Head of Operational Excellence Program OPS27

At Brussels Airlines, we are passionate about connecting people, economies, and cultures. As Belgium’s home carrier and one of the four network airlines of the Lufthansa Group, we fly from the heart of Europe to over 90 destinations worldwide, including 18 across Sub-Saharan Africa. Our company culture is warm and inclusive. By focusing on wellbeing & flexibility, we create an empowering environment that gives our more than 3500 people wings.

As proud ambassadors of Belgium, we bring the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world: from collaborations with Michelin-starred Belgian chefs to our Belgian Icon aircraft adorned with national legends, we celebrate creativity and the amazing things our country has to offer.  

Our company culture is warm and inclusive. By focusing on wellbeing & flexibility, we create an empowering environment that gives our more than 3500 people wings. Ranked number 4 in 2025 in Randstad’s Employer Brand charts, we are driven by passion, ownership, team spirit, excellence and respect: values that make the difference every day for our company, for our guests and for each other.

The Head of Operational Excellence drives operational excellence across Brussels Airlines by defining and delivering the OPS27 strategic vision. The role ensures alignment between strategic priorities, operational improvements, and organization‑wide efficiency goals. The Program Lead strengthens cross‑functional collaboration, embeds a continuous‑improvement culture, and ensures measurable, sustainable improvements in punctuality, regularity, productivity, efficiency, and cost performance. Together with the COO, the Program Lead will be responsible for reduction in irregularity costs.

This is a temporary 18-24 months function.

Strategic Leadership

• Define and communicate the OPS27 vision, objectives, and strategic direction.
• Ensure alignment between program ambitions, strategic priorities, and OKR’s.
• Translate strategic priorities into a clear, structured improvement roadmap.

Program Management & Execution

• Oversee program design, governance, execution, and continuous refinement across departments.
• Ensure effective steering, including preparation and facilitation of Steering Committee meetings.
• Ensure decisions are documented, followed through, and progress is communicated to SteerCo and the Management Board.

Performance & Analytical Rigor

• Define and monitor KPI’s and dashboards to ensure transparency on progress and results.
• Track, evaluate, and report program impact to senior leadership and the MB.
• Ensure strong analytical discipline and data‑driven decision‑making throughout the program.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the Ops Excellence team and workstream leads.
• Provide clear direction, ongoing engagement, and issue‑resolution support.
• Foster curiosity and a continuous‑improvement mindset.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Strengthen collaboration across operational and commercial departments.
• Align stakeholders on performance objectives and operational priorities.
• Act as a key partner to Operations, Network, and other functional units.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Impact

• Build organisational capability in process excellence and productivity improvement.
• Embed a sustainable culture of continuous improvement and standardisation.
• Deliver measurable improvements in productivity, efficiency, punctuality, and cost, addressing root causes and ensuring durable impact.

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Statistics, (Aviation) Management, Business Administration, or equivalent.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in operational excellence, airline operations, performance management, consulting, transformation, or large‑scale program leadership.
• Proven track record in leading cross‑functional initiatives and delivering measurable operational improvements.
• Strong understanding of airline operational processes (e.g. Network, Ground Operations, Maintenance & Engineering, iOCC).
• Solid experience with program and project management, governance, and change‑management frameworks.
• Strong expertise in performance management, KPI design, dashboards, and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Familiarity with Lean / Six Sigma, process optimisation, and continuous‑improvement methodologies.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to translate long‑term goals into actionable plans.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills, including at Management Board level.
• Ability to lead through influence, drive alignment, and challenge constructively.
• Resilient, adaptable leader with a collaborative style and continuous‑improvement mindset.

We look forward to receiving your application!