Cargo Capacity & Network Optimisation Manager

Looking for a challenge in one of the world’s largest airfreight logistics organisations? At IAG Cargo we are in the business of moving things. From antibiotics to rhinoceros, gold bullion to avocados and everything in between. Whatever people need, wherever they are. In an era of digital screens and closed borders, we open the skies and fly the world to bring people the things they really need.

We are the logistics and cargo brand of International Airlines Group (Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Level and Vueling). At IAG Cargo, we believe in keeping the world’s economies turning, and do everything with determined attitudes, curious minds, collaborative actions and heartfelt pride. Join us at our globally recognised logistics business, where we are building a great place to work for customers and colleagues alike.

As a key member of our Integrated Planning team, you’ll be responsible for keeping IAG Cargo’s global network moving. This role focuses on tactical capacity management, ensuring we optimise every available option across aircraft bellyhold, freighter operations, trucking networks and interline partners.

You’ll use real‑time data to track demand, understand booking patterns, identify disruptions and make rapid decisions to improve capacity utilisation, service performance and operational throughput. You will also collaborate with our airline partners to influence aircraft allocation, manage third‑party logistics suppliers, and ensure our multimodal transport flows operate smoothly.

If you’re passionate about logistics problem‑solving, operational control, routing optimisation and supplier performance, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape how we move goods across a global aviation network.

What you’ll do:

• Manage the optimisation of all of IAG Cargo’s capacity in the Integrated Planning window, including that of IAG’s airline operating companies and external providers including trucking, freighter and interline capacity to drive strong operational performance, optimal utilisation and costs.
• Respond to changes in booking trends or backlog position with dynamic plans to adjust capacity focus, rerouting where needed and sourcing capacity where it is required and drives contribution.
• Work directly with IAG airlines to influence aircraft allocation changes that will improve Commercial and Operational performance.
• Use data to provide actionable feedback to Inventory, Sales and Operations teams on capacity utilisation, using this insight to improve gateway strategies and regional flows across airline/trucking/freighter/interline capacity.
• Work closely with trucking suppliers across the IAG Cargo network. Manage metrics such as on time performance, truck utilisation and operational KPIs (eg CIQ measures) as well as contractual clauses and performance to ensure SLAs are delivered for customers.
• Liaise with trucking suppliers to secure ad hoc capacity where required in conjunction with the Commercial Delivery Manager to maintain service but also manage processes that ensure cost avoidance of unnecessary trucking spend where capacity not required.
• Oversight of external freighter operations, ensuring alignment across Commercial and Operations teams on utilisation opportunities and coordinate communication of any disruption to planned schedules as well as feeding data to Network teams on performance.
• Interface with Integrated Planning, Sales, Commercial and GHAs. Escalate supplier performance risks and capacity utilisation issues to relevant teams including innovative solutions.
• Ensure internal and external capacity complies with customs frameworks in relevant countries across the IAG Cargo network.
• Ensure data tracked with freighter and trucking suppliers that can be used to manage service levels and highlight efficiencies.

What you’ll bring to IAG Cargo:

• Commercially astute with an eye for cost/performance trade-offs.
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence and coordinate across departments and businesses.
• Data-literate and capable of converting tactical data into actionable changes in internal process or contract frameworks.
• Comfortable working autonomously in a shift-based environment.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience in real-time operations, logistics coordination, or capacity management.
• Proven ability to manage third-party suppliers and respond to disruption.
• Familiarity with air cargo or transport logistics preferred.
• Experience in GHA and GSA management desirable but not essential.

Wherever you work within IAG Cargo, you’ll play a part in helping us deliver what the world needs and join a diverse and inclusive business that’s making a difference. As well as a competitive salary, bonus, we offer a range of benefits to support our colleagues, which include:

• From the day you join us, you’ll get access to brilliant staff travel benefits including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways and group airlines. You’ll also receive up to 30 discounted ‘Hotline’ airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.
• Flexible bank holiday policy- Individuals not on shift have the flexibility to swap the statutory public holidays, with the days you choose to take off instead.
• All our colleagues get access to LinkedIn learning and Rosetta Stone Language courses.
• For health and wellbeing we offer a free onsite gym facility as well as access to the UNMIND app and a community of Mental Health First Aiders.
• Access to discounts on Apple, Cinema tickets and loads of other goodies through Perks at work.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:

Our recruitment procedures positively support our equity, diversity, and inclusion agenda. All candidates are considered strictly on their merits in relation to the criteria for the role, treated fairly and consistently and have their individual needs responded to throughout the process.