Manager Project Strategy and Planning | Product Development and Design

At Qatar Airways, we craft cutting‑edge inflight products, enhance passenger comfort, and drive innovation in aviation design. From concept to launch, our Product Development and Design Team collaborates with industry leaders to create products that set new standards in travel. If you are passionate about innovation and design, this is your chance to make a lasting impact in the aviation industry.About the roleIn this role, you will be responsible for overseeing the divisional project portfolio through robust governance, data‑informed planning, and change enablement, working hand in hand with the Product Development & Design (PDD) PMO team. You will ensure that all PDD initiatives are governed effectively, executed in accordance with best‑in‑class methodologies, and strategically synchronized with Qatar Airways governance forums such as the Group‑level Enterprise Program Management Office (EPMO). The role champions the PDD agenda in line with the GCEO vision and the direction set by the SVP Product Development & Design, while fostering innovation and continuous improvement in how projects are planned, governed, and delivered.Strategic Governance & SynchronizationEstablish and maintain a divisional project governance framework that ensures consistency, transparency, and adherence to the QR 2.0 vision and the QR Group strategic priorities.Ensure synchronization of PDD project efforts with enterprise‑wide programs, including EPMO‑led initiatives, while maintaining focus on divisional priorities and outcomes.Translate the SVP PDD's strategic direction into actionable governance practices that prioritize innovation, customer‑centricity, and design excellence.Promote the adoption of modern project management methodologies (e.g. Process Excellence / Lean Six Sigma, Agile, PMBOK) to elevate execution discipline and delivery quality across the division.Act as the strategic interface between PDD and enterprise governance bodies, ensuring seamless integration of reporting, planning cycles, and performance tracking.Portfolio Oversight & Performance MonitoringOversee the PDD project portfolio, ensuring initiatives are prioritized, sequenced, and resourced in line with strategic objectives and enterprise transformation goals.Define and track success metrics (KPIs and OKRs) to support business case approvals with the investment committees, measure project impact, alignment, and execution effectiveness.Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to provide leadership with real‑time visibility into project health, risks, and strategic alignment.Conduct post‑project analysis to generate insights and feed improvements back into the strategy cycle.Data‑Driven Strategy & InsightUse data to guide project prioritization, feasibility assessments, and approach selection.Monitor performance through real‑time analytics on KPIs, milestones, budget variance, and risk indicators.Quantify project value using ROI, NPV, cost‑benefit analysis, CSAT and NPS to support strategic decision making.Apply forecasting and scenario planning to anticipate risks, resource constraints, and execution challenges.Leverage stakeholder feedback, benchmarking, and historical data to refine planning accuracy and communication strategies.Stakeholder Engagement & Change LeadershipEngage with senior stakeholders across PDD and the enterprise including Business Finance and Transformation to ensure shared ownership, alignment, and accountability for project outcomes.Apply structured change management methodologies to assess change impact, manage stakeholder expectations, and ensure successful adoption of new processes and systems.Lead the development and implementation of change strategies that support smooth transitions and minimize disruption.Encourage innovative approaches to solving business challenges, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and agility.Risk Management & Continuous ImprovementAnticipate risks that may impact project delivery, strategic synchronization, or stakeholder engagement, and develop proactive mitigation strategies.Conduct regular governance reviews and audits to ensure compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements.Capture and share lessons learned to continuously refine planning and governance practices across the division.Champion a culture of accountability, transparency, and learning within the PDD project management community.QualificationsBachelor's degree or equivalent with minimum 8 years of related experience.Understanding of design methodology and brand execution within the airline industry or similar.Previous experience in product development design phases including the ability to script product development phases will be an added advantage.Complete understanding of product design processes, technologies and design theory.Ability to multi‑task and adhere to deadlines.Excellent knowledge of all industry standard design tools for 2D and 3D visualization.Experience applying theories related to col