Senior Strategy & Innovation Manager
5 days ago
Barcelona
Senior Strategy & Innovation Manager Summary Location: Barcelona (Hybrid) Day Rate: Negotiable Duration: 6 Months Availability: ASAP About the Client My client is the air transport industry's IT provider, delivering solutions for airlines, airports, aircraft, and governments. Their technology powers more seamless, safe, and sustainable air travel. They are seeking a high-calibre Strategy & Innovation Manager to join a strategic growth and transformation function focused on shaping business direction, driving innovation initiatives, and supporting executive-level decision making. This opportunity is ideally suited to candidates coming from a top-tier strategy consulting background who are comfortable operating in fast-paced, complex, and highly collaborative environments. About the Role As a Senior Manager of Strategy & Innovation within our Strategic Growth and Enablement Team, you will lead programs and multiple parallel strategy and innovation projects that shape the direction of the business. Reporting into senior leadership, you will own end‑to‑end delivery of C-level initiatives — from framing the problem and setting success criteria, to allocating resources across workstreams, establishing governance and rituals, and landing outcomes with the organization. You will be a trusted advisor to executive sponsors, the voice of strategic clarity in cross‑functional forums, and a developer of talent in the team. You will define standards, raise the quality bar, and ensure that what we ship — strategy, roadmap, blueprint, solution — meets the expectations of a C‑level audience. Key Responsibilities Program Leadership & Strategic Direction • Lead enterprise-level strategy and innovation programs from concept through to execution, • Define program objectives, governance structures, operating rhythms, and success metrics, • Prioritise initiatives and manage trade-offs across multiple concurrent workstreams, • Align programs with broader corporate strategy and business objectives, • Allocate resources effectively across projects and support capability planning where required Executive Communication & Stakeholder Management • Develop and present high-quality, CxO-ready strategic materials and recommendations, • Act as a trusted advisor to executive sponsors and senior stakeholders, • Build strong relationships across functions, regions, and leadership teams, • Drive alignment across complex stakeholder groups and navigate competing priorities effectively Strategy, Innovation & Transformation • Identify emerging market, customer, and technology trends relevant to the aviation and transport sector, • Shape strategic initiatives that strengthen long-term business positioning, • Develop frameworks, operating models, blueprints, and strategic recommendations, • Help define and embed best practices across the strategy and innovation function Execution & Delivery • Drive delivery momentum across multiple strategic programs simultaneously, • Remove structural and operational blockers to ensure progress and successful outcomes, • Ensure all outputs meet executive-level expectations in quality, structure, and impact, • Operate effectively within fast-paced and evolving environments Leadership & Team Development • Mentor and coach junior team members and emerging leaders, • Support capability development and knowledge-sharing within the team, • Contribute to building a high-performance, collaborative culture What we are looking for • University degree in Business Administration, Management, Sciences, Engineering, or a relevant field; MBA or advanced degree from a leading institution preferred., • Strong track record at a top‑tier Strategy Consulting firm, with experience as an Engagement Manager / Project Leader (or equivalent), or comparable seniority as Managing Director in Investment Banking or Director of Corporate Strategy, • 4-6 years of hands‑on experience leading strategy, innovation, and transformation initiatives in complex environments, including ownership of programs or multiple parallel projects., • Demonstrated experience setting strategic direction and shaping CxO‑level recommendations, blueprints, or roadmaps that have been adopted by the business., • Exceptional program and project management skills: able to plan, structure, and govern multi‑stakeholder initiatives over multiple quarters., • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to craft CxO‑ready narratives and influence senior executives., • Strong stakeholder and relationship management skills, including senior‑level and cross‑cultural contexts., • Track record of mentoring, coaching, or line‑managing more junior team members and developing talent., • Comfort operating in highly ambiguous environments with the judgment to make decisive trade‑offs., • Excellent communication skills in English, both spoken and written., • Technology and/or aviation industry experience preferred.