Manager PMO (UAEN)

Etihad Airways; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading airline based in the UAE is seeking a Manager PMO (Product & Hospitality) to drive strategic planning and governance of programs enhancing guest experiences across services. The ideal candidate will have 7–10 years of project management experience and a passion for hospitality innovation. This role involves collaborating with multiple teams and ensuring the timely delivery of high-impact initiatives. Competitive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of program or project management experience, preferably in aviation or luxury hospitality.
• Proven track record in managing customer experience or service delivery programs.
• Certification in project management methodologies like PMP or PRINCE2 preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead PMO strategy for guest experience initiatives.
• Ensure portfolio governance through business case evaluations.
• Partner with multiple teams to deliver integrated programs.

Skills

Program management

Project management methodologies

Effective communication with stakeholders

Cross-functional team management

Understanding of airline operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Aviation

Master’s degree

Tools

Power BI

Smartsheet

Job description

Synopsis

The Manager PMO (Product & Hospitality) is responsible for driving the strategic planning, execution, and governance of key programs and projects that elevate Etihad Airways’ guest experience across both inflight and ground services. This role ensures consistent delivery of high‑impact initiatives—spanning product innovation, service design, hospitality enhancements, and customer experience transformation—by establishing and managing robust project portfolio governance frameworks. The role serves as a critical link between senior leadership, product owners, operational stakeholders, and external partners to ensure guest‑centric outcomes are delivered efficiently, on time, and within budget.

Accountabilities

• Define and lead the PMO strategy to support all guest experience‑related initiatives, including new product rollouts, hospitality upgrades, and service innovation projects.
• Ensure portfolio governance through structured business case evaluation, prioritization frameworks, and executive reporting to align with Etihad’s customer experience objectives.
• Partner closely with Product owners, Technical Operations, Cabin Services, Ground Operations, Marketing, and Brand teams to deliver integrated, cross‑functional programs that drive measurable enhancements in guest satisfaction.
• Establish and continuously improve PMO standards, methodologies, and tools—adapting both waterfall and agile approaches depending on the initiative.
• Monitor project and portfolio performance through KPIs, risk assessments, and stakeholder dashboards, ensuring transparency and accountability across all programs.
• Oversee vendor and partner coordination on key programs, ensuring timelines, budgets, and brand standards are upheld.
• Coach and lead a team of project and program managers, fostering a high‑performance culture rooted in collaboration and excellence.
• Facilitate change management processes and ensure cross‑departmental alignment for smooth implementation of new guest‑facing products and services.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Aviation, or a related field; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in program or project management, preferably within the aviation, luxury hospitality, or travel sectors.
• Proven track record of managing large‑scale customer experience, hospitality, or service delivery programs in a matrixed, multinational environment.
• Certification in project / program management methodologies such as PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile (Scrum, SAFe) is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with C‑level stakeholders and manage cross‑functional teams.
• Strong understanding of airline operations, guest experience trends, and hospitality innovation.
• Proficiency in portfolio reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Smartsheet, or other PPM platforms) is a plus.

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world’s leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, Etihad’s network offers access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more. All this ties into Etihad’s ambitious Journey 2030 strategy. The airline plans to double its fleet size and triple the number of customers over the next six years as it sets out to be the airline everyone wants to fly!

Recruitment Fraud Alert

Beware of fraudulent job offers from individuals or organizations claiming to represent the Etihad group. We will never ask for personal information, bank details, or payment during the recruitment process. Interviews are conducted face‑to‑face or via video / telephone before any formal offer. If you are asked for money, please treat it as fraudulent.