Description
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This position is designed for experienced operations leaders within regulated food or aviation environments. Candidates with direct operations management experience in food manufacturing, airline catering, or similar high-compliance settings are strongly encouraged to apply.
ABOUT US
Abby’s Catering has been a leader in in-flight and corporate catering since 1980. We proudly serve commercial airlines, private aviation, VIP travelers, and corporate clients across the Houston area. Our reputation is built on reliability, exceptional customer service, and world-class food quality.
As we continue to grow, we are strengthening our leadership team to support operational excellence in a highly regulated aviation environment.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing and directing daily operations to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient execution across production, warehouse, sanitation, and transportation functions. This role is accountable for operational performance, food safety compliance, labor efficiency, and team leadership within a 24/7 airline catering operation.
The Operations Manager works closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to meet operational goals while maintaining Abby’s standards for safety, quality, and service.
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Schedule: Full-time; rotating schedule within a 24/7 operation (weekends and holidays as needed)
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
- Oversee daily operational activities to ensure production schedules, staffing, and resources align with business needs.
- Lead and support department managers and supervisors across production, warehouse, sanitation, and transportation.
- Monitor operational performance and address issues impacting safety, quality, efficiency, or on-time delivery.
- Ensure operational readiness during peak periods and high-volume flight schedules.
- Maintain a visible leadership presence within operations, including production and cold-room environments.
SAFETY, QUALITY & COMPLIANCE
- Ensure full compliance with FDA, USDA, HACCP, TSA, and airport regulations.
- Promote a strong food safety culture through training, coaching, and accountability.
- Review audit findings, incident reports, and corrective actions to ensure timely resolution.
- Partner with FSQA leadership to maintain documentation, inspections, and regulatory readiness.
- Address safety concerns immediately and escalate issues as required.
LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION
- Coach, develop, and hold leaders and team members accountable for performance and conduct.
- Support hiring, onboarding, and training initiatives in collaboration with HR.
- Partner with Finance, Culinary, Quality, and HR teams to meet operational and financial goals.
- Communicate expectations clearly and consistently across all levels of the operation.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Strong leadership and decision-making skills in fast-paced, regulated environments.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead teams under tight timelines.
- Strong understanding of food production operations, compliance, and safety standards.
- Proficiency with operational metrics, KPIs, and reporting tools.
- Effective communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate cross-functionally.
OUR MISSION AND CORE VALUES
At Abby’s Catering, our mission is to deliver exceptional in-flight and corporate catering through quality, reliability, and personalized service. We operate with a strong commitment to safety, teamwork, and accountability while building trusted partnerships across the aviation industry.
We live our values through CATCH:
- Customer Service – We deliver service that exceeds expectations with every flight.
- Accountability – We take ownership of our actions, safety, and quality.
- Teamwork – We work together to support flight crews, operations, and each other.
- Competitiveness – We strive to be the best in our industry, every day.
- Honesty – We lead with integrity and transparency in all interactions.
Requirements
JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum 5 years of operations or production management experience in airline catering, food manufacturing, or a similarly regulated, high-compliance environment.
- Proven experience leading multi-department teams within a high-volume, time-sensitive operation.
- Strong working knowledge of food safety regulations, compliance standards, and audit readiness (FDA, USDA, HACCP).
- Demonstrated ability to analyze operational data, labor metrics, budgets, and KPIs to drive performance and efficiency.
- Proven experience with labor forecasting, workforce planning, labor variance analysis, and COGS management.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel required, including formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis tools for labor modeling, cost forecasting, and operational reporting.
- Ability to obtain and maintain TSA, Customs, and airport security clearances (10-year background).
- English required; bilingual Spanish preferred.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- 24/7 operational environment with rotating schedules, including weekends and holidays as required.
- Combination of office, production floor, warehouse, and cold-room environments.
- Onsite leadership presence required to support teams, ensure compliance, and respond to operational demands.
