# Senior Manager Ground Operations Canonical URL: https://primejobalerts.com/jobs/senior-manager-ground-operations Company: Uganda Airlines Category: Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics Location: Uganda, Entebbe, Central Region Work type: Full-time Work arrangement: On-site Published: 2026-09-04 Expires: 2026-10-02 ## Job Description Job Summary: The Senior Manager Ground Operations is accountable for the safe, secure, compliant, punctual and customer-focused delivery of Uganda Airlines' ground operations at Entebbe Hub and for the consistent application of approved ground-handling standards across the network. The role leads passenger processing, travel-document verification, ramp and turnaround activities, baggage services and tracing, cabin grooming, transport support, ground support equipment and contracted ground-handling oversight. The job holder converts the operating schedule into station readiness, coordinates all parties involved in an aircraft turnaround, protects customers and aircraft, and ensures that operational irregularities are controlled, communicated, recorded and resolved. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Passenger processing; station and hub operations; ramp and turnaround; baggage tracing; travel-document verification; passenger check-in; flight monitoring; cabin grooming; transport support; ground support equipment; contracted ground handling oversight.Ground operations leadership and readinessDevelop and execute the ground operations plan, station readiness programme, manpower requirements and budget in line with the approved schedule and Customer Services objectives.Ensure each operating day is supported by adequate qualified staff, service providers, equipment, facilities, permits, systems and escalation arrangements.Lead daily operational briefings and performance reviews, identifying risks, constraints, special flights, VIP movements, disruptions and corrective actions.Provide the Chief Customer Services Officer with timely reports on safety, compliance, punctuality, baggage, passenger processing, supplier performance and material operational risks.Entebbe Hub and station operationsOversee the Station Manager - Entebbe Hub and ensure coordinated delivery of passenger, ramp, baggage, cabin-grooming and flight-monitoring activities.Maintain clear station responsibilities, shift handovers, communication channels, operational logs, escalation thresholds and management coverage.Ensure station facilities, counters, gates, baggage areas, ramp positions, offices and support areas are ready and appropriately controlled.Establish consistent station oversight standards for outstations and contracted handlers, including readiness checks, service reviews and corrective-action follow-up.Passenger check-in, acceptance and boardingEnsure check-in, baggage acceptance, document checks, seat assignment, special-service handling, boarding and flight closure follow approved procedures and departure-control controls.Maintain effective controls for passengers requiring special assistance, unaccompanied minors, groups, premium customers, inadmissible passengers and other special categories.Ensure accurate passenger and baggage reconciliation, timely boarding announcements, orderly gate processes and complete operational records.Monitor queues, processing time, denied boarding, offloads, misconnections and service failures, and implement timely recovery action.Travel-document verification and regulatory controlsOversee travel-document verification and ensure staff use current, authorised sources to assess passport, visa, transit, health and destination-entry requirements.Ensure uncertain or high-risk cases are escalated before acceptance and that decisions, advice and supporting evidence are recorded.Coordinate with Immigration, Security, airport authorities and destination stations on inadmissibility, deportee, transit and documentation matters.Review document-related fines, denied entries and acceptance failures, identify root causes and enforce corrective training or process controls.Ramp, turnaround and aircraft handlingEnsure safe and punctual turnarounds through clear milestones, accountable owners, ramp briefings, turnaround coordination and prompt escalation of deviations.Oversee aircraft arrival and departure handling, loading and unloading, equipment positioning, cabin grooming, transport interfaces and load-control coordination within approved procedures.Ensure aircraft safety zones, foreign-object-debris controls, personal protective equipment, equipment approach and removal, and aircraft-damage prevention requirements are observed.Coordinate closely with Flight Operations, Maintenance, Catering, Security, Cargo and airport partners to protect operational control and departure readiness.Ensure aircraft damage, loading irregularities, spills, injuries and unsafe acts are immediately controlled, reported, preserved for investigation and followed by corrective action. Baggage services and World Tracer Ensure baggage acceptance, tagging, reconciliation, transfer, loading, delivery and tracing processes are properly controlled.Oversee World Tracer standards, system access, file quality, tracing activity, customer updates, baggage delivery and closure of mishandled-baggage files.Monitor mishandled baggage rates, recovery time, unclaimed baggage, pilferage indicators, claims exposure and repeat station failures.Coordinate with stations, handlers, Security and Customer Relations to recover baggage, preserve evidence and provide accurate customer communication.Ground support equipment and transportOversee