Manager, Research and Insights | Product Development and Design

Role overview

This position sits within Qatar Airways' Product Development and Design division and supports the Strategy, Planning and Insights team. The role exists to generate the research, market intelligence, and benchmarking evidence that informs product and service decisions across onboard experience categories such as cabin interiors, IFEC, food and beverage, amenities, and onboard service.

As Manager, Research and Insights, you will be the division’s main source of research output, turning complex data from multiple sources into practical intelligence for product teams, CX stakeholders, and senior leaders. Your work will help shape investment choices, strategic planning, and cross-functional alignment, while the overall divisional strategy remains under the Senior Manager, Research and Strategy.

What you will do

You will lead passenger research activity for PDD, manage competitive intelligence and market scanning, and produce insight outputs that are clear, structured, and usable for different audiences. You will also support performance tracking, dashboard creation, and evidence-based business case development.

Customer research and passenger insight

• Design and run the passenger research programme for PDD using both qualitative and quantitative methods, ensuring the findings are robust and relevant to product and service priorities.
• Convert passenger feedback, satisfaction measures, and behavioural research into concise insight stories that guide product development, service standards, and CX planning.
• Oversee mystery shopping outputs together with the CX team so that the results can be used to improve service standards and support journey-alignment work.
• Brief, coordinate, and quality-check external research agencies and insight partners, making sure delivery is timely, methodologically sound, and cost-effective.

Market intelligence and competitive benchmarking

• Keep an up-to-date, well-organized, and easy-to-access view of the competitive environment across all PDD product areas, including cabin interiors, IFEC, food and beverage, amenities, and onboard service.
• Produce recurring benchmarking reports that show how Qatar Airways compares with competitors and leading global operators in a transparent and practical way.
• Track industry developments, new technologies, and changing passenger expectations, and convert that horizon scanning into intelligence that supports divisional planning.
• Maintain a reliable network of intelligence sources such as Skytrax, IATA, OAG, APEX, and academic or commercial research inputs.

Insight delivery and cross-functional support

• Act as the primary insight contact for teams across PDD, including CX, aircraft interiors, IFEC, design and branding, equipment development, and food and beverage.
• Create and maintain insight frameworks and research tools that help the division answer repeated strategic and commercial questions in a consistent way.
• Prepare executive briefs, insight reports, and strategic presentations that support confident decision-making by divisional leadership and the Senior Manager, Research and Strategy.
• Shape outputs so they are understandable and actionable for the intended audience, whether that is a product team, a senior executive, or a steering committee.

Performance tracking and analytical frameworks

• Build and maintain the division’s performance frameworks, including KPIs, reporting structures, and data inputs used to monitor product performance, passenger satisfaction, and market position.
• Track divisional metrics and deliver accurate recurring reporting so leadership can measure progress, spot risks, and respond quickly where needed.
• Use analytics and visualization tools such as Power BI and Tableau to create clear dashboards and reports that simplify complex information for non-specialist users.

Strategic contribution

• Support the Senior Manager, Research and Strategy in developing and evolving divisional strategy by providing evidence, analysis, and current intelligence.
• Contribute research inputs for business cases and investment prioritization so leadership can assess product initiatives with commercial confidence.
• Flag emerging opportunities and risks in the passenger and competitive landscape through structured, evidence-led analysis.

Qualifications and experience

A bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Marketing, Data Analytics, or a related field is required. A master’s degree or MBA is considered an advantage. The role calls for at least 7 years of progressive experience in research, insights, analytics, or a closely related field, with a proven record of producing high-quality intelligence that has influenced senior decisions.

You should have experience leading a research and insights function or program, including the design and delivery of rigorous multi-method research that has informed product, service, or investment choices. Strong capability in both qualitative and quantitative customer research is essential, along with the ability to turn large, multi-source datasets into clear narratives and recommendations.

The ideal candidate will also bring strong competitive intelligence and market benchmarking experience, solid stakeholder management skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with senior and non-specialist audiences. Experience with Power BI or Tableau is expected, along with comfort preparing executive reports, strategic briefings, and investment-oriented analysis. Commercial awareness is important so that research outputs are framed around impact, opportunity, and risk.

Preferred background

Experience working with product development, design, or customer experience teams is beneficial, especially in environments where insight is translated into tangible product and service decisions. Familiarity with passenger experience research, service quality measurement, or customer satisfaction frameworks in a premium or multi-touchpoint setting is also useful.

Experience working with external research agencies, contributing to strategic planning, or supporting business case development will be an advantage. Familiarity with aviation intelligence sources such as Skytrax, IATA, OAG, and APEX is preferred but not mandatory.

About Qatar Airways Group

Qatar Airways Group has grown from a small fleet into a broad global business portfolio. The organization is known for ambitious growth, record-setting achievements, and a culture that encourages people to push boundaries and contribute to a larger story of progress and excellence.

Application notes

Reference number: 26000086

Location: Qatar, Doha

Job family: Corporate & Commercial

Closing date: 2026-07-31

Interested candidates are expected to submit their CV and complete the application form.