MAKE IT AMAZING

At Sydney Airport, the future of air travel is shaped by you.

As a team, we connect the world. More than just a hub of activity and boundless energy, we’re creating a destination of amazing experiences. Like seeing wonderful moments unfold in front of you, knowing “I made that possible!”.

Dynamic. Fast-paced. We thrive in a place where fresh challenges land daily. Backed by positive and supportive team players and inspiring leaders, we adapt to change. Driven to grow. Owning every action. To do things better.

As smart, problem-solvers, we are always learning and growing. And that’s easier to do alongside passionate experts, as we collaborate across teams readily sharing our knowledge.

Each day is a new journey, as we bring an exciting vision to life. With significant capital investment in new, improved infrastructure, there’s never been a better time to expand your potential at Sydney Airport. The range of responsibilities and diverse pathways you can take on with us, are surprising.

We are SYD. United in the pride that comes with welcoming the world at Australia’s premier gateway.

About the team and the role

Reporting to the General Manager, Retail Performance & Growth, the Retail Performance Lead plays a critical leadership role in driving retail revenue, managing strategic partnerships, and enhancing the passenger experience.

This role leads a multidisciplinary team focused on retail data, analytics, and performance management, working collaboratively across the broader Retail division. 

The Retail Performance Lead is pivotal in delivering Sydney Airport’s strategic priorities, with a focus on in-year and long-term growth targets through performance optimisation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to

• Drive Retail Revenue & Partner Performance - Lead commercial performance across all retail categories including Duty Free, Luxury, F&B, and general retail. Use data-driven insights to manage partner performance, focusing on sales, conversion, and penetration metrics. Implement rapid interventions for underperformance and optimise commercial terms to maximise airport revenue while supporting tenant profitability.
• Retail Analytics & Strategic Insights - Oversee the development of analytics dashboards and predictive models to monitor performance by category, unit, and square metre. Correlate passenger demographics and travel patterns with retail outcomes to inform strategy and category optimisation. Ensure robust data-sharing practices with partners to capture detailed sales and inventory insights
• Team Leadership & Capability Building - Lead a multidisciplinary team of retail performance specialists, setting ambitious targets and fostering a results-driven culture. Build deep category expertise across F&B, Luxury, and Duty Free, and ensure clear accountability for commercial outcomes.
• Market Intelligence & Innovation - Stay ahead of global retail trends and benchmark against leading international airports. Identify and secure emerging retail concepts, and drive adoption of technologies that enhance passenger experience and spending. Lead digital integration initiatives that connect airport digital platforms with retail offerings.
• Stakeholder & Contract Management - Build strong relationships with senior retail partner executives and align retail strategy with broader airport objectives. Partner with Leasing on rent reviews and renewals, designing performance-based mechanisms and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.

About you

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-performance environment. They will bring a customer-centric mindset, with a strong focus on enhancing the passenger experience and building impactful retailer partnerships.

You will demonstrate innovative thinking, anticipate market shifts and identifying growth opportunities that drive commercial success. Highly organised and results-driven, they will be comfortable managing multiple priorities and adapting to change while maintaining high standards.

The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in retail leadership, with a proven track record in driving revenue and optimising performance across categories such as Duty Free, Luxury, and F&B. A bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Commerce, or a related field is essential, and experience in airport or travel retail is highly desirable.

They will possess strong financial acumen, stakeholder management capabilities, and a history of leading high-performing teams. Advanced analytical skills and the ability to translate data into strategic decisions will be key, along with excellent communication and influencing skills to engage senior stakeholders and retail partners.

What we offer

To find out more about the amazing work environment here at SYD, be sure to check out the Join us section of Sydney Airport’s website, where you can also see more about our flexible culture and work practices, alongside our other Employee benefits, or take a look at our LinkedIn Sydney Airport: Life page.

Make it Amazing

SYD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages all suitably qualified applicants to apply, including First Nations Australians, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds