Dubai aviation jobs don’t get more pivotal than dnata’s Airside Service Delivery Duty Manager at Emirates Terminal 3, where you’ll lead 24/7 below-the-wing operations to keep flights safe, on time, and compliant. You’ll align manpower and Ground Service Equipment to the Emirates operating schedule, anticipate pinch points, and activate contingency plans. On shift, you’re the primary liaison with Emirates and the NCC, driving baggage performance, delay recovery, and KPI accountability. You’ll champion a safety-first culture, coach large teams, validate reports, and recommend improvements that boost efficiency and control costs. It’s a permanent, 12-hour shift leadership role based at DXB airport.
Table of contents
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Job overview
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About dnata and Emirates Group
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Available jobs (related roles)
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Job description
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Key responsibilities
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Why this role?
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Requirements
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How to apply
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FAQs
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Final thoughts
Job overview
Job Title: Airside Service Delivery Duty Manager
Company: dnata (Emirates Group)
Location: Dubai International Airport – Emirates Terminal 3
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Shift: 12-hour shift pattern (24/7 operation)
Closing date: 25 November 2025
If you’re scanning Dubai aviation jobs that combine frontline leadership with high-stakes performance, dnata’s Airside Service Delivery Duty Manager role at Emirates Terminal 3 is a standout. You’ll orchestrate below-the-wing activities, align manpower and Ground Service Equipment (GSE) to the EK operating schedule, and keep safety, compliance, and service excellence on track—every shift. Acting as the key liaison for Emirates operations and the Network Control Centre (NCC), you’ll drive on-time performance (OTP), baggage handling quality, delay management, and cost control while maintaining a safety-first culture across a diverse, 24/7 operation.
About dnata and Emirates Group
Part of the Emirates Group, dnata is a global air and travel services provider connecting people and possibilities across 130+ airports in 34 countries. Its businesses include ground handling, cargo, travel, and catering & retail. The purpose is crystal clear: deliver on the promises our customers make. Guided by a bold vision—to be the world’s most admired air and travel services provider—dnata’s culture prizes safety, teamwork, respect, future thinking, and a winning mindset. In Dubai, that translates to operational excellence at scale, deep technical expertise, and a development-focused environment where ambitious aviation leaders can thrive.
Available jobs (related roles)
To broaden your search and keyword reach around Dubai aviation jobs, consider these adjacent paths often found within dnata and airport operations:
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Ramp Operations Manager (Airside) – Shift leadership, load plans, and turnaround control.
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Baggage Operations Duty Officer – BHS oversight, reconciliation, and mishandled baggage reduction.
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Resource Planning & GSE Coordinator – Manpower modeling, roster efficiency, and equipment allocation.
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NCC Operations Specialist – Control centre workflows, slot management, and disruption recovery.
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Safety & Compliance Manager (Airside) – Audits, incident investigations, and SMS improvement.
Job description
The Airside Service Delivery Duty Manager ensures dnata’s airside operations at EK T3 run seamlessly—safely, on time, and in full compliance. You’ll evaluate the Emirates operating schedule and align manpower and GSE to demand, forecasting pinch points and feeding into contingency plans that keep the day protected. On shift, you provide visible, proactive leadership—setting expectations, motivating teams, coordinating with the NCC, and stepping to the frontline during irregular operations or emergencies to stabilize performance and minimize disruption.
Data is your daily instrument panel. You’ll track KPIs like OTP, baggage handling quality, and delay attribution, surface trends, and hold teams accountable to standards. Between shifts, you’ll validate reports, compile management summaries, and recommend changes—procedural, training, or resource-related—that raise efficiency and reduce risk. Budget awareness and cost-efficiency initiatives round out your ownership, ensuring excellence without waste.
Key responsibilities
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Plan & allocate resources: Map manpower and GSE to the EK schedule; prioritize during peaks; contribute to contingency planning for resilience.
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Lead the shift: Provide hands-on leadership across airside teams at EK T3; maintain a safety-first environment with clear performance expectations.
