Lead end-to-end airport operations at Launceston, driving safety, compliance and growth while shaping a high-performing team in a critical leadership role.
The Head of Airport Operations is responsible for managing the daily operational activities of the Launceston airport, ensuring full compliance with aviation security and CASA safety regulations. This role ensures the safe, compliant, efficient and customer-focused operation of the airport and provides strategic and operational leadership across airside and landside operations, ensuring compliance with aviation regulations, effective emergency preparedness, operational resilience, and high standards of safety, service and stakeholder coordination.
The role plays a critical leadership function in balancing regulatory compliance, operational performance, customer experience and commercial outcomes, while supporting current operations and future airport growth. The Head of Operation is a key contributor to capital delivery projects which occur on the airport to ensure projects comply with any necessary regulations but also are fit for purpose for aviation activities.
The Head of Operations serves as a key liaison with airlines, tenants, and government regulatory agencies.
Key responsibilities:
The role's duties and accountabilities include, but are not limited to:
Lead and oversee daily airport operations across airside, landside and terminal, ensuring safe, efficient and compliant performance
Ensure compliance with CASA regulations, Transport Security Program and all relevant legislative requirements
Own and lead emergency management, including the Airport Emergency Plan, multi-agency coordination and incident response readiness
Oversee aviation security operations, including screening, risk assessments, systems and contractor performance
Drive operational excellence across safety, customer experience, asset utilisation and continuous improvement initiatives
Manage operational budgets, contracts and performance reporting, ensuring commercial and efficiency outcomes
Provide operational leadership and assurance across capital works and ORAT, ensuring readiness and regulatory compliance
Build, lead and develop high-performing teams in a complex, 24/7 environment
Maintain strong stakeholder relationships with airlines, regulators, tenants and emergency services
Lead governance, risk management, auditing and compliance frameworks across airport operations
The successful candidate will have:
Extensive senior leadership experience in aviation operations or safety management
Degree in Aviation Management, Business Administration, or a related field advantageous. Otherwise equivalent industry experience
Demonstrated high-level interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively manage both external and internal stakeholder relationships.
Experience managing and developing teams working in high-risk and regulated environments.
Demonstrated high-level written and verbal communications skills with experience in report writing.
Knowledge of procurement practices, financial management and corporate governance advantageous
Experience in leading and management emergency and incident management frameworks and responses
Highly developed self-management, organisational and time management skills
Experience with infrastructure development and capital works projects.
We understand that not everyone will feel they meet all of these 100%. However, if you feel you have the attitude and aptitude to grow within our team, we invite you to apply and have a conversation with us about this position.
About the Company:
Launceston Airport’s vision is to be the “Port of Choice” and tourism gateway to Tasmania and is an industry multi-award-winning major airport. With a proud history dating back to our first grass runway in 1929, the airport has grown and evolved, but our number one priority remains to deliver a safe and secure airport and a superior customer experience to every passenger who uses the airport. Our dedicated and passionate team members love our Airport and our community.
Launceston Airport, operated by Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC), is a company majority-owned by institutional superannuation and pension funds. We are proud to have a vibrant and friendly workplace culture. Our corporate offices are in the heart of the aviation activity, located within the terminal building.
Culture and Values:
Our “One Airport – One Team” approach fosters a culture of excellence for our people and their development and those of our customer and partner organisations. By joining the team at Launceston Airport, you will work within a friendly, high-performance culture with a focus on our people and their development. We provide a supportive environment, with values that encourage all of our employees to Be You, Think Big, Own it and Work Together.
Benefits:
Access to airport car parking 24 hours/365 days a year for both business and personal use
Hybrid flexible working arrangements
Airport Holiday, an additional day of leave
Wellness Day, a further additional day of leave
Mental health and well-being initiatives
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Career and professional development
Participation in a range of social impact days and activities
Living in one of Australia’s only six ’30 minute cities.’ To learn more about Launceston as a career destination, and all our wonderful city has to offer, visit https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Home
APAC is committed to weaving Diversity into our DNA. We believe that Diversity and Inclusion will help us realise our greatest potential as a company, and maximise the potential of all our team members. We strive to create a culture where our team members understand that each individual is unique and that embracing diversity makes us more flexible, productive, and creative.
APAC provides equal opportunity and advancement in employment regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, cultural background, caring responsibilities, disability or socio-economic background. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our workplace values of authenticity, passion, accountability & collaboration.