About Gate Group
Gate Group is a global leader in onboard catering and hospitality services for airlines.
The company operates across multiple airports and continents, delivering high-quality food, beverages, and onboard service items to millions of passengers annually.
Gate Group’s success is built on operational excellence, innovation, and trusted client partnerships.
About the Role: Leading Air Canada’s Onboard Catering Partnership
Gate Group is seeking an experienced and operationally savvy Managing Director to lead its Canadian flight kitchen operations supporting Air Canada, one of the company’s most important global customers.
With responsibility for more than 1,600 employees and significant operational scale, the Managing Director will drive operational excellence, strengthen the client partnership, and lead high-performing teams in a fast-paced aviation environment.
Reporting to the VP, Operations, the Managing Director/GM provides overall leadership for Gate Group’s Canadian airline catering operations.
The role directs site leadership teams, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient operations while consistently delivering on customer expectations.
The Managing Director is accountable for financial performance, workforce planning, operational execution, and continuous improvement initiatives across the business.
This leader ensures compliance with all health, safety, security, and customs regulations while maintaining strong customer relationships and a visible leadership presence throughout the operation.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership and Performance:
- Oversee daily operations across the three assigned kitchens, ensuring seamless delivery of services to Air Canada and other clients.
- Establish and manage annual budgets, profit objectives, and KPIs for each unit, taking corrective action as necessary.
- Monitor and report on operational performance, adjusting strategies to meet financial and operational goals.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety standards, security requirements, and corporate policies, including collective bargaining agreements.
- Manage high-volume operations, including cold storage, meal preparation, and logistics during peak seasons and special events, supporting clients such as the Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, and Raptors.
Client Engagement:
- Collaborate with the commercial team and clients to maintain strong relationships and achieve high customer satisfaction.
- Support client-specific requirements at each location, ensuring products and services meet specifications.
Team Development and Labour Management:
- Lead labour planning and workforce development across all three kitchens.
- Develop leadership teams and implement performance management programs.
- Promote internal growth and succession planning, encouraging participation in professional development programs.
Facilities and Continuous Improvement:
- Direct preventive maintenance programs and capital planning for kitchen equipment and facilities.
- Develop and execute strategic operational plans, aligning short- and long-term objectives with corporate goals.
- Utilize Lean/Opex, Human Resources, Labour Relations, IT, SAP, and CIM tools to support continuous improvement initiatives.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an operationally sophisticated leader with a proven track record of managing large-scale food operations and unionized teams. Key qualities include:
- Strong executive presence and leadership capabilities.
- Experience in large-scale meal preparation, hospitality, food manufacturing, or venue/sports catering environments.
- Ability to oversee multiple sites and adjust leadership style to suit diverse operations.
- Comfortable working in high-volume, fast-paced, and heavily regulated environments.
- Resilient, detail-oriented, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Dedicated to people development and fostering a positive team culture.
- Encouragement for strong female leadership candidates.
Working Environment
- Full-time, permanent role overseeing three Canadian flight kitchens.
- Frequent travel (up to 60%) between Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver operations.
- Operational environments may include cold storage, high-volume kitchens, and food production facilities.
Compensation and Benefits
- Annual salary range: $240,000 to $255,000
- Paid time off, medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Company-sponsored life insurance and voluntary disability plans
- RRSP matching
- Employee Assistance Program, commuter benefits, and discounts.
How to Apply
To express interest in this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter in confidence to:
Kelly Cline, Executive Search Consultant, Feldman Daxon Partners
E: kcline@feldmandaxon.com
This job posting is for an existing position with Gate Group.
We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants at any stage of the hiring process.
All applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Feldman Daxon team.