experience journey. Elevate the airport lounge experience through a customer-centric approach that prioritizes comfort, personalization, and service excellence. Recognize and build loyalty with our most valued customers, including front-end travellers and Cathay members, by delivering exceptional service and meaningful engagement. Crisis Management Capability and Preparedness Collaborate with the Regional Business Resilience Coordinator to strengthen organizational, supplier, and individual capabilities in managing Emergency and Accident (E&A) scenarios, Irregular Operations (IROPS), and other foreseeable airport contingencies. Plan, conduct, and review contingency exercises and manual backup procedures annually to ensure readiness and compliance. Lead the implementation of the IROPS plan during major disruptions, guiding the team to minimize operational impact and restore service continuity. Ensure customers are well cared for, informed, and offered choices where possible through effective use of disruption management tools. Supplier Management Actively manage supplier performance in alignment with contractual obligations and service level agreements. Ensure sub-contracting arrangements are executed as per contract terms, and engage relevant stakeholders promptly when updates or changes occur. Set clear expectations and provide direction to suppliers in accordance with corporate standards. Conduct regular performance review meetings—at minimum, monthly—with suppliers to assess progress and address issues. Establish actionable improvement plans, monitor their execution, and maintain thorough documentation of all supplier-related activities. Cost Efficiency Plan and manage the station budget and all airport-related costs in collaboration with key stakeholders, ensuring financial discipline and transparency. Proactively identify cost-saving opportunities by focusing on controllable expenses without compromising service quality or compliance. Conduct effective rostering to ensure full coverage across all operational shifts. Maximize revenue potential by optimizing the use of airport properties, such as lounges and other commercial assets. Maintain cost efficiency while upholding legal requirements, service standards, and operational performance. Represent Cathay’s interests in the airport community Build and maintain strong relationships with external airport stakeholders—including authorities, suppliers, service providers, Oneworld partners, and other airlines—to represent the Company’s best interests. Ensure active and compliant participation in airport-related industry affairs, with strict adherence to competition regulations. Represent the airline in forums such as the Airport Operators Committee (AOC) or Board of Airline Representatives (BAR), advocating for the Company’s strategic and operational priorities. Proactive Partnerships with Regional and Head Office Maintain effective communication with Head Office and Regional Office to foster mutual understanding and alignment. Collaborate with Head and Regional Office departments to support and implement improvement initiatives and strategic projects. Act as a champion for Head and Regional Office initiatives, ensuring local adoption and engagement. Develop and execute local strategies in line with directives and frameworks provided by Head and Regional Office. People Development and Performance Management Lead, support, and motivate the team to achieve collective success through strong leadership and collaboration. Build a high-performing and engaged team by ensuring the right organizational structure and talent are in place to foster teamwork and a positive team spirit. Actively participate in recruitment and selection processes to attract and retain top talent for the airport team. Supervise and mentor direct reports, encouraging cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement. Identify and develop high-potential employees by ensuring tailored training and development programs are in place for both self-handled and third-party ports. Maintain ongoing dialogue around employee goals and performance to support growth and accountability. Engage actively with employees to enhance communication, alignment, and understanding of departmental objectives. Demonstrate leadership by living Cathay Pacific’s core values and leading by example. Champion initiatives that enhance the employee experience in alignment with role expectations and the brand promise. E&A Fulfil Emergency and Accident (E&A) and Crisis Response responsibilities as required, ensuring readiness and effective action in line with company protocols. Requirements: Academic qualifications A diploma qualification in a relevant discipline is the minimum educational requirement. A bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in operations management, business administration, airport planning and management, or airport operations is desirable. Knowledge, skills, training, and experience Proven expertise in safety management, including cultivating a safety-first culture and implementing effective risk mitigation strategies Excellent command of written and spoken English; proficiency in the local language is an advantage Minimum of 5 years’ leadership experience in customer service within a travel-related field, preferably in airlines, airport, or ramp operations Up-to-date knowledge of regulatory and local legal requirements related to airport and ramp operations, as well as passenger processing Strong understanding of management processes and their application across normal, disrupted, and emergency operational scenarios Demonstrated ability to work independently with sound decision-making skills Self-motivated and committed leader with a collaborative mindset Strong customer service orientation and exceptional interpersonal skills Effective negotiation capabilities Solid analytical and numerical skills, with experience in budget planning, review, and cost management Ability to interpret and apply global policies to ensure local compliance Logical and commercial thinking with the ability to present and justify ideas to diverse audiences High standard of personal presentation, representing the Company in both internal and external forums Proven track record in supplier management, including contract renewal, negotiation, and alignment with Company policies Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Demonstrated ability to lead through change and adapt in dynamic environments