Senior Airport Development Manager

easyJet Airline Company PLC; Luton; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 30% annual bonus

Pension

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Staff travel benefits

25 days annual leave

Job summary

easyJet is seeking a Senior Airport Development Manager to lead commercial strategy for a European airport portfolio and to support the Director of Airport Development in driving performance and cost management. You will mentor Airport Development Managers and engage with airport boards, government agencies and industry partners to deliver value and oversee key KPIs.

The role requires strong financial management, negotiating skills, and a collaborative approach across Networks, Legal, Operations

Qualifications

• Experience within an airline, airport or aviation environment.
• Strong knowledge of airport commercial models and regulated airport environments.
• Proven experience negotiating high-value, complex commercial agreements.
• Experience influencing and challenging senior stakeholders internally and externally.
• Strong financial management skills and budget ownership experience.
• Ability to analyse complex data and make commercially sound decisions.
• Experience leading, motivating and developing teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills including board level engagement.
• Ability to operate independently and manage competing priorities.
• Collaborative, cross-functional approach with a proactive mindset.
• Curiosity, resilience and willingness to challenge existing thinking to drive outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead airport commercial negotiations to secure the best outcomes for easyJet.
• Drive delivery of annual cost saving targets and budget commitments.
• Manage and develop a team of Airport Development Managers across multiple European markets.
• Build strong relationships with airport boards, airport owners, tourism boards, government agencies and industry partners.
• Support the development and implementation of easyJet's airport strategy.
• Act as a senior representative for easyJet in industry consultations and airport forums.
• Provide oversight and support on KPIs, financial performance and strategic projects.
• Collaborate with Network, Operations, Legal, Engineering, Ground Operations, Marketing, IT and country leadership teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve customer propositions, airport partnerships and route development support.
• Ensure robust contractual governance across airport agreements and ground handling arrangements.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement to reduce costs and strengthen supplier performance.

Skills

Aviation industry

Airport commercial models

High-value negotiations

Budget ownership

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Data analysis

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel flexibility

Industry trend awareness

Job description

Job Description - Senior Airport Development Manager (17219)

Senior Airport Development Manager ( 17219 )

Senior Airport Development Manager

We are easyJet – a FTSE listed, £multi-billion low-cost airline that serves tens of millions of customers every single year. If you’re reading this, you have probably already been an easyJet customer, and you’ll know that there is no more iconic (or Orange!) travel brand in Europe.

We fly more than 1,207 routes, connecting 38 countries across Europe, and employ more than 18,000 colleagues. We’re on a mission to make low-cost travel easy – and whatever your role here, you’ll connect millions of people to what they love using Europe’s best airline network, great value fares, and friendly service.

What makes us easyJet? Our Promise Behaviours - we are Safe, Bold, Welcoming and Challenging. Four Behaviours. One Spirit. One easyJet.

READ ON IF YOU

• Have significant airport, airline or aviation industry experience, with a strong understanding of airport economics, regulated airport environments and the wider competitive landscape.
• Have managed large budgets and delivered commercial value through complex negotiations, cost challenge programmes and strategic supplier partnerships.
• Enjoy building and influencing relationships with senior stakeholders, including board level airport representatives and cross functional leaders, whilst leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Have a second language, which would be advantageous.

THE TEAM

Airport Development manages one of easyJet's largest areas of external spend, overseeing more than £1.7bn of airport related costs across our European network. The team plays a critical role in shaping our airport strategy, securing commercial advantage and ensuring we continue to deliver great value for our customers.

This role leads a team of Airport Development Managers based across Europe and sits within our Commercial function, reporting into the Director of Airport Development. As part of the wider leadership team, you'll work across the organisation and play a key role in delivering easyJet's strategic, financial and operational objectives.

THE ROLE

As Senior Airport Development Manager, you'll lead the commercial strategy for a portfolio of airports whilst supporting the Director of Airport Development in driving performance, cost management and stakeholder engagement across the wider team. You'll act as a deputy to the Director when required and provide guidance and support to Airport Development Managers during complex negotiations and strategic initiatives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading airport commercial negotiations to secure the best outcomes for easyJet.
• Driving delivery of annual cost saving targets and budget commitments.
• Managing and developing a team of Airport Development Managers across multiple European markets.
• Building strong relationships with airport boards, airport owners, tourism boards, government agencies and industry partners.
• Supporting the development and implementation of easyJet's airport strategy.
• Acting as a senior representative for easyJet in industry consultations and airport forums.
• Providing oversight and support on key KPIs, financial performance and strategic projects.
• Working closely with Network, Operations, Legal, Engineering, Ground Operations, Marketing, IT, Facilities and country leadership teams.
• Identifying opportunities to improve customer propositions, airport partnerships and route development support.
• Ensuring robust contractual governance across airport agreements and ground handling arrangements.
• Championing innovation and continuous improvement to enhance value, reduce costs and strengthen supplier performance.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We're looking for a commercially minded aviation professional who combines strategic thinking with the ability to influence, negotiate and deliver results.

You'll bring:

• Demonstrable experience within an airline, airport or aviation related environment.
• Strong knowledge of airport commercial models and regulated airport environments.
• Proven experience negotiating high value, complex commercial agreements.
• Experience influencing and challenging senior stakeholders internally and externally.
• Strong financial management skills and budget ownership experience.
• The ability to analyse complex data and make commercially sound decisions.
• Experience leading, motivating and developing teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including board level engagement.
• Confidence operating independently and managing competing priorities.
• A collaborative, supportive and cross functional approach.
• Curiosity, resilience and a willingness to challenge existing thinking to drive better outcomes.
• A passion for aviation and an interest in competitor activity, airport trends and broader industry developments.
• Flexibility to travel internationally as required.

WHAT YOU'LL GET IN RETURN

• Up to 30% maximum annual performance bonus
• Benefits: Pension, Private Healthcare, Life assurance
• Excellent staff travel benefits
• 25 days of annual leave

PRACTICALITIES

This full-time role will be based in either Luton or Spain and will be 40 hours per week. We support hybrid working and we spend 60% of our time per month in the office.

REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS

At easyJet, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse customers we serve across Europe. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. If you require specific adjustments or support during the application or recruitment process, such as extra time for assessments or accessible interview locations, please contact us at [e-mail]. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure accessibility and accommodation.

#LI-NR1 #LI-Hybrid

Business Area

Commercial

Primary Location

Spain

Other Locations