Aviation Operations Specialist

We currently have an exciting new opportunity for a proactive and ambitious Aviation Operations Specialist to join our Aviation Operations team.

The Aviation Operations Specialist is a key driver for maintaining safe, efficient, and resilient airport operations across Melbourne Airport’s airfield, terminal, and baggage environments. The role develops operational oversight metrics, SMS intelligence, enhances operational collaboration, and supports stakeholders to uphold safety, compliance, and passenger experience standards.

This position plays a critical role in building analytics, developing executive reports, streamlining stakeholder communication, and continuous improvement across the airport’s operating ecosystems

Explore how we are thinking big with exciting projects like the Third Runway, state-of-the-art terminals, and thriving business park developments. You can also learn more about life at Melbourne Airport – our culture, values, and what makes us unique at https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/corporate/our-culture-and-values. Join us in shaping the future of aviation as we propel Melbourne Airport towards becoming Australia's favourite Airport destination.

Key responsibilities:

The role's duties and accountabilities include, but are not limited to:

Operational Oversight & Airport Performance Monitoring

• Analyse operational data sources to identify patterns, performance changes and emerging issues.
• Use reporting tools (Power BI / Excel) to provide evidence‑based insights that drive operational decision‑making.
• Utilise operational data points such as aircraft movements, load factors, on time performance, queue times and resource performance to create dashboards that help inform key decision makers within Aviation Operations.
• Identify emerging operational risks or congestion points using data‑driven insights and develop early warning indicators that can help inform stakeholders.

Safety, Compliance, Regulatory Support & Risk Management

• Support compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR), ICAO requirements, IATA guidelines, Melbourne

Airport operating standards and internal procedures.

• Participate in safety forums and operational readiness assessments, ensuring risk controls remain effective and aligned to operational changes.
• Support the development and maintenance of critical risks, documenting hazards, critical controls, mitigations, accountabilities and residual risk levels.
• Provide risk‑based insights during planning for airport works, operational trials, irregular operations, major disruptions and peak‑period operations.

AI, Automation & Digital Operational Intelligence

• Contribute to AI‑enabled operational capability uplift, including AI‑generated reporting, automated data collection, and enhanced situational awareness tools.
• Collaborate with technology partners to validate data models, refine solution designs, and ensure operational accuracy in AI agent workflows.
• Provide operational SME input for digital, analytics and automation projects to ensure solutions align to real airport practices and data readiness.

Operations Continuous Improvement

• Use reporting tools (Power BI / Excel) to provide evidence‑based insights that drive operational continuous Improvement.
• Support the production and continuous improvement of daily, weekly and monthly operational performance reports, including the 24‑hour airport report.
• Investigate operational incidents, service failures or disruptions and contribute to corrective action plans.

The successful candidate will have:

• Bachelor or Diploma in Aviation Management (preferred)
• Understanding of critical risk methodology (highly desirable)
• Ability to use specialist Microsoft tools (e.g. PowerBI, Power Automate and Co-Pilot)
• Operational experience in passenger‑focused airport environment (airfield, terminal, and baggage operations).
• Strong working knowledge of airport operations, including aircraft turnarounds, passenger flow, baggage systems and safety risk mitigation.
• Understanding of aviation operational standards (e.g., CASA regulation).
• Experience contributing to an Aviation Safety Management Systems, in particularly safety performance monitoring.
• Proven ability to develop resolutions to operational issues to help leaders make informed decisions.
• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement skills, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Analytical capability to interpret operational data, identify inefficiencies and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• A passion for building artificial intelligence solutions that simplifies business processes.
• Strong written/verbal communication skills, including executive reporting, briefing notes, and operational updates

We understand that not everyone will feel they meet all of these 100%. However, if you feel you have the attitude and aptitude to grow within our team, we invite you to apply and have a conversation with us about this position.

About the Company:

Melbourne Airport (Australia Pacific Airports Corporation) is proud to be one of Australia's premier transport hubs and Victoria's gateway to the world, connecting us to the global marketplace. We are committed to creating connections that matter and enhancing the traveller experience across every aspect of our organisation to deliver our vision of becoming Australia's favourite Airport destination. Currently, in an exciting phase of change, we are delivering rewarding career opportunities, making Melbourne Airport a dynamic and fast-paced place to work for our people.

APAC is a majority Australian-owned private company that also operates Launceston Airport, the tourism gateway to Tasmania and an industry multi-award-winning airport.

Culture and Values:

By joining the team at Melbourne Airport, you will work within a friendly, high-performance culture with a focus on our people and their development.

Our vision is to become Australia's favourite Airport destination and our people are paramount to achieving this success. We provide a supportive environment, with values that encourage all of our employees to Be You, Think Big, Own it and Work Together.

Benefits:

• Free access to Higher State, our state-of-the-art Fitness Club & Wellness Hub at Novotel & ibis Styles Airport hotel.
• Airport car parking 24 hours/365 days a year for both business and personal use
• Hybrid flexible working arrangements
• Airport Holiday, an additional day of leave
• Wellness Day, a further additional day of leave
• Discounted onsite childcare at Creative Garden Early Learning
• Mental health and well-being initiatives, including Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term career and professional development opportunities
• Active social culture and participation in a range of social impact days and activities
• Signature Experiences including an airfield family day
• Access to an employee benefits scheme including access to corporate rates and airport retailer discounts (including SkyBus)

APAC is committed to weaving Diversity into our DNA. We believe that Diversity and Inclusion will help us realise our greatest potential as a company, and maximise the potential of all our team members. We strive to create a culture where our team members understand that each individual is unique and that embracing diversity makes us more flexible, productive, and creative.

APAC provides equal opportunity and advancement in employment regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, cultural background, caring responsibilities, disability or socioeconomic background. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our workplace values of Being You, Thinking Big, Owning It and Working Together.