About The Role
The Partnership & Stakeholder Director will lead the development and management of strategic partnerships and stakeholder relationships across the aviation sector at Heathrow Airport. This role is pivotal in driving collaboration with airlines, airports, regulators, industry bodies, and technology partners to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and support revenue growth.
Working closely with Airlines, operations, commercial, and corporate teams, the role will ensure strong relationships across the aviation ecosystem and drive customer-focused growth initiatives aligned to ABM’s strategic objectives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Airline and Operational Liaison
1. Act as the lead liaison with airline partners (AOC), ensuring a positive and collaborative relationship across the Airport
2. Maintain ABM’s trusted relationship as the main escalation point to and from airline stakeholders
3. Represent ABM in key stakeholder meetings to maintain high levels of engagement and collaboration
4. Work closely with Airline colleagues to ensure a positive service is delivered to passengers
Strategic Partnership Development
5. Identify, negotiate, and manage strategic partnerships with airlines, airports, OEMs, technology providers, and service vendors
6. Develop joint initiatives that align with ABM’s long-term goals and industry trends
Stakeholder Engagement
7. Build and maintain strong relationships with regulators, government agencies, and industry associations
8. Represent ABM at industry forums, conferences, and regulatory meetings
9. Promote ABM’s reputation and influence within the wider aviation community
Commercial Strategy & Growth
10. Drive partnership-led revenue streams and co-marketing opportunities
11. Monitor industry trends and competitor activities to inform partnership strategies
12. Collaborate with business development teams to unlock new commercial opportunities
13. Represent ABM and act as the senior point of contact for escalations, commercial negotiations, and regulatory discussions
14. Monitor market trends, regulatory developments, and competitor activities to inform business strategy
Governance & Compliance
15. Ensure all agreements comply with aviation regulations and ABM’s corporate governance standards
16. Conduct risk assessments and manage due diligence processes for all alliances
17. Maintain transparent partnership governance and performance reporting
Cross-Functional Collaboration
18. Work with operations, marketing, legal, and finance teams to deliver successful partnership initiatives
19. Support digital transformation by developing technology-focused collaborations
20. Act as a cross-functional bridge ensuring strategic initiatives align with ABM’s operational framework
21. Champion cross-departmental collaboration to ensure consistency in service quality and stakeholder communication
22. Contribute to operational planning and stakeholder management at an executive level
23. Provide operational support to the Operations/Account Director and deputise when required
People Leadership and Organisational Influence
24. Deputise for the Account Director as required, providing leadership and ensuring high performance through clear direction, empowerment, and support
25. Inspire, engage, and “win hearts and minds” to build a culture of excellence, accountability, and innovation
26. Act as a visible and values-driven leader, modelling ABM’s principles of respect, trust, and integrity in all stakeholder interactions
About You
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
27. Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills
28. Strategic thinker with strong commercial and analytical acumen
29. Excellent negotiation and contract management expertise
30. Strong stakeholder management and communication skills across multiple levels
31. Solid understanding of innovation and sustainability trends in aviation
QUALIFICATIONS
32. Bachelor’s degree in business, Aviation Management, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
33. Minimum 10 years’ experience in the aviation sector, with at least 5 years in senior partnership, stakeholder management, or commercial roles
34. Proven record in negotiating and managing high-value partnerships
35. In-depth knowledge of aviation regulations, industry standards, and emerging technologies
36. Experience representing organisations within complex stakeholder and regulatory environments
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
37. Growth in partnership-driven revenue
38. Stakeholder satisfaction and engagement scores
39. Delivery of joint business initiatives and collaboration projects
40. Compliance with regulatory and governance standards