Product Development Specialist

at  The Emirates Group

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: THIS JOB MIGHT BE FOR YOU IF YOU HAVE:

Qualifications:
· a completed Degree or Honours (12+3 or equivalent).
Experience:
· 3+ years of experience working on product development processes.
· 5+ years of experience working in airport operations.
· Experience in premium hospitality (Hotels/F&B).
· Experience in menu design and development.
· Experience in providing administrative support in an airline ground service or ground handling agency at a major airport or hub is essential.
Knowledge/Skills:
· Comprehensive knowledge of products and processes within passenger services, passenger support services, and lounges.
· Understanding of customer trends.
· Ability to input into product development ideas.
· Ability to produce implementation plans and monitor progress.
· Ability to propose product improvement recommendations and solutions to problems.
· Negotiation skills with an ability to influence change.
· Verbal and written presentation skills.
· Expert PC skills with knowledge of Microsoft applications.
· Ability to present, evaluate, and analyse data.
· Project management skills.
Salary & Benefits: Join us in Dubai and enjoy an attractive tax-free salary and travel benefits that are exclusive to our industry, including discounts on flights and hotels stays around the world. You can find out more information about our employee benefits in the Working Here section of our website www.emirates.com/careers. Further information on what’s it like to live and work in our cosmopolitan home city, can be found in the Dubai Lifestyle section

In partnership with EKAS business units continuously analyse customer data, hospitality, and industry trends to support new product ideas and enhance existing products. Co-ordinate a portfolio of projects that will enhance service capability across the network and contribute to the corporate goal of ensuring Emirates secures customer loyalty and obtains repeat business. As a key member of project working groups ensure new product ideas are implemented cost-effectively and against a set timeline.
We are seeking a candidate with a strong background in culinary arts and a deep understanding of food trends. The ideal candidate will have experience in menu design and development, as well as expertise in costings related to food and beverage operations. A solid foundation in premium hospitality is essential. Overall, we are looking for someone who can innovate and elevate our culinary offerings while ensuring financial viability.
What you will do:
· Engage with Market Research and CASA and obtain external airline industry data to review Emirates customer needs, in terms of airport operations both in Dubai and throughout the Network. Analyse data gathered from various sources and make recommendations to the EKAS management team influencing decisions concerning EKAS product developments for the Hub.
· Oversee the coordination of product/service trials, analyse the feedback of trial outcomes, identify trends, and prepare recommendations so that decisions can be arrived at by the senior EKAS management team as to the suitability of implementing changes. Submit proposals with details of implementation costs, timescales, benefits to customers and Emirates, revenue gains (if ascertainable), and any additional information that will help to inform the decision-making of the EKAS Management team.
· Where product development ideas are progressing through the approval process, arrange for all key stakeholders to be consulted on implementation practicalities. In the case of those product ideas that have been approved for implementation, draw up project plans in collaboration with other working group members, considering project goals, timeframes, resources, and contingency plans. Regularly review progress ensuring project implementation targets are met and continue to review ongoing performance of the product/service against initially evaluated objectives.
· Before implementation of new and approved product developments define and devise standard operating procedures seeking feedback from stakeholders. Following implementation, obtain regular feedback on the procedures by carrying out regular audits both internally and via CASA, ensuring any necessary improvements are implemented.
· Maintain proactive dialogue with EK Departments, such as Skywards and Commercial Operations ensuring that information on all the latest product changes, special offers etc, are fully understood and that any impact on EKAS is communicated to the relevant sections for purposes of maintaining consistency between the air and the ground product.
· Responsible for the primary evaluation of all product ideas received through the NAJM scheme, targeting a certain number of evaluated and accepted ideas per annum. Encourage EKAS staff and other internal stake holders to make well thought out and practical new product ideas, recommending and maintaining processes for tapping such ideas and completing comprehensive evaluations of the same, prior to implementation.
· Liaise with market research and corporate communications in relation to the bi-annual lounge survey. Collate and analyse the survey outcomes highlighting any issues that require improvements, proposing product/service enhancements and developing action plans to address the areas that require improvement.
· Contribute to maintaining the EKAS quality program by making recommendations and setting up systems that involve devising performance measurement systems, producing audit checklists, and evaluating business unit performance against KPIs. Input operational results and feedback into product enhancements. Wherever necessary and from a customer perspective, provide recommendations to operational management regarding service standards and/or processes.