Job Description

General Manager – Air Cargo Terminal (Kenya)

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

PLEASE READ THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION BEFORE APPLYING. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE DISQUALIFIED.

Important – Specialist Air Cargo Experience Required

This is a senior air cargo operational and commercial leadership appointment.

We are specifically seeking candidates with substantial, current and progressive careers within one or more of the following:

• Air cargo terminal operations / Air Cargo Terminal (ACT) management
• Airline cargo operations
• Cargo ground handling / GHA operations
• Air freight / air logistics operations within major logistics organisations
• Senior aviation logistics roles with direct responsibility for air cargo operations

General logistics, supply chain, courier, warehousing, freight forwarding, export/import or airport experience alone will not be sufficient.

Candidates from freight forwarding or global logistics organisations will only be considered where they can demonstrate substantial direct responsibility for air freight/air logistics operations, rather than simply arranging or purchasing air transportation or using an Air Cargo Terminal as part of their supply chain.

Similarly, experience exporting or importing cargo through an airport does not, by itself, constitute Air Cargo Terminal operational experience.

The strongest candidates are likely to have built a significant proportion of their careers within air cargo, airline cargo, cargo ground handling, Air Cargo Terminal operations or dedicated air-logistics divisions and progressed into senior operational and commercial leadership.

About the Opportunity

Our client is an established East African logistics organisation seeking an experienced General Manager – Air Cargo Terminal to lead a significant air cargo operation in Nairobi, Kenya. The General Manager will have overall accountability for the operational, commercial, financial, safety, security, regulatory and people performance of the terminal.

The operation handles import, export and transit cargo in a fast-moving aviation environment and works extensively with airlines, freight forwarders, cargo agents, airport authorities, customs, regulators, ground handlers and other aviation stakeholders. This is not solely an operational management role. The successful candidate must combine deep air-cargo operational credibility with the commercial capability to grow the business.

They will be expected to understand how an Air Cargo Terminal functions from the ground up while operating effectively at General Manager level — leading sizeable teams, managing budgets and P&L, developing airline and customer relationships, negotiating commercial arrangements, increasing cargo volumes and revenue, improving operational performance and maintaining rigorous safety, security and regulatory standards.

International & Expatriate Candidates

Candidates currently based in Kenya and suitably qualified international candidates are welcome to apply.

International candidates must be genuinely willing to relocate to Nairobi and should carefully consider the financial implications of relocation when stating their required compensation. No relocation package or company-provided accommodation is currently offered with this appointment. Candidates relocating internationally should therefore assume responsibility for their own relocation and accommodation costs.

Any international appointment will be subject to the successful candidate being eligible for, and obtaining, the necessary immigration, work-authorisation, security and airport-access approvals required to undertake the role in Kenya.

Important – Airport Security Clearance

This role operates within an airport and air-cargo environment. Appointment will therefore be subject to all applicable background screening, enhanced security clearance and airport-access requirements.

Candidates should only apply if they are willing and able to undergo the required background, employment, identity and security checks. Any offer or appointment may be conditional upon satisfactory completion of the relevant screening and clearance processes.

Application Process & Mandatory Questions

Please answer ALL five questions within your covering letter or application note.

Applications that do not answer all five questions will not be progressed.

1. Direct Air Cargo / Air Logistics Experience

How many years of your career have been specifically within air cargo, airline cargo, Air Cargo Terminal operations, cargo ground handling/GHA or dedicated air-freight/air-logistics operations?

Please identify the organisations and roles in which you gained this experience and briefly explain whether you were directly operating/managing the cargo operation or were using/purchasing cargo-terminal or airline services as a freight forwarder, exporter, importer or customer.

1. Air Cargo Operational Leadership

Please describe the largest or most complex air-cargo operation you have personally led.

Include your position, approximate team size, operational scope and your direct responsibility for areas such as cargo acceptance/release, import/export/transit operations, screening, storage, build-up/break-down, ULDs, warehouse/terminal operations, equipment, operational KPIs, safety/security and regulatory compliance.

1. Commercial & Financial Air Cargo Leadership

Please describe your direct commercial responsibility within air cargo or air logistics.

Include, where applicable, responsibility for P&L/budgets, airline or customer acquisition, cargo-volume or revenue growth, pricing, tenders, contracts, SLAs and commercial relationships with airlines, freight forwarders, cargo customers or other aviation partners.

Please provide one or two measurable commercial results that you personally delivered.

1. Operational Improvement

Please provide one recent example of a significant operational improvement you personally led within air cargo, an Air Cargo Terminal, cargo ground handling or air logistics.

What was the challenge, what action did you personally take, and what measurable result did you achieve?

1. Kenya, Availability & Compensation

Please confirm:

• Your current country of residence.
• Whether you are currently authorised to work in Kenya.
• If you are based outside Kenya, whether you are willing to relocate to Nairobi without a relocation package or company-provided accommodation.
• Your earliest possible start date.
• Your required gross monthly compensation in USD.

Please provide a specific figure or range.

Responses such as negotiable, market rate, competitive, or what is the budget? will result in automatic disqualification.

