Managing Director, dnata Catering Ireland
Based in Dublin Airport Logistics Park, dnata Ireland provides catering services to several international airlines operating from Dublin International Airport. In September 2020, we expanded operations with a state‑of‑the‑art facility that quadrupled our catering capacity to enable delivery of 40,000 quality inflight meals a day. Covering an area of 6,300m², our new facility is equipped with latest technologies and came as a direct result of dnata’s agreement with Aer Lingus, which sees it now provide inflight catering services to the airline at all major airports in Ireland.
As Managing Director, dnata Catering Ireland, you will have full accountability for the leadership, performance, and governance of dnata Catering Ireland across Dublin, Cork, and Shannon Airports. Reporting to the VP dnata Catering & Retail Emerging Markets and serving as a member of the local Board, you will be responsible for operational excellence, financial performance, customer delivery, regulatory compliance, workforce stability, and sustainable growth within a highly regulated, safety‑critical aviation catering environment. You will lead the senior leadership team to deliver safe, compliant, customer‑focused, and cost‑effective operations, fully aligned with dnata Group strategy, governance standards, and divisional objectives. Accountabilities for the role are structured across Plan, Lead, and Execute to reflect strategic direction, leadership responsibility, and operational delivery.
In This Role, You Will
Work collaboratively with the Ireland Senior Leadership Team and dnata Catering HQ to develop and deliver short‑and long‑term strategic plans for dnata Catering Ireland in alignment with dnata Group strategy, governance, and brand standards.
Ensure strategic plans explicitly account for the Irish regulatory environment, employment legislation, union frameworks, and airport authority requirements.
Translate Group and regional strategy into a clear Ireland operational strategy encompassing workforce planning, organisational capability, change management, capital investment, profitability, budgeting, and key strategic projects.
Oversee the local implementation and optimisation of Group IT systems and digital platforms, in partnership with dnata Catering HQ subject matter experts, to support operational efficiency and reporting.
Analyse customer requirements and perceptions through internal performance data, customer feedback, and market benchmarking, using insights to drive service innovation, product development, and competitive advantage at Dublin, Cork & Shannon Airport.
Translate strategic and operational plans into robust annual budgets and forecasts, ensuring full alignment with Group financial targets and approval processes.
Provide visible, credible, and decisive leadership across the organisation, setting the tone for safety, accountability, engagement, and performance.
Build, lead, and sustain an effective senior leadership team with clear accountability, capability development, and succession planning.
Hold full P&L accountability, including revenue growth, margin delivery, cost control, working capital management, and capital investment discipline.
Lead major commercial negotiations, including contract renewals, extensions, and growth initiatives.
Serve as the senior representative of dnata Catering Ireland with airport authorities, regulators, customers, and dnata Group stakeholders.
To be successful in this role, you must meet the following requirements:
Degree or Equivalent plus a minimum of 8 years of experience in operationally intensive environments, with at least 5 years in a senior management or executive role with full P&L accountability.
Senior leadership experience within inflight catering, aviation services, premium hospitality, complex supply chain or similar regulated, multi‑site operations.
Proven capability in leading large workforces, managing organisational change and sustaining workforce engagement and stability.
Strong commercial acumen with a clear track record of delivering financial performance and operational improvement.
High credibility with Boards, customers, regulators, airport authorities, and Group leadership.
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