Manager Projects Strategy and Planning

Manager – Projects Strategy & Planning Division: Product Development & Design (PDD)
Location: Doha, Qatar

About the Role The Manager – Projects Strategy & Planning will play a pivotal role in driving strategic governance, portfolio oversight, and data-led planning within the Product Development & Design (PDD) division. This role ensures that all PDD initiatives are aligned with Qatar Airways’ enterprise governance frameworks, executed with operational excellence, and contribute effectively to the Group’s strategic transformation agenda.

Working closely with the PDD PMO, the role acts as the bridge between divisional priorities and Group-level governance forums such as the Enterprise Program Management Office (EPMO), ensuring seamless synchronization and insight-driven decision-making.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Governance & Alignment

• Develop and implement a divisional project governance framework ensuring consistency, transparency, and alignment with the Qatar Airways Group strategic priorities and the QR 2.0 vision.
  
  
• Translate the SVP PDD’s strategic direction into actionable governance practices that emphasize innovation, customer-centricity, and design excellence.
  
  
• Ensure effective synchronization between PDD initiatives and enterprise-wide transformation programs led by the EPMO.
  
  
• Champion modern project management methodologies (Agile, PMBOK, Lean Six Sigma, Process Excellence) to enhance delivery discipline and execution quality.
  
  
• Serve as the strategic liaison between PDD and enterprise governance bodies for reporting, performance tracking, and planning cycles.
  
  

Portfolio Oversight & Performance Management

• Manage the divisional project portfolio to ensure initiatives are prioritized, sequenced, and resourced in line with strategic objectives.
  
  
• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives (OKRs) to evaluate project outcomes, ROI, and strategic alignment.
  
  
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards and reporting tools that provide senior leadership with real-time visibility into project progress, risks, and impact.
  
  
• Conduct post-project evaluations to identify lessons learned and opportunities for process improvement.
  
  

Data-Driven Planning & Strategic Insights

• Leverage data analytics to inform project prioritization, feasibility assessments, and business case development.
  
  
• Track and analyze project performance using KPIs, budget variances, and milestone achievement data.
  
  
• Apply financial and customer impact metrics (ROI, NPV, CSAT, NPS) to guide strategic investment decisions.
  
  
• Conduct forecasting and scenario planning to proactively identify potential risks and constraints.
  
  
• Integrate stakeholder feedback, benchmarking, and historical data to refine planning accuracy.
  
  

Stakeholder Engagement & Change Leadership

• Collaborate with senior stakeholders across PDD, Business Finance, and Transformation teams to drive alignment and accountability for outcomes.
  
  
• Apply structured change management frameworks to ensure smooth adoption of new initiatives and minimize operational disruption.
  
  
• Lead communication and engagement strategies that foster a culture of agility, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  
  

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.
  
  
• Proven track record in project governance, portfolio management, or strategy roles, ideally within large-scale or design-focused organizations.
  
  
• Strong understanding of design methodologies, product development lifecycles, and consumer experience principles.
  
  
• Familiarity with PMO processes, data analytics, and performance measurement frameworks.
  
  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deliver to tight deadlines, and influence at a senior level.
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience with design development phases and scripting product lifecycle stages.
  
  
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in data visualization or dashboarding tools.
  
  
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
  
  
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking ability.
  
  

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.