Senior Manager Projects Strategy and Planning

About the Role As the Senior Manager – Projects Strategy & Planning, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the Product Development & Design (PDD) division’s strategic agenda. Acting as a strategic architect and portfolio leader, you will drive enterprise-level integration, optimize resources, and lead long-term portfolio planning to ensure PDD initiatives deliver transformative value.

You will oversee project governance, alignment, and investment prioritization—serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership to ensure divisional initiatives align with the Group’s strategic goals and customer-centric vision.

Key Accountabilities Strategic Leadership

• Define and oversee the PDD project portfolio strategy, ensuring initiatives are prioritized, resourced, and aligned with enterprise objectives.
  
  
• Drive strategic alignment across divisions, embedding PDD programs within the airline’s broader transformation agenda.
  
  
• Provide forward-looking insights, scenario planning, and investment recommendations to support executive decision-making.
  
  
• Establish and maintain governance frameworks to ensure operational efficiency, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance.
  
  
• Champion adoption of advanced project management technologies and methodologies to enhance visibility, agility, and decision quality.
  
  
• Foster a culture of performance, accountability, and continuous improvement across the division.
  
  

Operational Excellence

• Oversee execution of the PDD project portfolio, ensuring initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
  
  
• Identify and manage interdependencies across programs to minimize delivery risks.
  
  
• Develop and maintain divisional dashboards and performance reports providing real-time visibility on project status, risks, and benefits realization.
  
  
• Monitor portfolio budgets, forecasts, and expenditures, ensuring alignment with approved business cases.
  
  
• Lead resource planning and allocation across projects, ensuring optimal utilization and delivery efficiency.
  
  
• Enforce consistent application of PMO frameworks, methodologies, and tools.
  
  
• Conduct portfolio reviews, audits, and lessons-learned sessions to enhance delivery discipline.
  
  
• Maintain strong communication and alignment between program leads, cross-functional stakeholders, and executive management.
  
  

Qualifications, Experience & Skills Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Strategy, Engineering, or related field.
  
  
• Proven experience in strategic project management, PMO leadership, and portfolio governance within large, complex organizations.
  
  
• Strong understanding of design methodology, brand execution, and customer experience within the aviation or related industries.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to influence C-level stakeholders through clear, data-backed communication and strategic insight.
  
  
• Proven success in leading multi-disciplinary teams and driving transformational change.
  
  
• Experience in roadmap planning, resource optimization, and program prioritization.
  
  
• Strong financial acumen including P&L management, cost-benefit analysis, and business case development.
  
  
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
  
  
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication abilities.
  
  

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Strategy, Business, or Project Management.
  
  
• Experience in customer insights, market research, and trend analysis.
  
  
• Background in aviation product development, innovation programs, or governance frameworks.
  
  

Personal Attributes

• Agile, proactive, and able to pivot seamlessly across diverse strategic and operational priorities.
  
  
• Highly organized with a structured and analytical mindset.
  
  
• Confident communicator with strong influencing skills across all levels of the organization.
  
  
• Smart, sharp, and able to distil complexity into clear actions and outcomes.
  
  
• Collaborative leader who thrives in dynamic, cross-functional environments.
  
  

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.