Operations Director - Abu Dhabi Lead

You will need to login before you can apply for a job.

View more categories View less categories Sector Operations and Facilities Management Role Director Contract Type Permanent Hours Full Time

At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities and societies across the globe.

Within our consult business we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project deliveryconsultancy to unlock the potential in every project. Our values shape the way we consult, and define the people we want to join us on our journey, they are:

• Safety first - Going home safe and well
  
• Client focus - Deliver on our promise
  
• Integrity - Always do the right thing
  
• Create opportunity - For our people to excel
  

The opportunity:

We've been working in the United Arab Emirates for over 25 years, helping to redefine the boundaries of ambition of this dynamic, growing and diverse country. We are proud to have been part of that journey, helping to realise the ambitious of the nation, which is now a global business and cultural hub.

We have built a reputation for delivering projects and programmes faster, safer and better than ever before, but as a purpose-driven business we look for opportunities to shape the future. This is an opportunity for an experienced leader to take their career and ambitions to the next level on this exciting journey with Mace.

The role:

To direct and oversee the Abu Dhabi business activities of Mace, implementing operational programmes that are aligned to the strategic objectives of the business and growing this important market.

The role oversees business activities and is accountable for the Abu Dhabi KPIs and business outcomes. Reporting to the UAE Country Manager this as an integral member of the UAE senior leadership team providing operational expertise, business planning and strategic advice to the regional leadership team.

You'll be responsible for:

• Leading, guiding and providing strategic direction to the emirate of Abu Dhabi within the UAE, developing the overall strategy, long and short-term goals and inputting into country, regional strategy as member of the UAE senior leadership team.
  
  
• Owning the Abu Dhabi business operational resource requirements, ensures compliance with Mace group reporting cycles and establishing KPIs and OKDs (objectives and key deliverables).
  
  
• Overseeing key client relationships and takes ownership of strategic and Abu Dhabi client accounts including government, private sector and public sector clients when required.
  
  
• Partnering and collaborating with business leadership to identify new opportunities with existing and new clients, ensuring all strategic and profitable opportunities are captured and actioned, to further develop and grow the Mace country business.
  
  
• Accountable for delivery of annual financial and operating targets for the Mace Abu Dhabi business (including KPIs, OKDs and business outcomes), achieved through developing fit-for-purpose planning processes appropriate for a growing, market leading and highly profitable organisation.
  
  
• Leading effective cost management for Abu Dhabi business, ensuring budgets are met and utilises data and analysis to drive continuous business improvements.
  
  
• Collaborating and partnering with leadership teams to proactively identify strategic partnership opportunities, promote cross selling and further develop, cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with clients, partners and supply chains.
  
  
• Ensuring required leadership and capability for Abu Dhabi is implemented to deliver the business ambition with robust resource planning and a talent pipeline matching business demand, to drive the Mace purpose, priorities and 2030 strategy.
  
  
• Owning the specific Mace business positioning and market strategy, pipeline, bids and submissions including service offerings, strategic sector priorities utilises robust market and competitor analysis.
  
  
• Demonstrating 'good organisation citizenship' by working in an enterprise-wide way. Championing and driving the strategic implementation of enterprise-wide (and business unit) strategic priorities, initiatives and transformational change, providing enterprise-wide leadership.
  
  
• Leading business by example, setting and working by high standards, leads, guides and provides direction to Abu Dhabi and UAE country business and leadership team, ensures a high performing portfolio and teams that met and exceed KPIs.
  
  
• Representing Mace and the UAE business, manages and influences key C-Suite and senior external relationships with key stakeholders, including clients, supply chain and relevant government/regulatory bodies.
  
  
• Providing executive leadership, strategic direction and thought leadership across the Abu Dhabi business, supporting and mentoring senior leaders including succession planning, onboarding, training and diversity planning.
  
  
• Promoting and championing the highest standards and adherence to health, safety and wellbeing across the Abu Dhabi portfolio.
  
  
• Partnering with marketing and communications and relevant stakeholders to raise the overall profile of the Abu Dhabi business.
  
  
• Working collaboratively towards the common goal of net zero carbon transition and share responsibility for the proactive identification and management of the associated carbon emissions and reductions during the delivery of work.
  

You'll need to have:

• Relevant degree qualification.
  
• Leadership skills and be a skilled people leader.
  
• Excellent industry and sector connections and relationships in Abu Dhabi.
  
• Comprehensive operational expertise in project and programme management and knowledge of the construction industry.
  
• Significant experience and leading complex project and programme delivery in the UAE.
  
• Ability to lead strategic direction of a business from both an internal and external perspective.
  
• Can influence, develop and create a cohesive leadership team to oversee the operations of the Abu Dhabi business within the UAE.
  
• Highly skilled in client engagement, strategic partnering and planning, bidding, work winning and driving operational performance.
  
• Ability to work to short and long-term strategic plans, promoting sustainable and innovative solutions, knowledge capture and best practice in service delivery.
  

You'll also have:

• Advanced communication skills, effectively communicates at all levels in organisation.
  
  
• Manages and influences key senior internal and external stakeholders and provides leadership and guidance to the operational portfolio.
  
  
• Advanced negotiation, influencing and engagement capabilities.
  
  
• Persuades, influences, advises and collaborates with others successfully towards a desired course of action and/or to reach consensus.
  
  
• Demonstrates new perspectives and explores and champions innovative approaches in pursuit of a better way incorporating continuous improvement.
  
  
• Knowledge of how carbon and sustainability considerations will shape the outlook of the projects you are working on.
  

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates.

#LI-Onsite

Company

If you can bring a different perspective to help us shape the cities of tomorrow, take a look at the opportunities we have to join us.

Fortune favours the brave - and so do we

At Mace we empower our people to be collaborative, curious and embrace their entrepreneurial spirits. We aim to attract the best and brightest people, whatever their background, to bring new perspectives to some of the most challenging and inspiring projects around the world.

You might be part of our healthcare team delivering critical hospital care units, or our education team creating schools to inspire our future leaders. You could be a graduate working on the world’s tallest building, or be managing the construction of world-leading cultural landmarks. Whatever your passion, we have an opportunity that will bring out the best in you.

At Mace we want you to feel comfortable from day 1, so for any questions about a career at Mace, including application advice, please contactpaul.deaville@macegroup.com for a confidential chat.

Our clients say that it’s our people that make the difference

Our people think harder, do better and go further. Every day at Mace is an opportunity to think and do things differently. We were founded more than 30 years ago, and every day our entrepreneurial culture plays a huge role in our success. We exist to seek out the world’s most interesting projects that challenge and excite us.

We want our employees to thrive and achieve their highest potential. We are passionate about creating an environment that provides opportunities for the most stimulating and fulfilling careers. We encourage innovation and welcome new perspectives by attracting and developing people with diverse talent who inspire our thinking, challenge our solutions and enhance our culture.

At Mace you can deepen your knowledge, expand your skills, see the world and get to work with both inspiring colleagues and influential clients – whatever your passion, we have an opportunity that will bring out the best in you. But don’t just take our word for it; below you can see what some of our people had to say.

Reward and recognition

We invest in our people and provide a strong benefits package, which in the UK includes:

• 22 days of holiday, plus two ‘Mace Days’ to support work-life balance, bank holidays and December holiday shut down
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Highly competitive maternity and paternity package
• Reimbursement of professional subscriptions and membership fees
• Season ticket loan
• Annual health screening
• Private medical insurance
• Sponsorship of education schemes (on approval)
• Continuous on the job training and development
• Cycle to work scheme
• Our international benefit packages are comparable. Please contact our recruitment team for more information.

We know that many parents can face challenges when balancing the demands of work and their home lives. At Mace, we fully support our people when they choose to balance their career with family life. We offer enhanced family leave, as well as options for flexible working and alternative working patterns to support and improve the work-life balance of our employees.

Our performance management and appraisal approach is based on ability and talent. Top performers are recognised for both their contribution to projects and their broader contribution to the business.

At Mace we appreciate the differences that everyone brings to work and we recognise the importance of people being free to be themselves.

Regardless of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, or affiliation to any political party, we embrace diversity and believe in creating an inclusive environment where every Mace person is treated equally, fairly and with respect.

We are proud partners of Stonewall’s global diversity champions programme that ensures all LGBT+ staff are accepted without exception at Mace.

Mace’s corporate purpose statement is ‘Redefining the boundaries of ambition’.

Support for disabled employees is provided by:

Our recruitment and HR Teams have undertaken disability awareness training and are eager to provide an inclusive and accessibility experience to job applicants and new colleagues.

Enabled at Mace – employee network. Its aims are to support its members and, to "to raise awareness and remove barriers around disability, neurodiversity and other impairments” to support their aim to create an inclusive and diverse workplace for everyone.

Disability Confident – We are using the requirements of the government scheme to create an inclusive environment for disabled job applicants and existing colleagues.

Clear Assured – an externally verified accreditation around equality, diversity and inclusion practice across our business, driving improvements to our policies, processes and practices.

Recite Me – an assistive technology tool that provides access support to all employees. It is located on our intranet site, our website and job vacancy platform.

Mace are member of the Business Disability Forum, giving access to a wide range of resources and information. Our line managers have access to their confidential support line.

Silver Clear Assured Award

ridi - Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative Awards 2021 - Highly Commended Category

Create a job alert and receive personalised job recommendations straight to your inbox.