Emirates Group

dnata is more than a global air and travel services provider. We connect people with possibilities and opportunities across 130+ airports in 34 countries through ground handling, cargo, travel, and catering & retail services. Our purpose is clear: to deliver on the promises our customers make. We are powered by a bold vision to be the world’s most admired air and travel services provider, which guides our strategy, culture, and every role across our teams. Our core values fuel everything we do: we are safe, we play to win, we respect everyone and work together as a team, and we are future thinking. At dnata, we foster diversity, nurture ambition, and celebrate achievement. If you're inspired by purpose and motivated to be part of a global team shaping the future of aviation and travel, we’d love to have you onboard. 

dnata Italy is a cornerstone of dnata’s European operations and truly a second home for the business. With teams operating at 18 airports, dnata delivers industry-leading catering and ground handling services across the country—handling 150,000 flights annually and recently expanding to Rome Fiumicino. As the primary catering and retail provider to 37 airline customers at 11 airports, dnata Italy uplifts 12 million meals a year, combining world-class inflight dining with a full suite of catering, retail, and ground services.

As a VP Operations, you will have end-to-end ownership of dnata Catering Italy’s operations, setting strategy and driving execution across culinary production, assembly, logistics, bonded warehouse operations, supply chain, IT-enabled efficiency, and operational compliance. As a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will focus on strengthening profitability and margins, stimulating demand, elevating service quality, and reducing cost of goods and waste—while consistently operating to industry-leading safety standards.

In  this role, you will

• Define and execute the local operational strategy and roadmap aligned to dnata’s overall strategy, customer expectations, and financial targets
• Set an integrated operational vision with clear plans, KPIs, and measurable targets across all units and ports
• Own operational performance strategies and initiatives, ensuring strong alignment between strategic objectives and execution
• Lead annual forecasting, budgeting, long-term planning, and full accountability for unit P&Ls and consolidated operational budgets
• Drive performance across customer service, efficiency, cost effectiveness, and service agreement KPIs using data-driven decision making
• Apply a strong cost and productivity focus, including CAPEX/OPEX management, labour optimisation, and waste reduction
• Oversee countrywide catering operations, ensuring consistent quality, efficiency, and on-time delivery of services
• Optimise organisational structures and workforce planning to align with business demand and performance goals
• Embed a continuous improvement culture, leading cross-functional initiatives to deliver strategic and operational enhancements
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety, food safety, hygiene, airline, airport, and regulatory requirements at all times
• Design, implement, and continuously enhance best-in-class safety management systems, promoting a safety-first culture
• Monitor, analyse, and act on operational, safety, and financial performance through robust reporting and governance frameworks
• Analyse customer feedback, complaints, and operational data to drive targeted service and performance improvements
• Lead and develop high-performing leadership teams through coaching, delegation, talent development, and succession planning
• Act as a dnata values ambassador, fostering integrity, accountability, meritocracy, and high-performance behaviours
• Demonstrate strong decision-making, resilience, and urgency in fast-paced, complex operational environments
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to deliver shared outcomes and promote best-practice and knowledge sharing
• Build and maintain effective external relationships with airport authorities, unions, regulators, and strategic partners
• Safeguard dnata’s people, assets, reputation, resources, and customer property

To  be considered for the role, you must meet the below requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in Business, Management Engineering or a relevant discipline and 15+ years’ experience in senior operational management roles
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a relevant industry (food production, transformation or air catering preferred)
• Strong commercial, operational, and financial acumen, with proven capability in managing complex, multi-site environments
• Demonstrated experience in CAPEX/OPEX planning, labour cost optimisation, and productivity improvement
• Proven leader of transformation, continuous improvement, and cross-functional initiatives; M&A integration experience an advantage
• Solid Industrial Relations experience and a track record of leading large, diverse workforces
• Strong influencing, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with a decisive and resilient leadership style
• High integrity, transparency, and fairness in leadership approach
• Fluency in English

At Emirates Group, we’re committed to providing our employees with opportunities to grow and develop in their careers. So if you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, apply today and join our team! 

Recruitment Process and Timeline 

Emirates Group, is an international organisation with employees from over 170 nationalities, we encourage applications from across the globe. Your application journey begins by applying via the Emirates Group Careers website. Please ensure your CV is up to date for our talent acquisition team to review your profile. If you meet the criteria of the role, you will then be invited to complete a HireVue video interview, to share more about your experience and your career aspirations. If you are shortlisted, you will then be invited to interview with our hiring managers. If you are successful, your recruiter will reach out to you with an offer and then our Onboarding team will ensure a smooth transition to your new role at Emirates Group.

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