the Manager Ground Support Equipment and ensure equipment is suitable, available, inspected, maintained, safely operated and supported by complete records.Ensure only trained and authorized personnel operate ground support equipment and that defects are reported, isolated and rectified before use.Plan equipment deployment and contingency coverage for the operating schedule, special aircraft, peak periods and equipment failures.Ensure driver and transport support is safe, punctual, controlled and compliant with airport and Company requirements.Ground handling standards, systems and qualityDirect the Coordinator Standards, Systems & World Tracer in maintaining current procedures, work instructions, training material, forms and system controls.Ensure ground operations manuals and station procedures are aligned with applicable regulations, the IATA Ground Operations Manual where adopted, IOSA requirements, Company manuals and contractual standards.Maintain reliable operational data, access controls and records for departure control, baggage tracing, turnaround monitoring, incidents and supplier performance.Support Safety and Quality audits, inspections and investigations, and ensure findings and corrective actions are closed effectively and on time.Disruption and emergency responseLead the ground response to delays, cancellations, diversions, aircraft substitutions, airport constraints, baggage disruption and other irregular operations.Coordinate passenger care, crowd management, reprocessing, baggage recovery, information flow and operational recovery with the Integrated Operations Control Centre and relevant departments.Ensure vulnerable customers receive appropriate assistance and that staff maintain safe, calm and fair processes during disruption.Support emergency response, accident and incident plans, exercises and real events in accordance with assigned ground-operation responsibilities.Safety, security and complianceEnsure ground operations comply with civil aviation, airport, occupational safety, aviation security, dangerous goods, public-health and data-protection requirements.Promote safety reporting and just culture, ensure hazards are assessed, and verify implementation and effectiveness of risk controls.Stop or escalate any activity where safety, security, regulatory compliance, passenger protection or aircraft protection cannot be assured.Ensure contracted handlers and third parties are subject to effective oversight and are not permitted to operate outside approved standards.Supplier, financial and resource managementManage the ground operations budget, overtime, equipment, facilities and contracted services within approved authority and operational priorities.Monitor ground-handler and supplier service levels, staffing, training, equipment, invoices, penalties, credits and corrective actions.Verify services and operational records before payment approval and promptly challenge unsupported charges or recurring service failures.Prepare evidence-based resources and investment requests for equipment, systems, staffing, training and station improvements.People leadership and performanceSet clear objectives and performance standards for managers, coordinators, supervisors and frontline teams; review performance and address gaps promptly.Ensure staff are trained, competent, current, properly briefed, appropriately groomed and fit for assigned safety-sensitive duties.Develop succession and cross-training arrangements for critical ground-operation roles and shift leadership.Maintain visible frontline leadership and promote teamwork, discipline, customer care, respectful challenge and accountability. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in aviation management, Airport Operations, Transport and Logistics, Business Administration, Engineering or another relevant discipline from a recognized institution.A relevant postgraduate qualification is an added advantage.Professional training in airline ground operations, passenger handling, ramp safety, dangerous goods, safety management, aviation security, baggage tracing or airport emergency response is a MUST.At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible airline or airport ground-operations experience, including at least five (05) years in a management role at a significant station or hub.Demonstrated experience managing passenger services, ramp and turnaround operations, baggage, ground support equipment and contracted ground handlers.Sound working knowledge of departure-control processes, travel-document verification, WorldTracer, load-control interfaces, IOSA ground-operations requirements and relevant civil aviation and airport regulations.Proven ability to lead operational disruption, investigate failures, manage suppliers, control budgets and present clear performance reports.Knowledge, skills and competenciesAirline station and hub operationsPassenger handling and departure controlRamp safety and aircraft turnaround managementTravel-document verification and passenger acceptanceBaggage operations and World TracerGround support equipment and transport oversightGround handling contracts and supplier managementSafety Management System and compliance monitoringDisruption and emergency responseOperational data analysis and root-cause correctionBudget, roster and resource managementClear communication and cross-functional coordinationFrontline leadership, discipline and customer careCalm, decisive judgement under time pressure. ## Requirements bachelor degree 120 ## Apply Use the canonical Prime Job Alerts page for full application instructions and source verification.