Senior Manager New Business Models & Acceleration

Position Description:
As consumer preferences and behaviors in the automotive industry undergo significant shifts propelled by technological advancements and disruptive business models, Al-Futtaim is committed to embarking on a transformative journey. Our goal is to revitalize our business operations, elevate the value chain, and deliver unparalleled customer experiences within the evolving landscape of mobility services.

The New Business, Strategy, and Transformation (NBST) division is dedicated to shaping the future strategy of Al-Futtaim Automotive’s automotive division. Our mission is to cultivate a portfolio of innovative ventures that expand beyond our current scope. We achieve this by exploring opportunities for mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, and incubation projects both locally in the UAE and on the international stage.

Within the realm of incubation, NBST evaluates promising business ideas with a particular emphasis on new mobility initiatives. We conduct comprehensive market analyses, define target processes and industries, and develop robust business cases. From ideation to execution, we take ownership of the entire process, employing agile frameworks to ensure flexibility and responsiveness.

The Senior Manager of New Business Models & Acceleration at Al Futtaim Automotive plays a pivotal role in this endeavor. This individual is tasked with identifying novel business models, contributing to the incubation roadmap through market research, and executing priority initiatives. Collaborating closely with the Head of Incubation, the Senior Manager crafts innovative business concepts and launches agile projects to secure our position in the automotive landscape amidst dynamic changes in mobility trends.

This role thrives in a fast-paced, startup-like environment, leveraging agile methodologies to swiftly experiment with and introduce new solutions to the market. The ideal candidate possesses leadership experience in innovative automotive projects, coupled with a deep understanding of the automotive industry and proficiency in agile methodologies.

Responsibilities:

Establish a pipeline of prospective incubation ideas aligned with the Auto 3-year strategy, spanning various brands and markets, to nurture and bring to market.

Collaborate with Department Heads and Brand Managing Directors to continually generate and refine innovative concepts for incubation, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.

Conduct initial market assessments to gauge the viability and potential of identified ideas.

Facilitate workshops and strategy sessions to shape the vision and trajectory of incubation projects.

Develop comprehensive business cases for proposed initiatives, seeking approval for project commencement.

Design and implement customized agile processes tailored to the automotive industry, optimizing each phase of development – from exploration to validation and execution.

Incubation P&L Management:
Oversee project budgeting, ensuring efficient allocation and utilization of resources.
Establish and maintain portfolio dashboards to monitor the progress of incubation projects.
Collaborate with purchasing and finance departments to secure necessary resources and market data for project teams.
Incubation Project & Change Management (Development and Implementation Phase):

Work closely with business stakeholders to define project roadmaps and develop corresponding go-to-market strategies.
Consult with internal and external technology experts to determine optimal implementation methods and guide them towards delivering valuable outcomes.
Provide supervision and guidance to scrum teams, ensuring alignment with the project vision and strategy throughout sprint planning, daily stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives.
Engage market and customer intelligence experts internally and externally to gather insights for developing customer propositions tailored to domestic and international markets.
Lead program and project management efforts for priority and complex initiatives.

Required Skills:
Extensive experience in the automotive OEM sector.
Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently while maintaining flexibility.
Background in consultancy, new business development, or start-up environments.
Proven track record of hands-on project ownership.
About the Team:

You’ll be part of a dynamic team operating in a fast-paced, diverse environment, reporting directly to the General Manager of New Business.
Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Finance, with an MBA preferred.
Over 10 years of experience in strategy consulting, new business development, and product/service innovation within the automotive industry, with demonstrated P&L responsibility.
Proven capability in developing and launching disruptive products/services, achieving product-market fit.
Strong aptitude for building business cases and conducting due diligence activities.
Excellent analytical skills coupled with experience in negotiation and project management methodologies such as AGILE.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a talent for networking.
Proficient in interpersonal dynamics, team building, and negotiation, with meticulous attention to detail.