Head/Director Business Consulting in Reading

WELCOME TO SITA At SITA, we keep airports moving, airlines flying smoothly, and borders open. Our technology and communication innovations power the success of the global air travel industry. You'll find us in 95% of international airports, working closely with over 2,500 transportation and government clients. Each partnership brings unique challenges, and we thrive on delivering fresh solutions and cutting‑edge tech to keep operations running like clockwork. We don't just move the world forward—we're proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work® by 79% of our employees and certified in most of our growing locations. Here, we feel empowered, supported, and inspired to grow. Are you ready to love your job? The adventure begins right here, with you, at SITA.

The Head/Director of Business Consulting, Airports leads the Airport BU advisory agenda, helping shape how SITA supports the future of airports across portfolios and priority areas. Working closely with GEOs, TAM Transformation & Services, and other SITA teams, the role influences customer strategy, supports airport planning, and strengthens SITA’s position as a trusted advisor at CxO level. The role offers the opportunity to shape strategic customer conversations, influence airport priorities, and build a distinctive advisory capability that strengthens Airport BU portfolio relevance and long‑term growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advisory Leadership: Build and lead a small, high‑impact Airports advisory team, scaling in line with customer, GEO, and portfolio demand. Develop the Airports advisory proposition, engagement model, governance, methodologies, and reusable knowledge assets for a globally deployable Business Consulting model. Leverage TAM Transformation & Services, internal domain expertise and external consultants or specialist firms to extend broader consulting, transformation, and delivery capability where needed.
• Advisory & Advocacy – Strategy, Passenger Experience & Flow: Lead advisory engagements covering future airport vision, technology strategy, IT maturity assessments, master planning, and digital roadmaps across Airport BU portfolios. Champion passenger experience and flow, including modelling, simulation, capacity optimisation, digital engagement, and end‑to‑end journey design. Promote integrated airport planning across infrastructure, operations, passenger processing, and technology. Translate advisory work into clear customer outcomes, including stronger airport strategies, better planning decisions, and improved alignment between business priorities and technology investment.
• GEO Enablement, Market Engagement & Portfolio Advocacy: Build strong partnerships with GEOs, equipping them with strategic content, consulting narratives, and advocacy tools. Support GEOs and Airport BU teams in executive and industry forums with insight and thought leadership. Shape early advisory opportunities with GEOs and Airport BU teams to create stronger portfolio pull‑through and support revenue generation. Support GEOs in positioning SITA earlier in airport planning, passenger flow, and transformation discussions within priority accounts.
• Planning Integration & Portfolio Strategy Support: Integrate advisory services into airport planning and investment discussions, linking operational concepts, infrastructure, technology strategy, and business cases. Promote cross‑portfolio thinking that connects Airport BU capabilities and portfolio strategy to customer planning priorities and future airport development. Support earlier engagement in customer planning cycles and help align advisory priorities with Airport BU portfolio strategy, investment themes, and long‑term growth goals.

Expected Outputs / Success Measures:

• Deliver high‑value strategic advisory engagements that support airport vision, planning, passenger flow optimisation, and technology investment decisions.
• Create reusable advisory methodologies, frameworks, and knowledge assets that can be deployed consistently across GEOs and customer opportunities.
• Provide executive‑level customer advisory support that strengthens CxO relationships and positions SITA earlier in airport planning and investment discussions.
• Enable GEOs with strategic narratives, thought leadership, and opportunity‑shaping support that improves portfolio pull‑through and market relevance.
• Measure success through stronger trusted‑advisor positioning, earlier involvement in customer strategy discussions, and visible contribution to Airport BU portfolio growth and revenue generation.

Qualifications Experience:

• Strong experience (c.10 years) in airport advisory, planning, strategy, or related business consulting roles.
• Demonstrated consulting capability in problem structuring, client advisory, methodology development, and practice building.
• Strong track record in building and scaling consulting or advisory practices, including methods, frameworks, and reusable assets.
• Working in partnership with regional teams, product teams, and matrix organisations.
• Engaging credibly at CxO level and influencing strategic customer discussions.

Deep understanding of:

• Airport operations, business models, and the drivers shaping airport priorities.
• Airport planning, passenger experience, and the wider airport stakeholder ecosystem.
• Aviation technology, digital strategy, and airport economics in the context of investment decisions.

Strong strategic and commercial judgement:

• Opportunity shaping and pipeline development.
• Business case development and portfolio alignment.
• Understanding of airport investment priorities and value drivers.

Profession Competencies:

• Business Acumen
• Consulting Process & Methods
• Financial Acumen
• Supplier Relationship Management

Core Competencies:

• Adhering to Principles & Values
• Communication
• Creating & Innovating
• Customer Focus
• Developing Talent
• Impact & Influence
• Leading Execution
• Managing Performance
• Results Orientation
• Strategic & Commercial Thinking
• Teamwork
• Visionary Thinking & Leading Change

Education & Qualifications:

• MBA/accreditations or equivalent - Consultancy accreditations an advantage (e.g. Diploma in Management Consultancy offered by Institute of Business Consulting and the Chartered Management Institute).

What We Offer:

• Flex Week: Work from home up to 2 days/week (depending on your team's needs).
• Flex Day: Make your workday suit your life and plans.
• Flex‑Location: Take up to 30 days a year to work from any location in the world.
• Employee Wellbeing: We have got you covered with our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), for you and your dependents 24/7, 365 days/year. We also offer Champion Health – a personalized platform that supports a range of wellbeing needs.
• Professional Development: At SITA, we believe growth fuels innovation. Our learning ecosystem offers access to world‑class platforms and programs designed to help you thrive.
• Competitive Benefits: Competitive benefits that make sense with both your local market and employment status.

SITA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce. In support of our Employment Equity Program, we encourage women, aboriginal people, members of visible minorities, and/or persons with disabilities to apply and self‑identify in the application process.