Category Operations Manager, Air Job in Mckinsey & Company

Your Impact

In this role, you will take charge of end-to-end program management with airline and rail suppliers as well as internal stakeholders, supporting the Global Air Category Lead in executing strategic priorities.

Success in this role requires the ability to identify operational gaps and improvement opportunities, driving continuous enhancements in air and rail operations. You will balance collaborating with a global team to achieve broader goals while aligning these initiatives with the needs and priorities of local stakeholders.

Your negotiation and change management skills will be essential in this role, allowing you to expand your expertise in the airline and rail sectors while leveraging the unique strengths you bring to the Firm. We offer comprehensive training, along with regular coaching and mentoring to support your growth.

Your Growth

You will be part of the McKinsey Optimize function, which delivers impactful and productive experiences through services including travel, events, real estate, sourcing, technology, and purchasing. You will work closely with the Travel Team and other Optimize departments, engaging with leadership across the Asia-Pacific region as well as colleagues globally.

In this role, you will collaborate with Regional Travel Managers to support and drive travel initiatives, bringing efficiencies to your areas of responsibility. You will work with regional and office leaders, Finance, HR, Meetings & Events, Partners, Learning, Sustainability, and consulting teams to promote the air program and generate value.

You will engage with travelers and Executive Assistants to promote best practices in air travel bookings and drive changes in traveler behaviors.

Optimize Travel is responsible for setting the global strategy and managing McKinsey's travel program. Our vision is to bring people together to create positive, lasting change by designing a global and scalable travel program that leverages innovation to deliver value for the firm, while creating positive travel experiences for our colleagues. We empower colleagues to make informed travel decisions that enable them to focus on delivering impact where it matters most.

You will be based in one of our approved Asia-Pacific office locations (Gurgaon, Kuala Lumpur, or Seoul) and report directly to the Global Airline Program Lead based in London, U.K.

Your Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor s or Master s degree (or equivalent)
• In-depth knowledge of the airline commercial sector and related industries, including business/online travel agencies, content aggregators, travel technologies, and the corporate travel segment
• Ability to recognize patterns, apply problem-solving techniques, and synthesize insights into clear, actionable recommendations
• Strong attention to detail with excellent analytical skills, capable of working with large datasets and extracting meaningful insights
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas and influence stakeholders at all levels
• Strong consulting and project management skills, with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, with at least 3-5 years in a travel-related category