Senior Project Management & Strategy Manager job in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Role Purpose:
The Head of Business Development & Strategy at Al Futtaim Finance (AFF) plays a pivotal role in advancing Al Futtaim Automotive’s ability to offer comprehensive mobility solutions, supporting the growth of automotive brands. This role leads and executes critical projects and initiatives outlined in the AFF 3-year strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Development:
Lead a product team to innovate and enhance existing mobility products or develop new ones.
Project Management:
Oversee a project management team to implement new projects and initiatives in alignment with the Al Futtaim Auto 3-year strategy.
Process Management:
Direct a process management team to optimize business processes, ensuring alignment with Al Futtaim group initiatives.
Trade Cycle Management (TCM):
Guide a TCM team in devising and implementing strategies to increase customer retention across all brands.
Partnerships:
Manage a partnerships team to strengthen existing collaborations and forge new partnerships that drive growth.
Strategic Impact:
As an essential AFF Senior Management team member, the Head of Business Development & Strategy will provide strategic insights and support high-priority initiatives across the business. This individual will consult with AFF divisions and the broader Al Futtaim Group to ensure that the mobility products offered are market-leading, contributing to the overall goals of increasing vehicle sales and customer retention.

Expertise and Advisory Role:
The Head of Business Development & Strategy will offer expert advice on product innovation, financial structures, and performance enhancement within the financial services sector, positioning AFF as a leader in delivering exceptional mobility solutions.

Key Responsibilities
Leadership:

Direct the PMO, Process, Product, and TCM teams, managing staffing needs and recruitment.
Delegate tasks to Project, Process, Product, and Trade Cycle Managers and Subject Matter Experts.
Ensure high team engagement and involvement across various business areas.
Set annual performance targets for individuals and teams, conducting regular performance reviews.
Partnerships:

Forge new partnerships in different regions to expand Al Futtaim Finance’s presence in Financial Services, Rental & Leasing, and Subscription markets.
Negotiate partnerships to establish mutually beneficial relationships that support AFF’s growth.
Develop strategies to enhance brand awareness and grow partner product or service audiences.
Evaluate current partnerships to identify areas for improvement.
Designed and managed effective marketing campaigns for partner products and services.
Maintain communication with partner companies to ensure satisfaction with the partnership status.
Develop and implement strategic plans aligned with partner goals and objectives.
Monitor market trends and competitor activities to identify new partnership opportunities.
Governance of Partnerships:

Actively manage SLAs and ensure compliance.
Oversee committees to ensure partnership principles are adhered to.
Track and report on open issues agreed tasks, and risks.
Maintain strong relationships with partners to ensure collaboration meets Al Futtaim’s objectives.
Establish effective communication channels with partners to foster productive relationships.
Product Management:

Lead the Product Management team, following Al Futtaim Group guidelines.
Ensure adherence to Al Futtaim Group standards for product management capabilities, certifications, methodologies, and tools.
Oversee the development of new products and services for all financial services entities.
Establish a product management structure that supports launching new brands and mobility solutions.
Project and Process Management:

Lead the PMO, adhering to Al Futtaim Group guidelines.
Ensure compliance with Al Futtaim Group standards for project and process management capabilities, certifications, methodologies, and tools.
Create a ‘Centre of Excellence’ to nurture project and process management practitioners and share knowledge across AFF business divisions of Finance, Rental & Leasing, and Subscription in all countries.
Monitoring & Reporting in Project and Process Management:

Summarize and report on overall program status and progress.
Manage issues, risks, and dependencies, and develop mitigation and resolution plans.
Oversee Project and Process Managers to ensure projects/programs are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
Provide strategic recommendations to enhance the success of programs/projects.
Trade Cycle Management (TCM):

Develop a clear sales and marketing TCM strategy for Al Futtaim Group to increase retention.
Collaborate with Al Futtaim stakeholders and partners to develop a practical TCM approach.
Create a dedicated implementation plan for TCM products.
Develop tools to track TCM KPIs effectively.
Design systems, processes, and collateral to enhance customer centricity.
Work closely with banking partners, Brands, and CEOs to deliver a unified customer approach.
Communicate and implement processes, policies, and systems, ensuring compliance.
Drive changes to enhance customer value by delivering solutions that meet customer needs and objectives.
Monitor market evolution and financial offers in cooperation with the Brands.
TCM Governance:

Establish a ‘Centre of Excellence’ specializing in TCM activities to support AFF, Brands, and COEs in achieving retention goals.
Implement regular reporting and monitoring of all Retention KPIs to drive performance.
Organize regular TCM forums with Al Futtaim Brands & COEs to drive joint retention activities.
Monitor retention performance and develop goals, objectives, and actions to improve retention KPIs across Al Futtaim Auto Group.

Required Skills and Qualifications
Minimum Experience:

At least ten years of experience in dealership and automotive finance operations.
Strong sales skills with a background in retail sales.
Proven success in managing partnerships and influencing change at the C-suite level.
Demonstrated ability to transform low-performing partnerships into high-performing ones.
Experience in people management and leadership within sales teams.
Proven ability to drive change within a Senior Management Team.
Experience in establishing a PMO structure and managing Project Managers.
Experience in creating a process management structure and managing Process Managers.
Deep understanding of Trade Cycle Management at both showroom and head office levels.
Proven record of leading TCM managers in showrooms to meet TCM objectives.
Job-Specific Skills:

Experience in auto-captive finance.
Product management experience.
Comprehensive knowledge of the auto finance process.
Full understanding of captive financing processes and products.
Strong strategic thinking capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple goals and deadlines.
Team leadership and development skills, with the ability to mentor and coach others.
Strong facilitation, negotiation, and problem-resolution skills.
Ability to build strong networks and relationships at executive levels with technology and solutions, customers, and vendor groups.
Practical problem identification and resolution skills.
Ability to make strategic recommendations to enhance project success and report to senior management with clear indications of issues, risks, mitigation, and dependencies.
Resilience and resourcefulness.
Strong budgeting management skills.
Behavioral Competencies:

Leadership is action-oriented and consensus-driven.
Qualifications and Knowledge:

University degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
Creativity and the ability to work under pressure.
Knowledge of current market and customer trends.
Understanding of the automotive sales process and finance offerings in mature markets.