Manager, Continuous Improvement

Company description:

About Us

Headquartered in Singapore, SATS Ltd. is one of the world's largest providers of air cargo handling services and Asia's leading airline caterer. SATS Gateway Services provides airfreight and ground handling services including passenger services, ramp and baggage handling, aviation security services, aircraft cleaning and aviation laundry. SATS Food Solutions serves airlines and institutions, and operates central kitchens with large-scale food production and distribution capabilities for a wide range of cuisines.

SATS is present in the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, powering an interconnected world of trade, travel and taste. Following the acquisition of Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) in 2023, the combined SATS and WFS network operates over 215 stations in 27 countries. These cover trade routes responsible for more than 50% of global air cargo volume. SATS has been listed on the Singapore Exchange since May 2000. For more information, please visit

Why Join Us

At SATS, people are our greatest asset and we build our success on the knowledge, expertise and performance of every contributor, by embracing diversity and uniqueness. As part of our holistic approach and commitment to embracing FAM (Fulfilling, Appreciated, Meaningful) in the workplace, we offer the runway to develop Fulfilling careers that foster your career growth, recognising and Appreciating the strength of talent and capabilities that we continue to build internally; and inspiring and encouraging each other to make Meaningful contributions in the work we do at SATS.

Job description:

Key Responsibilities

This role reports to the Singapore Hub team, and looks at continuous improvement to strengthen hub performance.

In this role, you will focus on designing and embedding a sustainable CI system that enhances performance, empowers people, and builds a culture of excellence, and work with stakeholders to drive cost management programs and service improvement programs across all the ground handling units in Singapore. Working with cross-functional stakeholders, the CI Manager/Senior Manager partners with operational and business leaders to identify strategic improvement opportunities, translate them into measurable initiatives, and establish governance structures to sustain results and accelerate organizational learning. You are expected to:

• Design and operationalize the Continuous Improvement framework that integrates Lean Six Sigma, digital enablement, and change management into daily operations.
• Partner with the Hub leadership team to define and track CI maturity, aligned to SATS' Operational Excellence roadmap.
• Establish a CI governance model (cadence, review forums, KPIs) to ensure accountability, learning, and continuous value realization.
• Lead cross-functional programs, is proficient in project management and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously to deliver results on time and on budget.
• Lead process improvement initiatives within and across all functional areas in Singapore Hub with deep operational understanding developed, to enhance productivity, efficiency, and quality.
• Conduct deep dives of defects in operations and drive performance through thorough diagnostic investigation and effective solutioning to resolve issues at root cause.
• Challenge the status quo, develop, and execute strategies to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness through simplification or elimination.
• Adopt a problem-solving approach with active change management, acting as a change leader to also coach managers and frontline teams in structured problem solving, lean thinking, and process discipline.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, as well as ownership of performance and processes, right down to the individuals on the ground, leading by example
• Champion cultural adoption by embedding CI mindset and routines into daily management systems.
• Build CI capabilities across the organization through training, mentoring, and recognition programs.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in Engineering, Business, Science or relevant discipline
• 8-10 years of experience in an operations related field, with exposure to process improvement/engineering and/or change management. Knowledge of service/aviation industry will be advantageous
• Proven experience designing and deploying Operational Excellence frameworks in complex, service-based organizations.
• Strong knowledge and well versed in the application of Lean Management, Six Sigma, Value-Stream Mapping, Kaizen and/or other Operations Excellence tools (certified Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt / Master Black Belt, with project and change management credentials (PRINCE2, PMP, PROSCI would be highly desirable)
• A team player with high initiative, demonstrated planning skills, strong data-driven analytical abilities, and proven performance in operations problem-solving
• Demonstrated ability to interact and work effectively across functional teams and at multiple levels within the organization (including C-suites), as well as able to build trust and strong relationship with external stakeholders