Executive Vice President, Ground Handling – North America

Overview

Are you ready to take flight in a dynamic and fast-paced aviation industry? As a global leader in aviation services, Swissport provides Ground Handling, Cargo Handling, and Passenger Services to over 300 million passengers annually. Our mission is simple – “To provide the aviation industry with consistent and tailor-made solutions around the globe, for a better customer experience.” 

We believe that our people are what differentiates us from our competition. At Swissport, we are driven by our core values of Show You Care, Do the Right Things and Win as a Team, and we are currently seeking dedicated individuals, who align with these values, to join our team at various locations across the globe.   

 

Job Summary

The Executive Vice President (EVP), Ground Handling – North America is responsible for the strategic direction, operational performance, financial results, and continued growth of Swissport's Ground Handling business across the United States and Canada.

 

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the EVP will lead the regional Ground Handling leadership team and establish a high-performance operating culture focused on safety, service reliability, accountability, and profitability.

 

The position carries full P&L accountability for the Ground Handling business, with responsibility for delivering sustainable financial performance, strengthening airline and airport partnerships, driving operational consistency, and developing a strong leadership pipeline across the organization.

 

The successful candidate will combine strategic vision with operational discipline, demonstrating the ability to lead a large, geographically dispersed organization while empowering regional leadership teams to execute with clear accountability.

Full-time employees are offered a range of health and wellness benefits as well as 401(k) with company match paid vacation time, sick time, and company paid holidays.  

 

Your activities

 

Strategic Leadership & Business Growth

• Develop and execute the North American Ground Handling strategy, aligned with Swissport's global business objectives.
• Own the overall financial performance of the Ground Handling business, including revenue growth, profitability, productivity, and budget delivery.
• Identify and pursue profitable organic growth opportunities, including new airline contracts, network expansion, and increased market share.
• Partner with Commercial leadership to strengthen customer relationships, improve contract economics, and support competitive bids and renewals.
• Identify opportunities to improve operating margins through productivity, innovation, technology, and resource optimization.
• Lead business transformation initiatives that improve organizational effectiveness, operational performance, and long-term competitiveness.
• Contribute to North American executive leadership decisions, strategic investments, and capital allocation priorities.

Operational Excellence & Performance Management

• Provide executive oversight of Ground Handling operations across the United States and Canada.
• Establish clear operating expectations and ensure consistent implementation of safety, service, and performance standards.
• Drive measurable improvements in on-time performance, baggage delivery, customer satisfaction, and aircraft damage prevention.
• Establish a disciplined management cadence using performance dashboards, operational reviews, and corrective action plans.
• Ensure timely identification and recovery of underperforming stations, with clear ownership, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Drive operational efficiency through improved labor planning, equipment utilization, scheduling, and standardized operating practices.
• Ensure effective management of Ground Support Equipment (GSE), including operational availability, preventive maintenance, fleet reliability, and capital investment.
• Maintain effective coordination with QHSE, Training, Fleet, Human Resources, Finance, and Commercial functions.

Financial & Labor Management

• Take full accountability for Ground Handling P&L performance, operating budgets, forecasts, and delivery of financial commitments.
• Drive sustainable margin improvement through disciplined workforce planning, productivity management, labor utilization, and cost controls.
• Establish accountability for worked hours, overtime, Hours Per Flight (HPF), Direct Labor Ratio (DLR), and station profitability.
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, disciplined financial reviews, and timely corrective action.
• Support labor relations strategies, collective bargaining priorities, and productive relationships with union representatives.
• Ensure labor decisions support both financial sustainability and the staffing levels required for safe, reliable operations.
• Evaluate operational and capital investments to improve efficiency, asset utilization, and financial returns.

