Managing Director, Commercial Strategy & Network Development

CommuteAir Recruiting Team • Westlake, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Managing Director of Commercial Strategy & Network Development plays a pivotal role in CommuteAir’s future success by helping to define the Company’s strategic direction as it expands into “at-risk” flying through rigorous evaluation of new business models, network structures, route opportunities, and fleet options. The Managing Director partners with the Director, Network and Operations Planning to develop, evaluate, and refine alternative schedule and network scenarios from conception through price-out. This position will be directly responsible for the long- to medium-term planning function for the airline.

Requirements

• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in route/network planning at a US-based mainline or regional (Part 121 or Part 135) carrier, airport authority, and/or consultancy
• Demonstrated ability to develop and articulate a compelling vision, challenge conventional approaches, and proactively lead initiatives from concept through execution with minimal direction
• Demonstrated expertise in airline industry, demographic, business, and emerging mobility data sources, including: a) Expert in the use and evaluation of airline industry data, including US government and GDS-derived data sources, b) Experience utilizing Zip code-level demographic and business data sources for planning purposes. Familiarity with emerging data sources used to estimate market size, such as mobile device location data.
• Prior experience planning and negotiating prorate agreements with major carriers.
• Expert user of airline network forecasting models and scheduling software (e.g., Sabre, Amadeus, Zulu Systems, etc.), as well as airline industry data interfaces (e.g., Cirium, OAG)
• Must be able to independently create detailed new route forecasts/pro formas from modeled output and negotiate financial incentives with communities and airport authorities
• Prior experience evaluating alternative network structures and aircraft types, from conception and design through price-out; experience evaluating and utilizing aircraft manufacturer cost information is a plus
• Solid understanding of airline cost structures and allocation methodologies, with an emphasis on route profitability analysis and decision-making
• Excellent technical skills, including being an advanced user of the Microsoft suite of products, with particular emphasis on Excel, Power BI, and PowerPoint
• Bachelor's or advanced degree in business, economics, aviation, or related field, or equivalent work experience
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Nice To Haves

• experience evaluating and utilizing aircraft manufacturer cost information is a plus

Responsibilities

• Contribute to thought leadership with respect to the evolving regional air travel landscape, competition, future passenger needs and behavior, and specific use cases for different aircraft technologies
• Work closely with Finance to evaluate the feasibility and profitability of different business models for regional air service, utilizing a variety of aircraft types and spanning both short- and longer-term planning horizons
• Evaluate potential new route opportunities (including prorate and EAS markets) considering multiple factors, including competitive dynamics, demographic and economic drivers, and past and potential traffic and revenue volumes and patterns and make recommendations to the senior leadership team
• Contribute to prorate negotiations with major airline partners and the development of EAS bids, considering all sources of potential revenue and a detailed understanding of CommuteAir’s costs
• Regularly evaluate prorate flying flight- and route-level profitability and make recommendations for schedule adjustments
• Proactively identify, lead, and support other strategic projects based on business priorities and emerging opportunities

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits
• competitive pay
• internal advancement programs
• personal access to flight benefits on the Star Alliance network for yourself and your family

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director