Colour Material Finish Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Colour Material Finish Design Manager

Company: Etihad Airways

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Operations / Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-09-30

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Define and articulate the material aesthetic and tactile direction for Etihad's guest experience across all touchpoints, from ground operations to aircraft cabins, ensuring brand consistency.

• Lead material innovation initiatives by identifying opportunities and developing strategic approaches to material selection and application.

• Manage the end-to-end product and material development lifecycle with internal partners and external suppliers, focusing on both soft and hard goods.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Brand, Cabin Interiors, Product & Hospitality, and Cabin Crew & Service teams to translate brand strategy into tangible design outcomes.

• Establish and maintain comprehensive CMF guidelines and manage a robust material asset library, including digital and physical databases of industry-relevant materials and supplier information.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed within a broader "Revenue & Commercial Division" context, suggesting a strong link between design decisions and commercial outcomes, a key aspect for operations professionals to consider. The emphasis on translating "Brand Strategy into tangible Colour and Material Design opportunities" highlights the need for a strategic operations mindset.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a holistic CMF (Colour, Material, Finish) design strategy that aligns with Etihad's brand identity and enhances the overall guest experience.

• Lead the conceptual direction for material-led soft products (e.g., amenities, textiles) and hard products (e.g., cabin interiors, seating components, architectural elements).

• Oversee the product and material development process with external suppliers and manufacturers, ensuring quality, innovation, and adherence to specifications for production.

• Partner effectively with project leads and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of CMF design throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Create and govern comprehensive CMF guidelines for ground facilities, aircraft cabins, and product/service touchpoints.

• Build and manage an onsite material library, housing all Etihad-in-production CMF samples, specifications, and a digital/physical database of industry-relevant materials.

• Establish and nurture strong supplier relationships, managing their representation in the material library and organizing visits for new product demonstrations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for strong project management and supplier relationship management, core competencies within operations. The emphasis on "manufacturing realities" and "implementable solutions" points towards a practical, operations-driven approach to design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design (Industrial, Interior, Transportation, Textile, Graphic) with specialized experience in Colour, Material, Finish design.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years of experience in CMF design, ideally within aviation, automotive, hospitality, or other guest-experience-driven industries, either in a consultancy or in-house capacity.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in Colour, Material, and Finish (CMF) design principles and application.

• Strong understanding of material properties, requirements, and manufacturing processes for soft goods, seating, aircraft cabins, and architectural environments.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and articulate CMF design strategies that align with brand identity and enhance guest experience.

• Excellent visualization skills, including proficiency in 2D sketching and advanced 3D rendering for concept presentation.

• Exceptional storytelling and presentation skills, capable of crafting compelling narratives for design concepts.

• Aesthetic sensitivity with a keen understanding of current and emerging design trends in product, hospitality, and aviation.

• Strategic mindset with the ability to form a holistic design approach across multiple touchpoints.

• Solution-oriented approach, grounding strategies in manufacturing realities and leading to implementable outcomes.

• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to align diverse teams and drive concepts forward.

• Subject matter expertise in CMF design, capable of leading and commanding respect within the field. Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience with aviation material development and regulations.

• Familiarity with trend analysis and cultural trend forecasting relevant to the travel industry.

• Experience managing external suppliers and manufacturers in product development cycles.

• Knowledge of sustainability in materials and manufacturing processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "7 years of experience" positions this as a mid-to-senior level role, demanding a blend of hands-on technical ability and strategic leadership. The explicit mention of "manufacturing realities" and "implementable solutions" emphasizes the practical, operations-focused aspect of the design work.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials: