At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global travel retail and aviation projects, ensuring high-quality delivery and client satisfaction.
- Company: Join Benoy, a leader in travel retail and aviation consultancy with a dynamic team culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to network and contribute to industry insights.
- Why this job: Shape the future of passenger experiences while working on impactful projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in travel retail or aviation consulting, strong analytical and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
The Associate plays a senior leadership role within Benoy’s Travel Retail and Aviation team, leading complex projects globally in a team tasked with providing commercially impactful work for clients across aviation, rail and wider travel environments. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, Associates are trusted to exercise sound judgement in project delivery, client engagement and commercial decision-making. They are accountable for the successful delivery of projects, the development of strong client relationships, and the leadership and development of their teams. In addition to project delivery, Associates actively contribute to business growth, thought leadership, process improvement and the continued evolution of Benoy’s Travel Retail and Aviation advisory offer. This role is suited to an experienced travel retail, aviation or transport consultant who combines strategic thinking, commercial awareness and strong analytical capability with a passion for shaping future passenger and customer experiences.
Key Responsibilities
- Project Leadership and Delivery: Lead the delivery of medium and large-scale travel retail and aviation projects, ensuring work is aligned to client objectives and delivered to a consistently high standard. Manage multiple projects concurrently, maintaining oversight of scope, programme, budget, risk and quality. Ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget, with accountability for key milestones and commercial performance. Establish project governance frameworks, delivery plans and reporting structures to ensure successful project outcomes, with risks and issues identified early. Act as the primary client contact on assigned projects, leading meetings, workshops and presentations. Allocate workstreams and responsibilities across project teams, ensuring resources are effectively utilised. Provide senior review and quality assurance of project outputs, ensuring clarity of insight, narrative and recommendations. Identify project risks and implement mitigation strategies to support successful delivery.
- Strategic Advisory and Analytical Insight: Take overall responsibility for the quality, relevance and robustness of insight generated across projects. Lead problem‑solving activities by framing key issues, developing hypotheses and shaping evidence‑based recommendations. Interpret and analyse large, complex datasets to identify trends, risks and opportunities. Apply advanced analytical approaches, forecasting techniques and AI‑enabled tools to enhance project outputs and decision‑making. Develop and oversee financial, commercial and operational models to support strategic recommendations. Challenge assumptions and ensure insights are translated into clear, actionable and commercially relevant recommendations – with real life examples where practical. Structure project outputs into compelling narratives that support client decision‑making and investment priorities.
- Client Leadership and Relationship Management: Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders. Act as a strategic advisor to clients, providing insight and recommendations that support commercial and operational objectives. Lead client presentations and workshops, communicating complex information with confidence and clarity. Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and generate repeat business. Support business development activities, proposals and client pitches. Support collaboration across different disciplines within Benoy and understand the problems each has a solution for.
- Leadership and Team Development: Lead, motivate and develop high‑performing project teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive working environment. Coach and mentor consultants and analysts, supporting their professional and career development. Provide regular feedback, guidance and performance coaching. Identify capability gaps and create development opportunities to strengthen team performance. Support recruitment, onboarding and talent development activities. Role model Benoy’s values and behaviours in all interactions.
- Commercial and Financial Responsibility: Maintain accountability for project financial performance, including forecasting, utilisation, profitability and invoicing. Support resource planning and workload management across the team. Contribute to the preparation and review of fee proposals, ensuring commercial viability and alignment with client requirements. Monitor project performance against budget and take corrective action where required.
- Business Development and Market Leadership: Actively contribute to business development activities, including proposals, credentials, pitches and client presentations. Build and maintain a strong network of industry contacts across aviation, rail, travel retail and related sectors. Identify opportunities for new services, clients and market growth. Represent Benoy at industry events, conferences and networking activities. Contribute to thought leadership, market insights, publications and industry commentary. Support the ongoing development and evolution of Benoy’s Travel Retail and Aviation advisory offer.
About You
Skills and Experience
Essential: Proven experience within travel retail - aviation or rail. Strong track record of leading complex consulting, strategy or advisory projects. Demonstrated experience managing client relationships and presenting to senior stakeholders. Strong commercial awareness and experience managing project finances. Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate data into clear strategic recommendations. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Experience working with large and complex datasets and the use of these with AI. Strong project management and governance capabilities. Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills. Experience leading, developing and motivating teams.
Desirable: Experience with data visualisation and analytical tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar. Knowledge of Python, SQL or other analytical programming tools. Experience applying AI tools to analysis, forecasting or reporting. Understanding of travel retail commercial models, revenue forecasting, demand modelling and retail performance metrics. Existing network of industry contacts within aviation, rail or travel retail sectors.
Personal Attributes: Commercially aware and strategically minded. Confident, credible and influential with senior stakeholders. Collaborative and inclusive leadership style. Proactive, resilient and solutions‑focused. Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality. Adaptable and comfortable operating in a dynamic, project‑driven environment. Passionate about improving customer experience and commercial performance within travel environments.
Associate Director, Strategy employer: Benoy
Benoy is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, empowering its employees to lead complex projects in the travel retail and aviation sectors. With a strong emphasis on professional development, team collaboration, and innovative thinking, associates are provided with ample opportunities for growth while contributing to impactful client solutions. Located in a vibrant industry hub, Benoy offers a unique environment where creativity meets commercial acumen, making it an ideal place for those passionate about shaping future passenger experiences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director, Strategy
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like Benoy!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Associate Director, Strategy position at Benoy via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director, Strategy
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at Benoy.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to Benoy’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at Benoy
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to Benoy. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at Benoy. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to Benoy.
