Head of Strategic Projects & PMO, dnata Catering & Retail

Job Purpose

dnata is more than a global air and travel services provider. We connect people with possibilities and opportunities across 130+ airports in 34 countries through ground handling, cargo, travel, and catering & retail services. Our purpose is clear: to deliver on the promises our customers make. We are powered by a bold vision to be the world’s most admired air and travel services provider, which guides our strategy, culture, and every role across our teams. Our core values fuel everything we do: we are safe, we play to win, we respect everyone and work together as a team, and we are future thinking. At dnata, we foster diversity, nurture ambition, and celebrate achievement. If you're inspired by purpose and motivated to be part of a global team shaping the future of aviation and travel, we’d love to have you onboard.

As Head of Strategic Projects & PMO , you will develop, lead and manage the Strategic Projects, working closely with the business heads to ensure we are optimised across our portfolio of businesses to drive long term success, with a clear prioritised path of strategic initiatives aligned to the corporate strategy. This role needs to ensure the project portfolio aligns to strategic decisions and direction and is accountable for setting and embedding the strategic framework and project management governance to enable delivery and reporting of all strategic programmes, projects and initiatives. You would also personally lead a portfolio of the organisation's most critical strategic and transformation programmes, ensuring measurable business outcomes and benefits realisation.

This is a business transformation leadership role rather than an IT programme management role. The successful candidate will be expected to drive strategic, operational and organisational change, using technology and digital solutions as enablers of business outcomes.

This role is central role to assisting the Executive Team to drive the portfolio direction and focuses on evaluating options, presenting recommendations, successfully executing and tracking of the progress and impact of the Strategic Projects Office. It will be based full-time in our Dubai office and will include business travel.

In this role, you will:

• Act as Programme Manager for selected enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, accountable for scope, business case, budget, risks, dependencies, stakeholder engagement and benefits realisation.
• Establish and lead the Strategic Projects Office / PMO, including portfolio governance, delivery standards, stage gates, assurance and performance reporting.
• Develop and maintain integrated transformation roadmaps across business functions, ensuring alignment between strategic priorities, capacity and delivery plans.
• Working with the Executive team, continue to ensure the Strategic Initiatives are prioritised, and perform regular strategic reviews to ensure we have a clearly communicated direction.
• Highlighting key trade-offs, interdependencies, risks and opportunities across our strategic portfolio of work.
• As a member of the dnata Management Team role model a culture of open communication, clear direction, accountability, collaboration and performance management to deliver against the one dnata vision mission and values.
• Manage and direct a strong and effective team, ensuring that overall impact is the focus area, and ensuring the differing strengths of the team are utilised collaboratively.
• Work closely with central and divisional IT to ensure a consolidated and cohesive Strategic programme of work.
• Manage resources and ensure active participation on essential projects as e.g. project managers or members of Steering Groups. Where required, liaise with external contractors or consultants to deliver projects across dnata.
• Ensure leading edge change management support is provided to project implementations to maximise implementation effectiveness.
• Provide quality assurance and post-implementation support on projects.

Qualification

To be considered for the role, you must meet the below requirements:

• Bachelor or Honours degree in a Commercial/Business discipline.
• Minimum 10+ years in a Strategy and PMO centric role.
• Experienced leader of people, including virtual teams and indirect influence and skills in senior stakeholder management.
• Experience establishing, managing or transforming a PMO, Transformation Office or strategic project portfolio.
• Commercially minded, business-focused transformation leader with technology literacy rather than an IT delivery focus.
• Demonstrated experience managing large cross-functional projects with accountability for driving and implementing strategic change.
• In depth knowledge of the functioning of all areas of a large organisation.
• Advanced Commercial and financial acumen.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with powerful ability to persuade and influence people, and manage stakeholders, internally and externally, at all levels.

You will have an edge, if you have:

• Experience working within airlines, aviation or related industry sectors.
• MBA and Project Management qualification/ certification.
Experience of P&L and business ownership.

At dnata, part of Emirates Group, we’re committed to providing our employees with opportunities to grow and develop in their careers. So if you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, apply today and join our team!

Recruitment Process and Timeline

dnata, part of Emirates Group, is an international organisation with employees from over 170 nationalities, we encourage applications from across the globe. Your application journey begins by applying via our Careers website. Please ensure your CV is up to date for our talent acquisition team to review your profile. If you meet the criteria of the role, you will then be invited to complete a HireVue video interview, to share more about your experience and your career aspirations. If you are shortlisted you will then be invited to interview with our hiring managers. If you are successful, your recruiter will reach out to you with an offer and then our Onboarding team will ensure a smooth transition to your new role.

Salary & benefits

Join us in a management role and enjoy an attractive tax-free salary. On top of our generous travel benefits, including discounted flights and hotel stays around the world, this managerial role also has an excellent leave and healthcare package. That’s on top of transport benefits, life insurance and more. Find out what it’s like to live and work in our fast-paced, cosmopolitan home city in the Dubai Lifestyle section of our website - www.emirates.com/careers