Candidates should state the compensation they would genuinely require to accept and undertake the position, taking account of any international relocation and accommodation costs where applicable.

Key Responsibilities

Air Cargo Terminal Operations

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for Air Cargo Terminal operations.
• Lead efficient cargo acceptance, documentation verification, security screening, storage, handling, build-up, break-down, dispatch and release across import, export and transit cargo.
• Ensure effective cargo identification, tracking, inventory control, physical security and operational integrity.
• Own and continuously improve key terminal measures including cargo throughput and tonnage, dwell time, shipment and truck turnaround, capacity utilisation, equipment availability and workforce productivity.
• Ensure effective management of ULDs, cargo-handling equipment, terminal infrastructure and operational systems.
• Maintain robust contingency arrangements for flight disruption, equipment failure, system outages, capacity constraints and other business-critical events.

Safety, Security & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain a rigorous aviation safety, security and compliance culture.
• Ensure terminal operations meet applicable aviation, airport, customs, security and occupational safety requirements.
• Maintain effective controls for cargo screening, restricted-area access, secure handling and chain-of-custody requirements.
• Ensure appropriate investigation and corrective action following incidents, near misses, cargo loss/damage or security events.
• Maintain effective emergency response, operational risk and business-continuity arrangements.
• Ensure appropriate standards and competencies for Dangerous Goods and specialist cargo.

Commercial & Financial Leadership

• Own and manage the terminal's operating budget, financial performance and cost controls.
• Drive cargo-volume, revenue and profitability growth through airline/customer development, capacity optimisation, appropriate pricing and value-added services.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with existing and prospective airline cargo customers and other major commercial partners.
• Lead or support tenders, commercial negotiations, contracts, pricing and service-level agreements.
• Identify opportunities to grow higher-value cargo segments including perishables, pharmaceuticals, temperature-sensitive, high-value and time-critical cargo.
• Ensure strong billing controls, revenue assurance and sustainable commercial margins.

Airline, Customer & Stakeholder Leadership

• Develop trusted senior relationships with airlines, freight forwarders, cargo agents, airport authorities, customs, regulators, ground handlers, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
• Act as senior escalation point for strategically important airline and cargo customers.
• Ensure operational KPIs and customer SLAs are consistently achieved.
• Drive customer retention, service recovery and long-term commercial relationships.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop managers, supervisors and sizeable operational teams.
• Create a culture of accountability, safety, customer service, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Ensure appropriate workforce planning, succession, skills development, regulatory competency and specialist air-cargo training.
• Maintain strong performance-management and leadership standards throughout the operation.

Strategy, Growth & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to and execute the organisation's air-cargo and terminal strategy.
• Identify opportunities to increase airline partnerships, market share, cargo tonnage, revenue and profitability.
• Lead process optimisation, automation, technology adoption and improved digital cargo visibility.
• Benchmark terminal performance against strong regional and international air-cargo operations.
• Develop strategic partnerships capable of strengthening the terminal's long-term operational and commercial position.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The strongest candidates are expected to demonstrate:

• Approximately 8–10+ years of substantial air-cargo/air-logistics experience, with meaningful career depth in airline cargo, Air Cargo Terminal operations, cargo ground handling/GHA or dedicated air-freight/air-logistics operations.
• At least five years of progressively responsible operational and/or commercial leadership.
• Demonstrable understanding of how an Air Cargo Terminal operates, beyond simply using a terminal as a freight forwarder, exporter, importer or customer.
• Direct experience of complex, high-volume and time-critical air-cargo operations.
• Strong understanding of import, export and transit cargo processes.
• Experience of relevant cargo-handling processes such as acceptance/release, screening, storage, build-up/break-down, ULD management and specialist cargo.
• Strong commercial capability within air cargo, including customer/airline relationships, revenue or volume growth, pricing, tenders, contracts and/or SLAs.
• Operational budget and/or P&L accountability.
• Evidence of personally delivering measurable operational and commercial improvements.
• Experience working directly with airlines and across the wider airport, customs, regulatory, ground-handling and freight-forwarding ecosystem.
• Strong understanding of aviation safety, security, compliance and operational risk.
• Proven leadership of sizeable teams and complex operational environments.
• Strong senior stakeholder-management capability.
• High levels of integrity, discipline and accountability.
• Strong analytical, data and problem-solving capability.
• Openness to automation, technology and digital improvement within cargo operations.

A Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Air Transport Management, Airport Operations, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Business Administration, Engineering or a related discipline is preferred.

Relevant professional qualifications or training in air cargo operations, IATA cargo handling, aviation security, Dangerous Goods, ground handling or related disciplines will be advantageous.

On Offer

• Competitive executive compensation commensurate with experience.
• A senior leadership appointment within an established East African logistics organisation.
• Overall responsibility for a significant air-cargo operation.
• Substantial operational, financial, commercial and strategic accountability.
• Opportunity to influence the growth and future development of the Air Cargo Terminal.
• Senior engagement across the airline, air-cargo, aviation and logistics ecosystem.