At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex 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 collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities to network and contribute to industry thought leadership.
- Why this job: Shape the future of passenger experiences while working on impactful global projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in travel retail or aviation consulting, strong analytical and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 58950 - 72050 £ 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 YouSkills 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 in Vauxhall employer: Benoy
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director, Strategy in Vauxhall
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Associate Director, Strategy at Benoy!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Benoy or be willing to refer you for that Associate Director, Strategy position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Benoy who’s on the lookout for their next Associate Director, Strategy star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Associate Director, Strategy role at Benoy!
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director, Strategy in Vauxhall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Benoy. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Benoy
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Benoy. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!