Manager, Catering

Intro

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!

Why you'll love this job

This leader oversees one of our largest Philadelphia-based catering kitchens, directing logistics, transportation flow, warehousing, equipment readiness, and service execution to ensure consistent, on‑time flight support. They drive daily operational performance by coordinating dispatch, drivers, warehouse, dock, and support teams while developing a high‑performing workforce grounded in safety, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement. The role also ensures operational excellence and compliance by proactively managing safety, labor, and contractual risks, supporting audits, and partnering with stakeholders to strengthen service reliability and network performance.

What you'll do

As noted above, this list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced.  Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations including any collective bargaining obligations.

•    Oversee the overall unit operation, including catering logistics, transportation flow, equipment readiness, warehousing, and service execution 
•    Ensure reliable execution of daily flight schedules through effective coordination with dispatch, drivers, warehouse, dock, and support teams.
•    Monitor workload, shift coverage, and operational pacing to ensure on time performance and service consistency.
•    Develop, lead, and retain a high performing leadership team and frontline workforce across all commissary departments.
•    Ensure proper staff allocation, shift alignment, and coverage to maximize efficiency while meeting service level commit-ments.
•    Address performance issues, attendance, conduct, and engagement matters promptly and consistently.
•    Foster a culture of accountability, safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
•    Oversee safety programs related to material handling, vehicle operations, dock activity, and employee work practices.
•    Identify, assess, and mitigate operational and labor related risks, including safety, compliance, and contractual obligations.
•    Ensure policies and procedures are followed, updated, and effectively communicated across the unit.
•    Support audits, inspections, and customer reviews related to safety, security, and operational compliance.
•    Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on logistics flow, staffing efficiency, communication effectiveness, and ser-vice reliability.
•    Represent the PHL Commissary unit in internal and external communications.
•    Collaborate with other stations, regional leaders, and functional departments to share best practices and support network initiatives.

All you'll need for success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

•    Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience/training. 
•    5+ years of experience 
•    Experience with airline catering, the food and beverage and or hospitality
•    Must fulfill FAA criminal background checks to qualify for unescorted access privileges to airport security identification display areas (SIDA), if applicable 
•    Ability to secure appropriate airport authority and/or US Customs security badges  
•    Must Pass U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) mandate drug test  
•    Able to push/pull force of up to 60 pounds

Preferred Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

•    Project Management 
•    Process Improvement 
•    Change Management Skills 
•    Excellent communication, written and verbal 

Skills, Licenses & Certifications

•    High energy, results driven leader with the ability to balance multiple priorities simultaneously 
•    Proactively identify solutions to complex issues, and influence appropriate decision makers
•    Superior analytical and problem-solving skills with a strong focus on attention to detail 
•    Advanced business understanding, particularly in business process reengineering, and development of key performance indicators for inventory management functions 
•    Demonstrated success leading an organization responsible for catering strategy implementation 
•    Proficiency with MS portfolio (E.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
•    Demonstrated ability to manage large initiatives, including financial justifications, and management, as well as execution of broad scale initiatives 
•    Demonstrated ability to strategize and negotiate with team members 
•    Strong understanding of employee relations, including labor/management relations 
•    Strong understanding of warehousing and supply chain associated processes 
•    Retain impeccable ethics in the area of corporate governance, operational reporting, and team development
•    Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines

What you'll get

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer: 

• Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.
• Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. 
• Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.
• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.
• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more

Feel free to be yourself at American

From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.

Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.