Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at RwandAir Limited

RwandAir Ltd is the flag carrier airline of Rwanda. From its primary base at Kigali International Airport, it runs internal and international services to East Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.  Our goal is to deliver unmatched, trustworthy, and safe air transportation services—including strategically connecting Rwanda with the outside world—while assuring a reasonable return on investment. We are seeking applicants that are enthusiastic, qualified, and skilled to fill the following role as part of our expansion strategy:

Job Title:       Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Reports to:     Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Department:  Commercial
Location:        Kigali, Rwanda
Job Purpose

To ensure the company's business and financial growth, the Chief Commercial Officer is accountable for leading, managing, defining future directions and strategies, and overseeing all business operations in the areas of commercial passenger and cargo sales, marketing, pricing and revenue management, network planning, market research, scheduling, distribution, interline/codeshare partnerships, customer service audits, customer relations and customer loyalty programs, and charter sales. Directly answering to the CEO is the Chief Commercial Officer.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Create policies and recommend procedures for all actions falling under its purview, keeping in mind the overall goals of the business.
• Follow all quality guidelines and/or standards outlined in various service delivery areas that support the airline's operational, commercial, and safety goals.
• Create medium- and long-term visions from the standpoint of the network.
• Develop commercial plans in response to the analysis of market dynamics, such as passenger demand, other macroeconomic conditions, and competitive forces affecting the network.
• Manage the creation, development, and execution of the airline's yearly business plan's schedule and revenue projections.
• Examine and oversee the creation of new products and their implementation. Make sure that the internal and external distribution systems (Altea) are correctly loaded with flight schedules.
• To develop efficient pricing, marketing, distribution, and sales strategies, make sure the most suitable market and consumer segmentation is created.
• To develop and modify RwandAir's competitive strategy, keep an eye on competition pricing and route tactics.
• Establish market-level inventory plans and monitor their effectiveness in order to spot and take advantage of revenue opportunities in a highly competitive pricing environment.
• Develop, put into action, track, and constantly enhance price and revenue management plans by comprehending the political and economic contexts at the market level.
• Create, put into effect, and keep up correct rules and procedures for distribution and sales.
• Create best practices, methodologies, and guidance for sales planning to improve sales results.
• Create and promote auxiliary revenue sales.
• Create and implement more effective distribution channels, including evaluating the airline's online presence.
• Create and put into action the most suitable commercial channel shifting sales tactics.
• Make sure the company's brand is well-known and promoted, and that the brand rules are adhered to.
• Ensure that market- and corporate-level annual marketing strategies are appropriately created, successfully carried out, and within budget.
• Create a marketing plan to support the shift away from more conventional spending toward new and forthcoming trends, which are primarily electronic-based and involve in-kind barter trades.
• Reduce the costs associated with distribution and sales.
• A commercial manual that includes the policies and procedures for all important activities and processes in the commercial should be kept up to date.
• Every week, the department reviews its primary action plans and performance. Check the accuracy, applicability, and effectiveness of the monthly, quarterly, and annual reports from commercials.
• To support the many functions of commercials that are adequately connected with the vision and objective of the firm, create a proper commercial organization.

Main Working Relationships;

• Direct Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer
• Supervision of: All Sr. Managers, and Managers in the Commercial
• Functional Relationships With: Deputy CEO; all ExCo members; and all Sr. Managers and Managers in Finance, HR, Procurement, Legal Office, IT, and Strategic Planning
• External: Passenger and Cargo GSAs and agencies/forwarders; Corporate and International organizations; Internal and external governmental institutions; System providers; IATA, AFRAA, and industry organizations; IET and SPA partner airlines; All contracted service providers and product suppliers related to marketing, sales, cargo, network planning, distribution, and customer services.

Desired Profile: Required education, Experience, and Abilities:

1. required education,

• Having completed aviation school and holding a master's degree, especially in management, economics, finance, statistics, or information-related disciplines.  
• 10 years minimum of relevant work experience, of which 5 years should be in a leadership position of a comparable nature with a medium airline.
• Comprehensive knowledge of airline economics and market trends that are particular to regional and international carriers.
• Significant expertise in business and performance dashboards, economic and intelligence data analytics, and adequate knowledge of airline industry network planning, pricing, and revenue management tools
• A thorough understanding of sales planning and administration, distribution methods, including GDS and e-commerce experience
• Demonstrated ability to find new income opportunities and boost auxiliary revenues
• Advanced understanding of commercial management, particularly in the areas of sales and distribution and at least one other of its key areas, as well as strong expertise in the other major areas (which include pricing and revenue management, network planning and scheduling, and marketing and market development).

2. abilities, knowledge, and skills;

• Excellent analytical and organizational skills; the ability to deliver on challenging strategic goals through ruthless prioritizing and results-focused emphasis
• Personal encounters managing and transforming organizational change
• The capacity to recognize and champion effective transformational tactics that will result in value growth
• Ability to motivate others and win their hearts and minds in order to bring about transformative change
• The capacity to influence at the highest levels and create elite teams through coaching and development
• Outstanding people management abilities; managerial experience with a track record of developing, inspiring, and leading multicultural teams
• Demonstrated proficiency in budget management
• Experienced in negotiations
• Excellent ability to make decisions the capacity to respond promptly and decisively
• Srong interpersonal, presenting, and communication abilities
• Strategically minded
• A capacity for pressured work

How to apply:

• A cover letter written to the director of human resources,
• A current curriculum vitae,
• Certified copies of any diploma or degree and transcript
• Certificates that are pertinent;
• A copy of the national ID or passport.
• Three referees

Your applications must be submitted by July 31, 2023 to this email recruitment@rwandair.com.

NB: Only those who have been shortlisted will be contacted.