Role overview

The Design Strategy Manager shapes the complete passenger experience at Etihad Airways by identifying and developing strategic design opportunities across the entire guest journey. This role bridges brand strategy with practical experience design, working across digital, physical and service touchpoints to strengthen Etihad’s premium market position.

Key responsibilities

Create experience design principles and strategies that align with brand positioning and hospitality philosophy across the full guest journey.
Analyse guest data, market trends and industry insights to identify experience design opportunities spanning booking, airport, cabin and post-flight stages.
Develop prioritized roadmaps of design opportunities with delivery timelines based on business impact and implementation feasibility.
Partner with internal stakeholders to transform design opportunities into actionable solutions with clear implementation plans that improve guest satisfaction metrics.
Design and establish new tools, methods and processes for capturing and distributing trends, insights and opportunities across the organisation.
Document experience design principles and strategic guidelines that guide product development and service delivery across teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in design disciplines such as industrial, interior or transportation design with focus on user research and strategy, or equivalent qualification in design research and strategy with relevant proven experience.
Minimum seven years developing experience design strategies in consultancy or in-house roles, preferably within aviation, hospitality or guest-experience sectors.
Advanced ability to tell compelling stories and articulate design concepts to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated expertise in converting insights and data into value-driven, implementable solutions.
Strong capabilities in visual, written and verbal communication and presentation delivery.
Ability to establish credibility as a subject matter expert and lead cross-functional teams.

What makes this role worth considering

You will work at Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub, the national airline of the UAE, where you can shape guest experiences across a growing global network. The role offers the opportunity to influence premium aviation experiences at scale whilst collaborating across brand, operations and service teams to drive measurable improvements in guest satisfaction.

How to apply

Use the Apply button to view the official job posting and submit your application on Etihad Airways Careers: Latest Jobs and How to Apply's careers site.

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