About RwandAir

RwandAir Ltd is the national carrier of Rwanda, providing domestic and international passenger and cargo services across East, Central, West and Southern Africa, Europe, and the Middle East from its hub at Kigali International Airport.

Our mission is to provide safe, reliable, and world-class air transportation services while strategically connecting Rwanda to the world and delivering sustainable value to stakeholders.

Job Summary

The Head of Airside Operations is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for RwandAir's end-to-end airside operations, ensuring safe, efficient, cost-effective, and customer-focused ground handling services. The role oversees ramp operations, baggage handling, load control, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), aircraft turnaround, and airside safety while ensuring compliance with ICAO, IOSA, ISAGO, IATA AHM, and Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) standards.

The position drives operational excellence, commercial performance, continuous improvement, safety culture, and strategic growth to support RwandAir's vision of becoming the premier 4-Star airline and regional aviation hub.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the Airside Operations strategy aligned with RwandAir's corporate objectives and long-term growth plans.
• Establish operational standards, policies, and performance benchmarks for ramp operations, baggage handling, load control, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), and airside safety.
• Support the development of Kigali International Airport and future hub operations, including the Bugesera Airport transition, through collaboration with airport authorities, air traffic control, regulators, and industry partners.
• Lead the modernization of Ground Support Equipment (GSE), automation initiatives, digital transformation, and sustainable ground operations.
• Develop commercial strategies for third-party ground handling services to position RwandAir as a preferred ground handling provider.
• Promote a proactive Safety Management System (SMS) and foster a Just Culture that emphasizes safety, risk management, and continuous improvement.
• Integrate sustainability and environmental management initiatives into airside operations.

Operational Management

• Direct daily airside operations, including ramp services, aircraft turnaround, baggage handling, load control, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) management.
• Ensure achievement of operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including Departure On-Time Performance (D-OTP), turnaround efficiency, baggage handling performance, and labour productivity.
• Manage departmental budgets and oversee financial performance to ensure cost-effective operations.
• Monitor Ground Support Equipment utilization, maintenance planning, and operational readiness.
• Oversee the implementation and management of Standard Ground Handling Agreements (SGHAs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and contracts with third-party service providers.
• Chair operational performance review meetings to evaluate service delivery, identify performance gaps, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead operational preparedness and recovery during irregular operations (IROPS), severe weather, security incidents, and emergencies.
• Ensure compliance with the Operations Manual, Ground Operations Manual (GOM), Aircraft Handling Manual, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and regulatory requirements.
• Cascade departmental objectives and performance targets to managers and supervisors while promoting accountability and continuous improvement.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Director, Ground Operations.

Leadership & People Management

• Develop departmental objectives aligned with corporate strategy.
• Lead, supervise, coach, and mentor managers, supervisors, and frontline operational teams.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on safety, operational excellence, accountability, and customer service.
• Recruit, train, develop, and retain skilled operational personnel.
• Promote succession planning, employee engagement, and leadership development.
• Encourage collaboration across departments and operational stakeholders.

Safety, Security & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with aviation safety, security, environmental, and quality management systems.
• Promote a strong safety culture through training, supervision, and continuous safety awareness initiatives.
• Investigate operational incidents, hazards, and near misses, ensuring timely corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead the Airside contribution to Emergency Response Plans (ERP) and business continuity initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with ICAO, IOSA, ISAGO, IATA AHM, RCAA, and company policies and procedures.
• Support environmental sustainability initiatives and ensure responsible operational practices.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement through operational performance analysis and benchmarking.
• Promote the adoption of digital technologies, automation, predictive analytics, and innovation within airside operations.
• Monitor emerging aviation trends, technologies, and regulatory developments to enhance operational efficiency.
• Participate in emergency response activities and major operational disruptions affecting RwandAir.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.

Preferred

• Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Aviation Management, or a related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent Operational Excellence certification.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of ten (10) years' progressive aviation experience, including at least five (5) years in a senior Airside Operations or Ground Handling leadership role within an airline or major ground handling organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing departmental budgets and Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibilities.
• Professional qualification in IATA or ICAO Ground Operations, Safety Management Systems (SMS), or Ground Handling.
• Experience managing IOSA, ISAGO, and Civil Aviation Authority audits.
• Proven experience leading multicultural operational teams in a major airport or hub environment.

Core Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Airside operations management.
• Ramp operations and aircraft turnaround management.
• Ground Support Equipment (GSE) operations.
• Aviation safety and regulatory compliance.
• Safety Management Systems (SMS).
• IOSA, ISAGO, ICAO, IATA AHM, and RCAA standards.
• Budget management and financial planning.
• Operational performance management and business analytics.
• Crisis management and emergency response planning.
• Digital transformation and operational innovation.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic planning and execution.
• Commercial and operational leadership.
• Team leadership and talent development.
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
• Performance management.
• Change management.
• Decision-making and problem-solving.

