Senior Manager, Strategic Projects & Planning

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Senior Manager, Strategic Projects & Planning to lead a high-impact programme office within a global aviation organisation. This position will drive strategic transformation, innovation, and operational excellence across a portfolio of projects that shape the future of passenger experience and product design.

As the strategic lead, you will oversee a diverse range of initiatives, ensuring every project aligns with corporate goals, consumer insights, and commercial outcomes. You will build governance frameworks, champion data-driven decision-making, and inspire cross-functional teams to deliver measurable business value.

This position requires permanent relocation to Doha, Qatar.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and execute a strategic project roadmap aligned with corporate transformation and growth objectives.
• Lead the end-to-end management of complex programmes spanning product development, brand design, and service innovation.
• Build and manage a centre of excellence for project delivery, embedding best-practice standards and agile methodologies.
• Develop governance frameworks and reporting systems that ensure transparency, compliance, and performance tracking.
• Provide strategic oversight on risk management, financial forecasting, and benefits realisation across all initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with product, marketing, design, and operational teams to translate customer and market insights into tangible project outcomes.
• Oversee portfolio budgets, resource planning, and prioritisation to maximise ROI and efficiency.
• Lead cross-functional working groups to enhance collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Present project updates and strategic recommendations to executive leadership, supporting key investment and business decisions.
• Drive adoption of digital project management tools and data analytics platforms to improve visibility and agility.
• Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, creativity, and results-oriented performance.

Key Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in project strategy, PMO leadership within large-scale organisations with a focus on consumer markets and products.
• Strong background in consumer markets with proven ability to translate insights into product and service innovations.
• Deep understanding of product design processes, brand development, and customer experience strategy.
• Experience within the aviation or travel industry, ideally with exposure to airline products, cabin interiors, or passenger services.
• Expertise in programme governance, portfolio management, budgeting, and performance analytics.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence and engage C-suite stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple complex initiatives concurrently.
• Proficiency with modern project management and collaboration tools.
• Strong commercial acumen, able to balance creativity with financial and operational rigour.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, multinational environments with high levels of complexity and ambiguity.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Strategy, Engineering, or a related discipline (Master’s preferred).