Vice President - Aeropolitical Affairs

Job Purpose

At Emirates, we believe in connecting the world, to and through our global hub in Dubai and in constantly innovating to ensure our customers ‘Fly Better’. Our Aeropolitical Affairs team’s activities are essential to our success as a global airline. By securing market access, building relationships with governments, and advocating for the interests of the industry, Emirates is able to expand its network, grow its business, and provide its customers with more travel options.

About this role:

The Vice President - Aeropolitical Affairs will be in charge of promoting Emirates’s aeropolitical objectives in the assigned area as well as its wider position on liberalisation and competition by leading advocacy efforts and stakeholder engagements in the UAE and globally.

In this role you will:

• Manage senior as well as working-level relationships with the UAE and Dubai Governments’ institutions (including the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, UAE Vice President’s Office for Political Affairs, Ministry of Economy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs) on aeropolitical matters and Emirates’ traffic rights objectives in the assigned geographical area. 


• Oversee the establishment and continued cultivation of productive relationships with senior civil aviation officials as well as other governmental and institutional stakeholders in the assigned geographical area to promote the airline and its aeropolitical objectives. Ensure the Aeropolitical team’s direct engagements with such stakeholders, including regular visits and periodic provision of written presentations/updates on Emirates’ operations and benefits to their countries.


• Take active part in setting and updating Emirates overall aeropolitical strategy as guided by SVP Aeropolitical and Airline Industry Affairs (AAIA) and implement such a strategy assiduously in the assigned area.


• Lead preparation of aeropolitical positions, requirements and correspondence on traffic rights issues in the assigned area towards the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority/UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and governmental authorities worldwide.


• Lead Emirates’ representation or provide support to SVP AAIA in inter-governmental bilateral air services negotiations in the assigned geographical area with the objective of protecting and expanding the airline’s traffic rights and other aeropolitical entitlements.


• Oversee and prepare compelling briefing notes, advocacy submissions and presentations ahead of inter-governmental bilateral air services negotiations and stakeholder meetings to underpin Emirates’ aeropolitical goals.


• Manage stakeholder advocacy engagements aimed at promoting Emirates’ aerpolitical or wider policy objectives in the assigned geographical area, including preparation and presentation of high-quality written materials in support of the case at hand.


• Initiate and lead drafting of policy proposals and briefing notes for SVP AAIA and/or senior management on key aeropolitical files and for high-level negotiations as required. Provide strategic analyses to senior management on aeropolitical issues and developments. 


• Provide guidance and clarification to internal stakeholders (at both the headquarters and outstations level) on the relevant bilateral air services arrangements, and particularly on Emirates’ aeropolitical entitlements, objectives and any required activities.


• Provide direction and developmental support to (Senior) Managers Aeropolitical Affairs, Aeropolitical Affairs Managers and Analysts within the Department in fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment to achieve Emirates’ aeropolitical objectives. 

This role might be for you if you have:

• Degree or Honours (12+3 or equivalent) in business, law, international relations or a related area. Advanced Degree is preferred.


• 12+ years experience in the airline industry or civil aviation field with a significant number of these years spent in a leadership capacity managing aeropolitical/international/government or public affairs.  

You'll have an edge if you have:

• Proven experience in developing and enacting aeropolitical strategy and aviation policy on a senior level of the organisation.


• Profound experience in bilateral and multilateral air services negotiations in a leading role, with demonstrated contributions to tangible outcomes over a considerable period of time.


• Outstanding expertise in developing and managing successful traffic rights/market access advocacy initiatives. 


• Proven experience in developing and enacting aeropolitical strategy and aviation policy.


• Demonstrated senior level experience in leading high-performance teams of experienced managers and experts.


• Exceptional command of aeropolitics, including detailed knowledge of bilateral air services agreements and other aeropolitical arrangements.


• Superb verbal communication and writing skills, with comprehensive experience in preparing effective correspondence, position papers and briefing notes on strategic aeropolitical and aviation policy issues.


• Robust knowledge of the workings of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Chicago Convention and, in particular, ICAO’s evolving policies and guidance on competition and economic regulation of air transport.


• Excellent stakeholder relationship, communication, and negotiation abilities.