Mgr Ops Customer Service

Reporting to the General Manager for the unit, the Manager, Ops, Customer Service is responsible for supporting the operational unit with meeting customer requirements and needs. This position will act as a liaison between the airline customer and the Gate Gourmet operational unit.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Agrees on performance expectations with the commercial team and works with GM/Unit staff to deliver against these expectations.
• Approves (w/GM consent) specialty orders, uplifts, and is responsible for invoice accuracy and timelines.
• Works closely with the production team to maintain a continuous knowledge of current specifications and customer expectations through routine audits.
• Ensures supply chain/purchasing has current up-to-date data and supports purchasing requirements.
• Ensures that all processes and procedures related to specific flights are completed, quality standards are met, and additional revenue opportunities documented on invoice.

• Communicates the customer goals and represents the customer interests to the local GGI team.
• Strong understanding of unit capabilities and services, and effectively communicates all offerings to the client w/GM approval.
• Reports to the GM and/or Account Director, providing regular input on all account activity, including service status and call reports on a weekly basis.
• Provides coordination between customer and GGI on special events such as Menu Presentation (scheduling, transportation, security, specs available, tent cards, tasting equipment, unit tours, beverages, etc.).
• Owner of T-minus schedule to facilitate changes and bring all departments together for success.

• Maintains a professional appearance at all times. Treats the customer with dignity and respect.

Internal & External Communication:

• Daily reconciliation of delays and communications need activities as required.
• Communicates daily to the GG operations team of any spec changes, performance issues, call backs, inspections, etc from the previous day. Drives root cause analysis.

• Weekly recaps of delays vs. targets, FAC’s, and updates with the customer on a weekly basis and local station management. SR (Shared Responsibility)
• Ensures that customer issues are dealt with efficiently, informing the General Manager and Commercial leader (PAM. Local Director) of any problems that may arise.
• Weekly inventory status checks. SR
• Provides regular two-way communication between the client and local GGI to provide strong team representation and set proper client expectations.

Inventory Management:

• Ensures customer inventory sheet is current and up to date with par levels.
• Manages inventory process accurately and on time. Results reviewed before submission to the customer. Communicates to the customer when par levels need to change. SR
• Provides customer feedback to help reduce costs through inventory management.
• Warehouse space management to avoid being a warehouse for obsolete or excessive inventory. SR

• Ensures that Customs requirements, GGI Bonded policy, and local Agriculture (compliance agreement) are implemented. SR

Quality:

• Assists internal department on quality/compliance through weekly specification checks and audits (chef tables, packing diagrams, CCP’s, VSIE process, safety).
• Compares FACs against goals.

• Ownership of CSI and drives the process as outlined in GG policy and procedures.

Cost Management:

• Conducts weekly documented billing checks to ensure items billed.
• Reviews monthly service orders to ensure all service items captured and aligned with CXP and Sales force.

Targets:

• Manages to a customer-specific set of KPI’s – reports on this performance to the commercial team, agrees performance targets to these KPI’s (e.g., delays, complaints, audit results) with Commercial VP and GM.
• Annual (or quarterly) customer feedback survey on each aspect of the role – communication, inventory management, quality cost management/invoice accuracy, and customer service orientation (does the customer view this role as representing their interests in the unit) SR

Qualifications

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associates degree or degree from a 4-year university or college is preferred.

Work Experience:

• Proven Account Management skills required to create, maintain, and enhance customer relationships.
• Minimum of 3 years of account/project management experience.

Technical Skills: (Certification, Licenses and Registration)

• Extremely detail-oriented.
• Technical and analytical competence (understands software, hardware, networks, etc.).
• Motivated, goal-oriented, and persistent.
• High level of initiative and works well in a fast-paced, team environment.

• Handles stressful situations and deadline pressures well.
• Plans and carries out responsibilities with minimal direction.
• Full knowledge of any customer-specific requirements in Service Agreement and delivers as listed below:

• Delta Airlines: Full knowledge of IFX system; Owner of change notice distribution list; understands the unit performance grading system; ensures the AC Damage reporting process is followed; full knowledge of Delta build tool.
• United Airlines: Full knowledge of Unimatic (aircraft operation); Full knowledge of IBSOPS (meal board location); Ensures PSS (passenger counts) is used for forecasting; Ensures AirServ / AirVision is used for flight finalization; Ensures Sky Net is used for packaging/general requirements; Full knowledge on the use of Igaps (real flight info).

• American Airlines: Understands AA evaluation and evaluation definitions; Full knowledge of AMOS & Sabre systems; Ensures food/equipment inventories in AirVision; Ensures equipment distribution is updated in AirVision; Ensures monthly IUR is documented in AirVision; understands the PMP process.
• British Airlines: Knowledgeable /Ensures BA IFX tools are used in operation; Maintains chronological telex and bulletin information; Analyzes TCS and BBSC sheets for BA performance; Full knowledge of AirServe and trains staff on the use; Owner of TP006 accuracy for each scheduled change.

• Virgin Airlines: Takes weekly photos of menu items and submits them to Virgin; Monthly review of TP006 and distributes the flight information; Must have full knowledge of Skylogistix; Must have full working knowledge of AirServ.

Language / Communication Skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Bilingual is a plus.

Job Dimensions

Geographic Responsibility: Unit

Type of Employment: Full-time

Travel %: Up to 25%

Exemption Classification: Exempt

Internal Relationships:

External Relationships:

Work Environment / Requirements of the Job: Normal office environment

Budget / Revenue Responsibility: (Local Currency)

Organization Structure

Direct Line Manager (Title): General Manager, Unit

Dotted Line Manager (Title, if applicable): N/A

Number of Direct Reports: Varies by unit

Number of Dotted Line Reports: N/A

Estimated Total Size of Team: Varies by unit

gategroup Competencies Required to be Successful in the Job:

• Thinking: Information Search and analysis & problem resolution skills.
• Engaging: Understanding others, Team Leadership and Developing People.
• Inspiring: Influencing and building relationships, Motivating and Inspiring, Communicating effectively.
• Achieving: Delivering business results under pressure, Championing Performance Improvement and Customer Focus.

Demonstrated Values to be Successful in the Position

Employees at gategroup are expected to live our Values of Excellence, Integrity, Passion, and Accountability. To demonstrate these Values, we expect to observe the following from everyone:

• We treat each other with respect and we act with integrity.
• We communicate and keep each other informed.
• We put our heads together to problem solve and deliver excellence as a team.

• We have passion for our work and we pay attention to the little details.
• We foster an environment of accountability, take responsibility for our actions and learn from our mistakes.
• We do what we say we will do, when we say we are going to do it.
• We care about our coworkers, always taking an opportunity to make someone’s day better.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

gategroup is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or other category under applicable law.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

We anticipate that this job will close on:

04/04/2025

If you want to be part of a team that helps make travel and culinary memories, join us

gategroup is the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board, and hospitality products and services. gategroup provides passengers with superior culinary and retail experiences, leveraging innovation and advanced technology solutions. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, gategroup delivers operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, serving passengers from over 200 operating units in over 60 countries/territories across all continents.

We work in an exciting industry – fast-paced and ever-changing. Industry trends and customer expectations are constantly evolving and it is critical that we are agile, innovative and ready for change - and our people are our driving force. We offer attractive opportunities to be part of this fast-paced and truly international working environment.