General Manager - Into Plane

The Company

PLH Dublin is a international professional aircraft fuelling company based in Ottawa, Canada. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of FSM Group headquartered in Orlando, FL. Its core businesses focus on airport fuel facility operations, commercial aircraft fuelling, and fuel equipment repair at multiple locations throughout North America.

The company provides into-plane fuelling services for some of the largest airlines in the world (such as Delta Airlines) at selected large hubs worldwide. Its executive team has a combined of over a century of experience and well recognised for their operational excellence. PLH Dublin adheres to the highest safety standards and works with key partners and clients to streamline processes, fix fuelling operations, and effectively cut costs without compromising safety or efficiency.

With a strong track record in the United States, PLH Dublin is now entering the Canadian market with their first physical operation in Vancouver International Airport. The Company has ambitious growth plans in Canada and it’s poised to have a headcount of 150 staff in the Vancouver operation. PLH Dublin’s mission is to create a transparent, open relationship with its partners, and it will continue to leverage its well-founded relationships with airport authorities, local fire departments as well as partners to provide impeccable services to its clients.

Key Pointers

PLH Dublin’s businesses span across into-plane fuelling services, management and maintenance of aircraft fuelling operations, as well as servicing, maintaining, and refurbishing various types of Ground Support Equipment, including baggage tugs, baggage carts, baggie dollies, catering trucks, hydrant carts, and hydrant trucks.

PLH Dublin’s parent company – The FSM Group, has been successfully and safely supplying aircraft with fuel for over a decade. In an average year, the Company fuels over 1500 aircraft per day or more. Its Into-Plane services covers all commercial aircraft (both passenger and cargo), ranging from regional aircraft to ultra-long-haul aircraft.

On the Maintenance and Operation side, FSM Group is an established service partner in the aviation fuelling marketplace. The Company is a proactive partner who takes a collaborative approach to aviation fuel maintenance and operations, and prides itself on its collaborative approach by listening to the needs of the client, establishing a plan, and successfully obtaining and/or exceeding the goals. The same philosophy will be applied at PLH Dublin.

PLH Dublin also offers refurbishment programs to help clients save significant costs by repairing and upgrading the machines rather than having the need to acquire new equipment. In addition, the Company provides oil changes, tune-ups, nightly checks, and wheel alignment on the respective machines to ensure the Ground Service Equipment is properly serviced and maintained.

Purpose of the Position

This is a key role that will have an oversight of all station commercial fuelling operations to ensure utmost safety and operational excellence is in place. The successful candidate will have a proven airport and aviation fuel work history demonstrating strong leadership to lead a unionised workforce, as well as maintaining productive customer and airport relations.

Key Responsibilities

• Possess the ability to train and motivate plus represent PLH professionally to all customers and airport officials.
• Participate in the Quality Service, Safety Management System, and Security Programs.
• Ability to lead all PLH station employees to meet the highest performance delivery standards.
• Build and maintain relationships with customers, vendors and government agencies.
• Ensure PLH standards are met uniformly and consistently while maintaining a respectful environment for all employees.
• Monitor supervisor required reports and follow up all operational irregularities while enforcing employee work rules/regulations and report as required.
• Maintain communications with employees, monitor workforce schedules and requirements.
• Ability to travel and perform other duties as required.

Year one critical success factors

• Recruit the necessary talent locally to perform the required functions/tasks (refer to the proposed organizational chart below).
• Instill operational excellence in the workforce with strong leadership and direction.
• Successfully setup the fuelling operation to service the customers with utmost safety and operational efficiency.

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in related field such as aviation refuelling operations
• At least 12 years’ management experience preferably gained from an airport ramp/military base
• Exposure to aviation fuel safety knowledge and execution is essential
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and other required identifications/certifications
• Possess strong leadership skills in managing a unionized workforce

Skills and Competencies

• Possesses an established track record of creating, developing, and maintaining customer relationships.
• Not afraid to get his or her hands dirty and do “real work” in the context of a growing company.
• A growth mindset with a high degree of energy and drive.
• A positive, can-do attitude that is infectious throughout the organization.
• Deliver proven experience (with tangible outcomes and results), a can-do attitude, an ability to influence internal and external customers, and a leadership and communication style required to lead a unionized workforce
• A visible, dynamic and engaged leader who is “out and about” in his/her organization.
• Meet vision requirements such as close, distance, colour and peripheral vision for field and product quality observations.
• An effective team builder and leader who is inclusive and collaborative and has consistently led teams to deliver on common goals.
• Ability to motivate and energize the team, while keeping pace in a dynamic environment, thriving under pressure, while seamlessly keeping the team inspired.
• Sound judgment and a keen sense of reasoning, with the ability to solve problems rationally, take abstract information and to apply sound judgement based on experience to make effective decisions. Has the ability to see where altering course is necessary, failing fast and learning from mistakes.
• Very strong and well-developed people leadership and people development skills, with an ability to inspire and motivate staff.
• Able to meet an array of physical demands such as lifting 25-50lbs, standing for prolonged periods of time, climbing stairs, working in all-weather conditions, etc.
• Self-confident and determined. A confident, resilient, grounded executive able to handle challenging situations comfortably and calmly. Takes responsibility and leads the front, with sufficient gravitas to inspire and give confidence to all stakeholders.
• Driven to deliver results, with demonstrated skills at delivering performance. Holds himself and his/her teams accountable for results.