Area Manager - Ground Operations (Morocco, Spain and France)

Area Manager - Ground Operations

Based in Casablanca, Morocco, this role reports to the Head of Ground Operations and leads and oversees airport operations across Morocco, Spain and France. The Area Manager ensures safe, efficient and compliant ground handling, supports regional strategies and business plans, and drives operational consistency, revenue protection and service excellence across all stations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Operational Execution

• Support the Head of Ground Operations in developing, implementing and monitoring regional strategies and business plans, ensuring operational efficiency, cost control and optimal ROI.
• Liaise with stakeholders to establish and implement airport services procedures aligned with Air Arabia's quality, safety and regulatory standards.
• Conduct feasibility studies and prepare operating budgets for assigned stations; monitor expenditures and recommend cost-saving initiatives.
• Partner with the Head of Ground Operations to lead the start-up and operational readiness of new hubs and stations, including contracting, manpower, facilities, systems and training readiness.

Stakeholder and Contract Management

• Build and maintain productive relationships with airports, Civil Aviation Authorities, GHAs and industry bodies to ensure smooth operations and favourable commercial terms.
• Support the negotiation and management of ground handling and customer service contracts, ensuring company interests are protected and service levels are met.
• Collaborate with the Commercial team to align operational performance with revenue targets, cost optimization and customer experience goals.

Performance Monitoring and Compliance

• Conduct field visits, audits and performance reviews for assigned stations and GHAs; analyse data and reports to identify trends, gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Work closely with Quality, Safety and Security teams to ensure adherence to company and regulatory standards, including audits and investigations.
• Coordinate with IT and government bodies to ensure systems setup, upgrades and maintenance comply with operational and regulatory requirements.

People Leadership and Development

• Partner with HR to define objectives and KPIs for station teams; provide coaching, feedback and support.
• Ensure optimal utilization of resources (manpower, systems, tools and processes) to maximize operational efficiency.
• Continuously evaluate systems, tools and procedures, recommending enhancements to improve reliability and productivity.

Qualifications and Work Experience

• Bachelor's degree in aviation management, Business Administration or related field; a Master's degree is an advantage.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in Ground Operations, with at least 2 years in a managerial or multi-station leadership role.
• Proven experience managing airport operations, GHAs and compliance with international standards (IATA, ICAO, GCAA).
• Commercial and cost-awareness mindset with ability to link operations to ROI.
• Strong leadership, analytical and negotiation skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and vendor coordination capabilities.
• Proficiency in MS Office and operational management systems; exposure to data-driven decision-making is a strong advantage.
• High sense of accountability, customer focus and operational discipline.
• Willingness to travel extensively across assigned regions.
• Moroccan nationality or residency is a must.