Personal Competencies

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical, financial, and commercial acumen.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure and during operational disruptions.
• Results-oriented with exceptional organizational skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Knowledge of French and/or Kinyarwanda is an added advantage.

Job Dimensions

Leadership

• Leads the Airside Operations Department.
• Supervises managers, supervisors, and operational teams across the Airside Operations function.

Strategic Accountability

• Develops departmental strategy, operational policies, and performance standards.
• Drives operational excellence, safety, commercial growth, and continuous improvement.

Financial Accountability

• Full responsibility for departmental operating budget.
• Oversees departmental expenditures, cost control, and revenue-generating ground handling operations.

Customer Accountability

• Works closely with executive leadership, airport authorities, regulatory agencies, airline partners, Ground Handling Agents (GHAs), and other stakeholders to deliver safe, efficient, and customer-focused airside operations.

• Develop and implement the Airside Operations strategy aligned with RwandAir's corporate objectives and long-term growth plans.
• Establish operational standards, policies, and performance benchmarks for ramp operations, baggage handling, load control, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), and airside safety.
• Support the development of Kigali International Airport and future hub operations, including the Bugesera Airport transition, through collaboration with airport authorities, air traffic control, regulators, and industry partners.
• Lead the modernization of Ground Support Equipment (GSE), automation initiatives, digital transformation, and sustainable ground operations.
• Develop commercial strategies for third-party ground handling services to position RwandAir as a preferred ground handling provider.
• Promote a proactive Safety Management System (SMS) and foster a Just Culture that emphasizes safety, risk management, and continuous improvement.
• Integrate sustainability and environmental management initiatives into airside operations.
• Direct daily airside operations, including ramp services, aircraft turnaround, baggage handling, load control, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) management.
• Ensure achievement of operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including Departure On-Time Performance (D-OTP), turnaround efficiency, baggage handling performance, and labour productivity.
• Manage departmental budgets and oversee financial performance to ensure cost-effective operations.
• Monitor Ground Support Equipment utilization, maintenance planning, and operational readiness.
• Oversee the implementation and management of Standard Ground Handling Agreements (SGHAs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and contracts with third-party service providers.
• Chair operational performance review meetings to evaluate service delivery, identify performance gaps, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead operational preparedness and recovery during irregular operations (IROPS), severe weather, security incidents, and emergencies.
• Ensure compliance with the Operations Manual, Ground Operations Manual (GOM), Aircraft Handling Manual, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and regulatory requirements.
• Cascade departmental objectives and performance targets to managers and supervisors while promoting accountability and continuous improvement.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Director, Ground Operations.
• Develop departmental objectives aligned with corporate strategy.
• Lead, supervise, coach, and mentor managers, supervisors, and frontline operational teams.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on safety, operational excellence, accountability, and customer service.
• Recruit, train, develop, and retain skilled operational personnel.
• Promote succession planning, employee engagement, and leadership development.
• Encourage collaboration across departments and operational stakeholders.
• Ensure full compliance with aviation safety, security, environmental, and quality management systems.
• Promote a strong safety culture through training, supervision, and continuous safety awareness initiatives.
• Investigate operational incidents, hazards, and near misses, ensuring timely corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead the Airside contribution to Emergency Response Plans (ERP) and business continuity initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with ICAO, IOSA, ISAGO, IATA AHM, RCAA, and company policies and procedures.
• Support environmental sustainability initiatives and ensure responsible operational practices.
• Drive continuous improvement through operational performance analysis and benchmarking.
• Promote the adoption of digital technologies, automation, predictive analytics, and innovation within airside operations.
• Monitor emerging aviation trends, technologies, and regulatory developments to enhance operational efficiency.
• Participate in emergency response activities and major operational disruptions affecting RwandAir.

• Airside operations management
• Ramp operations and aircraft turnaround management
• Ground Support Equipment (GSE) operations
• Aviation safety and regulatory compliance
• Safety Management Systems (SMS)
• IOSA, ISAGO, ICAO, IATA AHM, and RCAA standards
• Budget management and financial planning
• Operational performance management and business analytics
• Crisis management and emergency response planning
• Digital transformation and operational innovation
• Strategic planning and execution
• Commercial and operational leadership
• Team leadership and talent development
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation
• Performance management
• Change management
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical, financial, and commercial acumen
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure and during operational disruptions
• Results-oriented with exceptional organizational skills
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Knowledge of French and/or Kinyarwanda is an added advantage

• Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Aviation Management, or a related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent Operational Excellence certification.
• Minimum of ten (10) years' progressive aviation experience, including at least five (5) years in a senior Airside Operations or Ground Handling leadership role within an airline or major ground handling organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing departmental budgets and Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibilities.
• Professional qualification in IATA or ICAO Ground Operations, Safety Management Systems (SMS), or Ground Handling.
• Experience managing IOSA, ISAGO, and Civil Aviation Authority audits.
• Proven experience leading multicultural operational teams in a major airport or hub environment.