Senior Portfolio Manager - Airline Ops IT projects

About This Role

Synopsis

The Senior Portfolio Manager leads the Airline Operations IT projects like AIMs, Crew Pairing, Network Operations, Flight Tracking and Realtime Connected Systems that support the airline's strategic goals. This role requires expertise in portfolio and project management, as well as knowledge of the airline operational industry.

The manager ensures technology initiatives deliver business value, including revenue growth, cost optimization, and enhanced customer experience. Success is measured by time, budget, and quality. The role promotes effective work practices, an agile mindset, Lean Portfolio Management principles, and manages a mix of agile and waterfall methodologies.

Accountabilities

• Partner with the executive team to translate business strategy into technology execution, aligning initiatives with organizational goals.
• Develop and maintain a multi-year IT portfolio roadmap, managing benefit realization and optimizing value delivery across teams.
• Lead fund allocation processes, chairing the Value Stream Board for business case approvals and investment prioritization.
• Plan and manage insourcing/outsourcing strategies, team resourcing, and recruitment to meet portfolio demands.
• Lead and develop high-performing cross-functional teams, ensuring performance management, motivation, and clear communication.
• Identify and resolve cross-portfolio risks, issues, and dependencies, ensuring efficient resource utilization and delivery.
• Create data-driven executive briefs and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders to remove blockers and drive progress.
• Oversee change management processes, ensuring seamless adoption of new technologies, practices, and solutions.
• Ensure timely and budget-compliant initiative delivery using the most suitable delivery model (agile or waterfall).
• Promote lean-agile practices and delivery excellence, driving standardization, process simplification, and alignment with digital strategy.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience, including 5–8 years in IT projects/portfolio management, ideally within the aviation or travel industry.
• Proven leadership capabilities with a strong track record in managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success in managing large-scale, complex IT portfolios with measurable business impact.
• Hands-on experience with both Agile and Waterfall project management methodologies.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in using portfolio and project management tools and technologies.
• Strong analytical thinking, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.

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!

To learn more, visit etihad.com

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