Manager Food & Beverage Planning and Development | Product Innovation and Design

About Qatar Airways Product Development and Design

At Qatar Airways, we innovate cutting-edge inflight products that enhance passenger comfort and set new benchmarks in aviation design. Our Product Development and Design (PDD) Team works closely with industry leaders to bring ideas to life, establishing novel standards for travel experiences.

Role Overview

The Manager of Food & Beverage (F&B) Planning and Development is responsible for overseeing the comprehensive planning, creation, and management of the onboard F&B assortment, encompassing approximately 700 SKUs with an annual inventory valued at USD 110 million. This role ensures availability of services, cost efficiency, operational practicality, and alignment with the airline's brand standards. It also integrates demand forecasting, supplier strategy, and tender management with a specialized focus on the wine and spirits program to deliver both operational excellence and a premium onboard experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and maintain an optimized inventory system balancing availability, cost control, and SKU management to reduce surplus and obsolescence.
• Develop and manage a forward-looking tender pipeline for timely procurement with clear specifications and smooth execution processes.
• Enhance the end-to-end supply chain from sourcing to onboard delivery across global routes.
• Build and nurture a high-performance supplier network ensuring quality, reliability, and innovation.
• Continuously improve the F&B portfolio including an exclusive wine and beverage program aligned with the brand vision.
• Manage end-to-end inventory governance, synchronizing demand forecasts, product lifecycles, and onboard stock availability.
• Supervise a USD 110 million inventory, focusing on SKU optimization, controlling stock aging, and enhancing cost-efficiency.
• Ensure consistency among planning data, stock levels, and operational demands to maintain uninterrupted services.
• Oversee data integrity of inventory across ERP, QOSMOS, and HORIZON platforms.
• Lead the tender process from initial planning and specification development to supplier selection and contract finalization.
• Align tender outcomes with planning needs and operational delivery seamlessly.
• Manage sourcing strategies, logistics coordination, and catering operations to optimize supply chain performance.
• Identify and mitigate supply risks to guarantee continuous provision across all operational regions.
• Drive supplier evaluation and development initiatives to uphold quality standards and foster continuous improvements.
• Lead all F&B product development efforts including the wine and spirits program and strategic partnerships.
• Perform additional departmental duties as directed by the department head.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification with 7+ years of relevant experience in F&B planning, sourcing, product development, or airline catering operations.
• Possession of WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines (DipWSET) or higher certification.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing F&B planning and product development at scale within premium or aviation-related settings.
• Strong analytical skills combined with commercial insight.
• Fluent in English with excellent communication abilities.
• Proven leadership experience with capabilities in coaching and mentoring teams.
• Experience collaborating with industry specialists such as Masters of Wine, sommeliers, and mixologists.
• Exposure to working with global suppliers and within high-end hospitality or airline environments.
• Advanced competence in data analysis and decision-making tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Excellent stakeholder management across multidisciplinary teams and the ability to lead complex operations in a dynamic global context.

About Qatar Airways Group

Qatar Airways started with just four planes and has rapidly expanded into twelve diverse businesses unified under one umbrella. We are known for breaking records and pioneering industry trends, thriving on challenges and turning impossible goals into realities. Whether you contribute customer-facing innovations or provide vital behind-the-scenes support, your efforts are integral to our extraordinary growth and success.

Additional Information

• Location: Doha, Qatar
• Job Family: Corporate & Commercial
• Ref Number: 2600008C
• Application Deadline: July 31, 2026