General Manager of Operations

Job Title:

General Manager of Operations

Job Location:

Des Plaines-USA-60016  Work Location Type:
On-Site  Salary Range: $

- About us  LSG Sky Chefs is one of the world’s largest airline catering and hospitality providers, known for its outstanding reputation and dynamic approach in the industry. Voted “Airline Caterer of the Year in North America” for 2023 and 2024, we are committed to excellence and innovation, driven by the dedication and expertise of our talented employees. Our team members are the heart and soul of our success, consistently delivering exceptional culinary experiences and outstanding service to our clients and their passengers across North and Latin America.
Role Purpose Statement   We’re growing fast in Chicago, and we’re looking for a dynamic General Manager to help lead the momentum. As the day‑to‑day operational driver for one of our largest and most complex sites, you’ll guide multi‑shift teams, elevate performance across production, logistics, and quality, and ensure we deliver outstanding service at scale.
Reporting to the VP of Operations, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how this high‑volume operation runs today and evolves for tomorrow. If you thrive in fast‑paced environments, love solving operational challenges, and are energized by building high‑performing teams, this is an opportunity to make a major impact in a flagship location.
Main Accountabilities   Business Strategy and Policies  Execute the VP’s strategic direction for Chicago Operations, ensuring site priorities align with corporate objectives. Foster strong customer relationships through ongoing engagement, service alignment, and proactive resolution of issues to ensure long-term partnership and satisfaction. Co-lead facility management, investments, expansion, and operational allocation by overseeing infrastructure assessments, evaluating ROI for capital projects, and coordinating with engineering and logistics teams to ensure capacity readiness and operational efficiency.

Identify opportunities for innovation and efficiency through site-level process improvement initiatives, deployment of lean tools, and adoption of new technologies.  Managing Business   Partnering with the VP, oversee site-level financial and operational performance through KPI monitoring, root cause analyses, and implementation of corrective measures to meet or exceed targets.
In alignment with VP priorities, lead resource planning, cost optimization, and investment prioritization to ensure sustainable, efficient operations.
Driving VP-directed initiatives, optimize resources and investments by leading regional CAPEX planning, workforce coordination, and strategic supplier negotiations to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maximize ROI.
Ensuring compliance for the VP, maintain regulatory and safety standards by deploying and auditing global frameworks (GQS, HACCP) and leading preventive campaigns and corrective actions.
Executing VP-led labor strategies, implement national union agreements at the site level, provide guidance to HR and operational leaders, and address labor issues to maintain compliance and effective employee relations.
Leadership   Developing leadership in partnership with the VP, build a high-performing leadership structure, drive succession planning, and encourage cross-functional collaboration.
Promoting engagement on behalf of the VP, foster employee engagement through regular communication, feedback mechanisms, and initiatives aligned with engagement results.
Supporting VP leadership initiatives, identify high-potential talent, prepare the next generation of leaders through coaching, and advance regional mobility opportunities.
Safeguarding operational excellence for the VP, coordinate internal audits, support external inspections, and execute crisis preparedness activities to mitigate risk and ensure regulatory adherence.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience     10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, manufacturing, logistics, food production, or large-scale service environments   Proven experience leading large, complex operations with 500+ employees   Demonstrated success leading multi-layer leadership teams including managers and directors   Strong operational and financial acumen with experience managing site performance metrics   Experience operating in fast-paced, highly regulated environments   Preferred   Experience managing unionized work forces   Experience in food production, airline catering, manufacturing, or large-scale logistics operations   Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience      LSG Sky Chefs is an EEO and Affirmative Action Employer of Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.