Director Research & Development

The Director Research & Development (R&D) leads the exploration and development of potential business and technology initiatives, from initial ideation through feasibility analysis, testing, validation and proof of concept (POC)/prototyping. For assigned initiatives, the role coordinates the full exploration phase and develops substantiated proposals for consideration and approval by the relevant governance bodies.

The role requires a proactive, self-motivated approach, the ability to work independently and to manage multiple subjects concurrently. Initiatives may range from joint venture (JV) model enhancements and artificial intelligence (AI) to customer experience development and new approaches to distribution.

KEY RESULT AREAS/ KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Ideation and concept generation

• Ensure that potential initiatives align with SkyTeam’s strategic goals and assess their purpose, expected value, rationale and the implications of not proceeding.
• Ask relevant questions and gather appropriate information to support well-founded recommendations and help build consensus among member airlines.
• Organize and facilitate ideation and brainstorming sessions.
• Monitor developments in the transport industry and at IATA to identify emerging trends and opportunities or gaps for improving existing legacy systems.
• Generate, collect and develop ideas and concepts in partnership with member airlines and other contributors for marketable initiatives that could become SkyTeam priorities.

Exploration, feasibility and concept development

• Lead the exploration of assigned initiatives, including relevant research and data analysis, feasibility assessments, business cases, business requirements documents (BRDs) and POCs/prototypes, as appropriate.
• Analyze business and technical challenges across different airline domains; identify and assess potential solutions and determine the most relevant product concept, design and feasibility approach.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations, supported by tangible data and analysis, that demonstrate the potential business value of the proposed initiative.
• Prepare proposals and supporting materials for review and approval by the relevant SkyTeam and member-airline decision-making bodies.

Stakeholder engagement and governance

• Work effectively within SkyTeam’s matrix organization and collaborate with member airlines, internal teams and relevant external contributors.
• Engage with operational and technical stakeholders, including senior decision-makers, to understand requirements, assess options and build alignment around proposed concepts.
• Support informed decisions through clear analysis and recommendations. Strategic prioritization and formal initiative approval remain with the Executive Board (EB), Strategy Committee (StratCom) and relevant governance bodies.

Transition to implementation

• Following approval, coordinate with Digital/Delivery to transfer the agreed concept, supporting analysis, business requirements and relevant POC findings for MVP development and implementation.
• Where assigned, act as project owner or coordinate relevant project activities within the agreed governance arrangements. Accountability for implementation transfers to Digital/Delivery.
• Budget, resource or external-partner responsibilities may be assigned depending on the approved initiative and are not standing responsibilities of the role.

• Strong airline-industry background, with demonstrated experience in core airline businesses such as PRM, distribution, operational research and e-sales.
• Broad understanding of airline business and technical domains, sufficient to assess a variety of potential initiatives.
• Good understanding of relevant technical aspects; experience in a Business Analyst role is an advantage.
• Excellent facilitation skills, with the ability to engage and guide diverse groups towards innovative solutions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain and present complex concepts and inspire teams.
• Analytical and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to evaluate complex options and communicate evidence-based recommendations.
• Ability to work independently on multiple subjects and collaborate effectively in a multicultural matrix organization.
  
  

• A challenging role at a unique employer in the Netherlands
• Salary: a competitive monthly gross salary depending on your experience
• Vacation pay: 8% of gross annual salary
• Vacation days: 27 vacation days for one year
• Birthday leave: additional PTO (1 day) on or around your birthday
• Public holiday exchange: exchange Dutch bank holidays with any bank holiday culturally significant to you
• Pension plan: everything you need for a good retirement
• Equipment: laptop, phone or e-sim
• Home office: create and equip your home office with our support.
• Travel allowance: travel allowance for public transport, bicycle, and car 
• Discounted travel: reduced airfares after 6 months of your start date
• Learning environment: free access to LinkedIn Learning, Lunch & Learn sessions, and the opportunity to surround yourself with highly skilled colleagues
• Work from anywhere: flexibility to work from anywhere in the world (duration of max. four weeks)  
• Hybrid way of working: we offer flexibility to work from home
• Fun events: potluck parties, monthly after work get-togethers, annual summer/winter events, and more appealing team activities throughout the year