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Description
Overview WELCOME TO SITA At SITA we are a global, diverse team dedicated to innovating and advancing the travel and transport industry. Our focus is on providing meaningful solutions that address our airline clients’ complex operational and commercial needs. As part of our Strategic Growth and Enablement team, you’ll collaborate with industry experts and senior airline stakeholders, helping shape the future of air travel. This is a transformative year as we increase our relevance and expand our presence with airline customers globally. Ready to redefine air travel? The journey starts here, with you at SITA. About You You’re an experienced innovation and strategy professional with a deep understanding of the air travel industry, with a focus on airline strategy, operations and technology. You thrive in complex, high-stakes environments, where you can leverage your expertise to drive meaningful business impact. Known for your clarity of communication, strategic insight, and entrepreneurial drive, you naturally build trust and influence senior executives. You bring a well-rounded understanding of airlines, including commercial, operational (flight and ground), and regulatory dynamics, technology systems, and market and competitive landscapes for passengers and cargo across different regions and airline/airport tiers. You thrive in engaging stakeholders across multiple geographies. Ambitious and self-driven, you excel in thinking critically, analyzing business performance, and delivering recommendations that drive impact at the C-suite level. You’re ready to take on a role that combines high-level strategic vision with the adaptability to drive practical, innovative outcomes. You have experience managing and delegating to more junior employees and are also comfortable conducting pieces of work as an individual contributor. About The Role & Team As Senior Manager, Innovation & Strategy, Airlines, you will play a pivotal role in shaping SITA’s position as a strategic partner to the airline industry. You will drive transformative business strategies and foster cross-functional alignment to unlock growth, innovation, and long-term customer value. This role sits within the Strategy & Growth Enablement (S&GE) team and works closely with senior leaders across functions—Sales, Portfolio, Technology, and Executive Leadership. Your ability to lead with Communication & Cross-functional Collaboration will be critical to success. You will synthesize market intelligence, engage internal and external stakeholders, and proactively drive alignment across diverse teams to deliver strategic initiatives that enhance SITA’s value to airline clients worldwide. What You’ll Do Strategic Leadership & Business Development Lead strategic workstreams for high-priority projects in the airline and air travel industry space, working closely with C-level executives and leading or influencing cross-functional teams to drive business growth. Develop business cases and growth initiatives tailored to airlines' needs, identifying and prioritizing areas where SITA can deliver value across airline operations and commercial functions. Develop business cases and recommendations for new initiatives, products, or partnerships that align with SITA’s strategy and business goals. Market Insights & Competitive Analysis Understand and articulate the airline industry landscape, leveraging competitive insights to position SITA’s offerings strategically. Build and present business cases to senior leaders, recommending potential revenue opportunities and investments. Evaluate customer needs and SITA’s internal capabilities to build compelling business cases and guide investment priorities. Stakeholder Engagement Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders, working in a matrix environment to drive collaboration and alignment across teams. Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives, helping them navigate complex strategic challenges and identify key business opportunities. Leverage organizational resources across regions and business units to support airline-specific initiatives, enabling SITA to increase its relevance and influence with airline clients. Core Competencies Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience dissecting complex data to identify actionable insights for strategic decision-making. A forward-thinking approach with a deep understanding of airline industry dynamics, customer needs, and P&L impact analysis. Excellent communication skills, with a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate strategic insights clearly and persuasively. Proven ability to work independently and manage projects in a fast-paced, matrixed organization. Qualifications ABOUT YOUR SKILLS University degree in Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, Management, or a related field. 4+ years of post-MBA experience (6+ years post-undergrad) in a top-tier strategy consulting firm with substantial experience serving the airline industry, or 5+ years of experience working for an airline in a strategy, innovation, or similar role Demonstrated ability to foster open communication by facilitating strategy sessions with internal stakeholders and airline clients to align business goals and translate needs into action Proven experience in cross-functional collaboration, enabling impactful business cases and integrated solutions across Sales, Portfolio, and Innovation teams Strong proactive communication skills with a track record of influencing decisions through clear, data-driven storytelling to C-level stakeholders Comfortable navigating ambiguity using strategic communication to gain clarity, build alignment, and drive business outcomes across complex matrix environments Ability to collaborate across regions and functions to align strategic priorities and deliver consistent value to airline clients globally Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with a strong grasp of airline commercial and operational dynamics Experience managing both project teams and individual deliverables with flexibility and resilience in a fast-paced environment Effective at providing constructive feedback to junior team members, ensuring delivery quality and professional development Exceptional communication and presentation abilities, with the capacity to distill complex topics for senior audiences Strong business acumen with experience in P&L impact evaluation, market trend forecasting, and growth opportunity assessment NICE-TO-HAVE Familiarity with airline customers in MEA or APAC regions and/or multilingual capabilities Experience with airline-specific technology platforms (e.g., flight ops, ground handling, passenger systems) Prior experience working in or consulting for global matrixed organizations with multiple stakeholder layers WHY JOIN US By joining SITA, you will be part of a dynamic team working at the forefront of innovation in the travel and transport industry. You will have the opportunity to work on high-impact projects, collaborate with top-tier professionals, and drive strategic initiatives that shape the future of the industry. If you are ready to take your career to new heights and make a significant impact, we invite you to apply for the Manager of Innovation and Strategy position. Together, let's redefine the future of air travel and transport. What We Offer SITA’s workplace is all about diversity, many different countries and cultures are represented in our workforce. We collaborate in our impressive offices, embracing a hybrid work format. As part of our global benefits, we offer: 🏡 Flex Week: Work from home up to 2 days/week (depending on your Team's needs). ⏰ Flex Day: You may wish to flex your arrival time at the office to beat rush hours or leave earlier for personal commitments. We encourage open communication with your manager about your needs and routine. 🌎 Flex-Location: Enjoy up to 30 workdays of benefits, anywhere in the world! 🌿 Employee Wellbeing: Benefit from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by SITA, a yearly free service offering practical advice in various aspects of your life. 🚀 Professional Development: Enhance your skills with our training platforms, inclusive of LinkedIn Learning! 🙌🏽 Competitive Benefits: Access competitive benefits tailored to the local market and your employment status. Show more Show less