Safety, Compliance & Operational Risk

• Champion a proactive safety culture with clear executive accountability for accident and injury prevention.
• Ensure operations comply with applicable regulatory requirements, aviation standards, corporate policies, and customer contractual obligations.
• Drive improvements in aircraft damage prevention, employee safety, training compliance, and operational risk management.
• Support effective regulatory and airport authority relationships and ensure timely resolution of compliance findings.
• Ensure business continuity, emergency preparedness, and operational recovery plans are maintained across the network.
• Partner with QHSE leadership to establish and monitor corrective actions and continuous safety improvement initiatives.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a senior executive representative of Swissport with airline customers, airport authorities, regulators, and key industry stakeholders.
• Strengthen strategic partnerships with airline customers to support contract retention, service improvements, and business growth.
• Personally engage in the resolution of significant customer service or performance issues.
• Represent Swissport in high-level commercial discussions, contract negotiations, and industry engagements.
• Build customer confidence through consistent service delivery, transparency, and responsiveness.

Leadership, Talent & Organizational Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the regional Ground Handling leadership team, creating a culture of accountability, ownership, and performance.
• Ensure regional leaders have clear decision-making authority and accountability for their respective businesses.
• Build a strong succession pipeline for senior operational leadership and critical station-level positions.
• Partner with Human Resources to attract, retain, and develop high-performing leaders.
• Drive improved employee engagement, leadership stability, and workforce retention.
• Establish a collaborative leadership culture that promotes transparency, decisive action, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a performance-driven organization where operational ownership and accountability reside at the appropriate leadership level.

Key Performance Indicators

Financial Performance

• Revenue growth and profitability
• EBITDA, EBIT, and station financial performance
• Budget and forecast adherence
• Operating margin improvement
• Labor productivity and cost efficiency

Operational Performance

• On-Time Performance (OTP)
• First Bag / Last Bag performance
• Net Promoter Score (NPS) and customer satisfaction
• Hours Per Flight (HPF)
• Direct Labor Ratio (DLR) and overtime
• Ground Support Equipment availability and preventive maintenance compliance

Safety & Compliance

• Aircraft Damage (ACD) frequency
• Lost Time Injuries (LTI)
• Safety and regulatory audit performance
• Mandatory training compliance

People & Leadership

• Employee attrition and retention
• Leadership stability and succession readiness
• Employee engagement
• Performance improvement and recovery of underperforming stations

Commercial Performance

• Profitable new business wins
• Contract retention and renewals
• Customer relationship performance
• Revenue and margin growth

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

The employee will regularly be required to sit, communicate, and use computer-based systems. The position may occasionally require standing, walking, bending, reaching, and visiting operational airport environments.

The employee may occasionally be required to lift or move items weighing up to 25 pounds. Operational visits may involve exposure to outdoor weather conditions, aircraft movement areas, and ground support equipment.

 

Your profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Aviation Management, Operations, or a related field; equivalent senior leadership experience will be considered.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience in aviation services, ground handling, airline operations, or a comparable complex service environment.
• Significant experience leading large, geographically dispersed, multi-site operations with substantial P&L accountability.
• Demonstrated success improving operational performance, profitability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Experience successfully leading business turnarounds, operational recovery, or major transformation initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen, financial discipline, and experience managing complex customer relationships.
• Proven ability to lead and develop senior executive teams while establishing clear accountability.
• Strong understanding of aviation safety standards, operational risk, labor management, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience operating in unionized and multicultural environments is strongly preferred.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure and lead effectively through operational and organizational challenges.
• High personal integrity, executive presence, resilience, and commitment to Swissport's core values.
• Fluency in English required.

Travel

• Ability to travel frequently throughout the United States and Canada to support operational, commercial, and leadership responsibilities.
• Must be available for operational site visits, executive meetings, customer engagements, and urgent operational matters.

What we offer 

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

At Swissport, we believe in diversity, equal opportunity, and the power of our values to drive our success. We are committed to providing a workplace that fosters inclusion and where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. 

Visit our website at https://careers.swissport.com to learn more about Life at Swissport. 

Join Swissport today and be part of a team that connects the world of aviation!