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Coordinate stakeholders: Act as the primary liaison for dnata-controlled operations; sync with NCC and Emirates teams to protect OTP and service standards.
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Assure compliance: Enforce regulatory and company standards in all airside activities; champion airport safety and security practices.
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Drive performance: Monitor on-time performance, baggage handling, and delay management; apply data insights to fix root causes and prevent recurrence.
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Manage incidents: Provide frontline leadership during emergencies or IROPs, guiding safe, swift recovery actions.
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Report & improve: Validate shift reports, produce management summaries, and recommend continuous improvements to process, resourcing, or training.
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Control costs: Support budget discipline, optimize resource utilization, and back initiatives that lower delays and equipment downtime.
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Develop people: Set expectations, coach team leads, celebrate wins, and support well-being to sustain high performance on a 24/7 roster.
Why this role?
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Frontline impact at scale: Your decisions shape thousands of turnarounds, connecting people and cargo across Emirates’ global network.
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Leadership runway: Airside command builds skills that travel—NCC operations, safety management, baggage systems, resource planning, and emergent decision-making.
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World-class environment: Operate within Emirates Terminal 3, one of the busiest, most exacting hubs in aviation—ideal for honing operational mastery.
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Safety-first culture: Join a company where safety is non-negotiable and supported by structured training, audits, and SMS practices.
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Competitive package: Tax-free salary, robust travel benefits, healthcare, life insurance, transport perks, and generous leave—plus global mobility prospects.
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Purpose & values: Contribute to a mission-driven organization that prizes teamwork, respect, future thinking, and winning together.
Requirements
Minimum
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Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
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8+ years in airport operations with a major airline or ground handler, including 24/7 shift experience.
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Proven leadership managing large operational teams in time-critical environments.
You’ll have an edge with
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Valid driving license (UAE or equivalent).
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Ability to lead airside teams in continuous operations.
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Understanding of load control and resource allocation (NCC exposure).
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Broad knowledge of ground handling operations, procedures, and regulations.
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Strong problem-solving and decision-making under pressure.
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Knowledge of airport safety and security standards.
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Empathetic leadership with a focus on employee well-being.
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Budget and cost control awareness.
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Passion for service excellence, results, and change management.
How to apply
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Visit the Emirates Group Careers page and open the listing: Airside Service Delivery Duty Manager – dnata Airport Operations (Dubai).
- Click Here to Apply!
FAQs
1) What schedule should I expect in this Dubai aviation job?
A 12-hour shift pattern supporting a 24/7 operation at Emirates Terminal 3.
2) Which KPIs matter most?
Core airside KPIs include on-time performance (OTP), baggage handling quality, delay minutes/causes, safety incidents, and resource utilization.
3) Is NCC experience required?
Not mandatory, but understanding Control Centre Operations, load control, and resource allocation will strengthen your profile and influence.
4) What benefits does Emirates Group offer managers?
Attractive tax-free salary, discounted flights and hotel stays, healthcare, life insurance, transport benefits, generous leave, and career development.
5) What leadership style wins in airside operations?
Visible, decisive, and safety-led leadership—clear comms, rapid root-cause action, and steady coaching that keeps teams focused during peaks and IROPs.
6) How can I make my application stand out?
Quantify impact: “Reduced departure delay minutes by 18% in six months,” “Improved baggage mishandling rate by 25%,” “Lifted GSE availability to 97%,” or “Implemented contingency roster cutting IROP recovery time by 30%.”
Final thoughts
Among Dubai aviation jobs, dnata’s Airside Service Delivery Duty Manager role offers rare scope and responsibility: leading diverse airside teams, coordinating with the NCC and Emirates stakeholders, and turning data into day-of-operation wins. If you thrive under pressure, make confident decisions, and believe safety and service excellence go hand in hand, this is your stage. Step into a permanent leadership role at Emirates Terminal 3, elevate OTP and passenger experience, and help shape the future of airside operations in one of the world’s most dynamic aviation hubs.