Group Network Optimisation Manager (6 Month Contract)

**************This is a day rate contract for 6 months in duration*************

Collinson is the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million consumers.


Collinson is the operator of Priority Pass, the world’s original and leading airport experiences programme. Travellers can access a network of 1,500+ lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 650 airports in 148 countries, helping to elevate the journey into something special. We work with the world’s leading payment networks, over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups worldwide.

We have been bringing innovation to the market since inception – from launching the first independent global VIP lounge access Programme, Priority Pass to being the first to sell direct travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct and creating the first loyalty agency of its kind in the travel sector with ICLP. Today we still invest heavily in innovation to ensure that we continue to deliver superior customer experiences.

Key clients include Mastercard, American Express, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, LATAM, Flying Blue, Accor, EasyJet, HSBC, Chase, HDFC.

Our mission is focused on doing good beyond profit, which for us means we seek out opportunities for our people to share in our success and that we give back to the communities and people within which we work.

Never short of ambition, the success of our business is delivered through the diverse and talented team of over 2,200 global colleagues.

We are seeking a highly analytical and strategic data modeler to lead the building of a bespoke analytical tool that can support with various lounge network optimization problems the Group is currently facing. This individual will play a key role in network development modelling that determines the optimal lounge portfolio for the Group over a mid to long term planning horizon, helping the Group to understand the right balance of lounges to buy vs build vs partner, and with the key output from the modelling feeding into long term capital planning and funding scenarios led by Group Finance.

Key Responsibilities:

Lounge Network Factbase

· Categorize the current network of airport lounges by terminal location in line with existing categories

· Consolidate key information / details for all lounge terminals and lounges in those terminals

· Identify gaps in the current network and categorize accordingly

· Overlay the current view of network size and shape with the demand outlook for the next 5-10 years,

· Develop a master-lounge dataset to support subsequent strategic planning, analysis and modelling including identification of target “new” locations / terminals

Strategic Analysis & Reporting

· Based on the data contained within the fact base, build a bespoke Master Louge Network model that can power a location-by-location financial model

· Ensure the Master Lounge Network model is built in a modular, dynamic and relatable manner and can quickly run different planning scenarios

· Track and analyse key strategic, financial and operational metrics relevant to the decision making of key stakeholders

· Prepare informative dashboards that are updated on a regular basis that can provide detailed understanding of key network performance criteria

Permanent Lounge Network Capability:

· Help define the role scope, systems and analytics required to establish a permanent lounge network capability

· Help build the investment case to establish this capability, including selecting the relevant systems and tools that will power this capability

Stakeholder Collaboration:

· Work as part of a three-person dedicated team to deliver the Network Strategy Development project, being the strategy representative alongside a Programme Manager and Interim Strategic Corporate Finance / Senior Manager

· Partner with the Airport Dimensions commercial team, the Priority Pass commercial and partnerships team to ensure their contribution is inputted into the model and they become “believers” in its output

Qualifications & Experience:

· Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics or Data Science

· 4–8 years of experience in data science with a focus on network optimization problems

· Advanced data modelling skills with a familiarity of a wide range of data modelling tools

· Familiarity with multi-site network optimization problems in travel or logistics companies a bonus

· Exceptional communication and presentation skills; ability to influence senior stakeholders

· Evidence of building advanced data models from scratch desirable

Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on-going success.

We are focused on continually evolving our purpose driven, high performing culture, providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work. Our company values are: Take Action, Do the right thing, One team and Be insight led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think, act and interact, right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.

In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).

If you need any extra support throughout the interview process, then please email us at [email protected]