Lead, Strategic Partnerships (Interline & Codeshare) at United Nigeria Airlines

United Nigeria Airlines is a wholly owned Nigerian company incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 at the Corporate Affairs Commission to offer commercial air transportation services under the trade name United Nigeria.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Lead, Strategic Partnerships (Interline & Codeshare)

Location: Lagos
Reports to: Head of Business Development & Strategy
Department: Business Development & Strategy

Job Summary

• United Nigeria Airlines is seeking a Lead, Strategic Partnerships to drive the airlines interline and codeshare strategy as a core pillar of network growth and revenue expansion.
• This role sits within the Business Development & Strategy function and is focused on building high-impact, long-term partnerships that extend market access, strengthen connectivity, and support sustainable growth.
• This is not a transactional sales or account management role. The position is responsible for identifying strategic partnership opportunities, leading complex negotiations, and ensuring partnerships are commercially sound, operationally aligned, and performance-driven.

Duties / Responsibilities
Partnership Strategy & Development:

• Develop and execute the United Nigeria interline and codeshare partnership strategy in line with network, route, and growth priorities.
• Identify, assess, and prioritize potential airline partners and complementary industry partners that enhance connectivity and revenue.
• Build business cases to support partnership decisions and senior management approvals.

Negotiation & Deal Structuring:

• Lead end-to-end negotiations for interline, codeshare, and related commercial agreements.
• Structure agreements that balance revenue upside, operational feasibility, and long-term strategic value.
• Work closely with Legal, Finance, Operations, IT, and Revenue Management to ensure agreements are compliant, implementable, and commercially viable.

Implementation & Performance Management:

• Oversee partnership setup and launch, including coordination of systems, inventory, fare filing, and operational readiness.
• Own key partner relationships at a senior level, ensuring ongoing alignment and value delivery.
• Define KPIs and monitor partnership performance, traffic flows, revenue contribution, and profitability, with regular reporting to leadership.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with the Growth & Planning Analyst to use data and market insights to validate and optimize partnerships.
• Work closely with Commercial, Sales, and Marketing teams to ensure partnerships are effectively integrated into pricing, distribution, and go-to-market strategies.
• Act as the internal point of reference on partnership strategy, influencing decisions across departments.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or relevant professional qualification is an advantage.
• Experience: 6–10 years’ experience in strategic partnerships, airline commercial strategy, network planning, or corporate development.
• Skills: Strong experience negotiating and managing complex commercial agreements; interline or codeshare experience is a strong advantage.
• Knowledge: Solid understanding of airline economics, network connectivity, and partnership models.
• Attributes: Proven ability to work across multiple functions and manage senior stakeholders.
• Competencies: Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Development, Aviation Management, Law, or related discipline (Master’s degree preferred).
• Certification in partnership management, alliance development, or commercial negotiation is advantageous.

Experience:

• 7–9 years of experience in airline partnership development, alliance management, or commercial collaborations within aviation.
• Direct involvement in structuring and negotiating commercial agreements such as codeshares, interline partnerships, joint ventures, or loyalty program integrations.
• Experience engaging with global distribution systems (GDS), travel technology providers, or tourism authorities to drive distribution and market access.

Experience & Qualification:

• In-depth knowledge of IATA commercial standards, BSP processes, and partnership frameworks.
• Strong commercial acumen with ability to model partnership ROI, revenue sharing, and risk mitigation structures.
• Exceptional negotiation and contract management skills, with attention to regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Ability to identify and convert partnership opportunities into scalable growth levers (e.g., feed traffic, ancillary revenue, brand extension).
• Must demonstrate discretion in handling sensitive commercial discussions and alliance strategy.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.