Strategic Planning Manager

Overview

The Head of Strategic Projects and Transformation spearheads the company’s corporate strategy development and drives enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. This role focuses on setting long-term priorities through comprehensive benchmarking and market research. Key activities include long-range forecasting, scenario planning, evaluating growth opportunities, and functioning as a robust PMO to ensure the effective delivery of cross-functional transformation efforts with clear objectives, risk mitigation, and change adoption.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development of the company’s long-term strategic plans incorporating input from both internal and external stakeholders.
• Analyze market dynamics, competitor behavior, and internal performance metrics to establish strategic priorities and enablers.
• Define strategic priorities, value pools, enablers, and implementation sequencing.
• Support development of sales and marketing strategies specific to destinations and attractions.
• Continuously monitor trends, competitor actions, adjacent market practices, and embed insights into strategic documentation and share with stakeholders.
• Translate intelligence into strategic choices and executive-level reports.
• Perform long-range forecasting, strategic modeling, and create demand, revenue, and financial models; conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses.
• Develop feasibility and valuation assessments for new ventures and partnerships.
• Lead opportunity screening, concept development, and commercial due diligence activities.
• Prepare investment cases including assumptions, expected returns, and risks for senior leadership and board decisions.
• Serve as transformation PMO managing governance, schedules, tools, and methodologies.
• Draft project charters, plans, timelines, and budgets; define workstreams, roles (RACI), and dependencies.
• Assign tasks and coordinate diverse internal and external teams.
• Monitor project progress, maintain risk and issue logs, and report status and challenges to management.
• Manage project risks, issues, and change control processes.
• Lead significant change initiatives ensuring stakeholder engagement and adoption.
• Develop and implement change management plans including stakeholder mapping, engagement tactics, and communication narratives.
• Document lessons learned and enhance organizational capability for sustained results.
• Create strategic reports, executive presentations, and organizational updates.
• Prepare board presentations that deliver clear strategic messaging and data-driven insights.
• Translate complex analyses into compelling, actionable recommendations.
• Communicate strategy throughout the organization to foster alignment and shared goals.
• Facilitate strategic workshops, discussions, and reviews.
• Act as the central coordinator for transformation and strategic projects.

Educational Background & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Strategy, Tourism Management, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated success in project management, strategic planning, insights, or data-driven strategy roles.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities, with experience in preparing and delivering strategic documents to C-level and board audiences.
• Skilled in business intelligence and storytelling tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Canva, or advanced Excel and PowerPoint for executive reporting.
• At least 10 years progressive experience in management consulting or tourism management sectors.
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership position overseeing cross-functional project delivery and stakeholder coordination.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing budgets and appraising investment opportunities.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and motivate high-performing cross-departmental teams, including setting objectives and offering feedback.
• Expertise in strategy frameworks and destination development best practices.
• Financial management expertise including budgeting and profit & loss oversight.
• Sound knowledge of project management principles and structured delivery methodologies.
• Advanced communication and presentation skills tailored for executive audiences.
• Experience facilitating cross-functional collaboration and leadership.
• Ability to leverage data-driven decision-making, scenario analysis, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Competence navigating complex environments with competing priorities.
• Experience crafting and delivering board and C-suite level strategic narratives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Certification such as PMP, Prince2, or equivalent, with solid grounding in structured planning approaches.
• Exposure to GCC or other emerging markets.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills across both internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with change management and organizational development methodologies.