Head of Innovation & Special Projects

Abu Dhabi Airports; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aviation organization in Abu Dhabi is looking for a Head of Innovation & Special Projects to establish and drive an Innovation function. This role involves developing an innovation strategy, collaborating across divisions, and building partnerships within the aviation ecosystem. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in innovation management and strong analytical skills. This position offers an opportunity to lead transformational initiatives in the aviation industry.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in process and/or project management.
• Proven experience in setting up and leading an innovation function.
• Experience across innovation lifecycles (idea, incubation, PoC, pilot, delivery).

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the organization’s innovation strategy.
• Provide strategic direction and subject matter expertise.
• Design a maturity roadmap to embed a culture of innovation.

Skills

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business or related field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Project scheduling tools

Job description

We are hiring: Head of Innovation & Special Projects

The Head of Innovation and Special Projects will be responsible for establishing and driving a new Innovation function within the organization, focusing on strategy development, implementation, and cross-functional collaboration. This role requires a dynamic leader who can provide strategic direction, influence stakeholders at all levels, and foster partnerships across the aviation ecosystem. The role holder will be hands-on, resourceful, and capable of operating effectively with limited initial resources while building the department’s credibility and value.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the organization’s innovation strategy, framework, and methodologies to identify, incubate, and develop new products and services, as well as improve existing processes.
• Provide strategic direction and subject matter expertise to guide initiatives and drive a cultural change towards innovation across the organization.
• Design a maturity roadmap to embed a culture of innovation, encouraging participation across divisions.
• Apply a data-driven approach to develop ideas into business cases with clear financial and non-financial benefits.
• Work cross-functionally with all levels of the organization to secure buy-in and alignment.
• Represent the organization with external stakeholders, building partnerships with incubators, innovation hubs, and aviation industry players.
• Implement the innovation lifecycle from idea generation to Proof of Concept, Pilot, Minimum Viable Product, and rollout.
• Oversee budgeting, performance monitoring, and governance processes to maximize ROI and ensure value creation.
• Support capability development and training, while building a network of internal champions to drive engagement.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in process and/or project management.
• Proven experience in setting up and leading an innovation function.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to develop and present business cases, including financial modelling (ROI, NPV, IRR).
• Experience across innovation lifecycles (idea, incubation, PoC, pilot, delivery).
• Knowledge of airports and the aviation ecosystem is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and project scheduling tools.

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

This is an opportunity to build and lead a high-impact function, driving transformation and innovation across the organization and the wider aviation industry.