General Manager

SMA - Strategic Management Alliance · India

General Manager – Airline Catering

Location: New Delhi

About the Opportunity

Strategic Management Alliance is hiring for a General Manager – Airline Catering on behalf of a leading Hospitality Organization operating in the Hotel, Airline Catering and Aviation Services sector.

The organization is engaged in delivering large-scale, high-quality catering and inflight services while maintaining stringent standards of food safety, quality, operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an accomplished Hospitality Industry professional

( ideally with General Manager Experience in reputed Mainstream Hotel Brands handling P&L for toplines exceeding 300 crores) to take overall responsibility for the business performance and operations of a major airline catering unit .

The role will provide strategic leadership across the entire operation , including food production, logistics, quality, engineering, commercial coordination, customer relationships and people development.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Business Leadership

• Lead and manage the overall operations, business performance and profitability of the airline catering unit.
• Develop and execute business strategies aligned with organizational objectives and drive sustainable growth through operational efficiency, customer retention and service excellence.
• Regularly review business performance and implement appropriate corrective actions to achieve operational and financial targets.

Operations Management

• Provide end-to-end leadership across catering operations, including procurement, food production, assembly, logistics and inflight delivery.
• Ensure timely and seamless delivery of meals and services in accordance with airline schedules, specifications and service level agreements.
• Drive productivity, resource optimization, operational efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives across all functions.

Customer & Airline Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with airline clients and other key stakeholders.
• Lead customer review meetings and ensure effective resolution and closure of customer concerns.
• Ensure compliance with airline-specific standards, specifications and contractual commitments while identifying opportunities for business expansion and service enhancement.

Financial Management

• Drive achievement of revenue, profitability and cost targets for the business.
• Lead annual budgeting and forecasting processes and closely monitor food costs, labour costs, wastage and overall operational expenditure.
• Ensure optimal utilization of resources and evaluate capital investments to support business performance and growth.

Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to FSSAI, HACCP, ISO, HALAL, airline and other applicable regulatory standards.
• Lead audit preparedness and ensure successful completion of customer and regulatory audits.
• Promote a strong culture of food safety, hygiene and quality across the organization and ensure timely implementation of corrective and preventive actions.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor and develop departmental heads and large cross-functional teams.
• Drive employee engagement, capability building, succession planning and performance management.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning and operational excellence.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Graduate in Hotel Management, Hospitality Management, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• MBA or Post-Graduate qualification will be an advantage.
• 18–25 years of experience in Hospitality Industry , Airline Catering, Aviation Services, Food Production or Large-Scale Catering Operations.
• At least 8–10 years of senior leadership experience at General Management level managing large operational teams and customer-facing businesses.
• Proven experience in managing P&L responsibilities, operational excellence initiatives and large-scale business operations .
• General Managers with reputed Mainstream Hotel Brands handling P&L for toplines exceeding 300 crores would be an ideal fit
• Strong exposure to airline clients, food safety systems, audits and regulatory compliance will be highly desirable.
• Excellent leadership, business management, stakeholder management and people development capabilities.