Assistant Director - Strategic and Operational Planning

مصرف الإمارات العربية المتحدة المركزي; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 367,000 - 478,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial regulatory authority in Abu Dhabi seeks a professional for its Strategy Division. The role emphasizes the development of strategic plans, conducting in-depth analyses, and ensuring alignment with government initiatives. A Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of experience in strategic management are essential, along with fluency in Arabic and English. This position offers a dynamic work environment with top industry experts.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in strategic and operational management.
• Proven track record in strategic alignment and scenario planning development.
• Certification in Strategic Planning is highly advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop CBUAE’s strategic and operational plans.
• Conduct analyses of industry trends for actionable insights.
• Present CBUAE’s strategic plans to stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic alignment

Industry analysis

Communication skills

Leadership

Fluency in Arabic

Fluency in English

Education

Bachelor Degree in Business Administration

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) is the supervisory and regulatory authority of the banking and insurance sector in the United Arab Emirates. CBUAE is responsible for enhancing monetary management, financial stability and protecting consumers through effective supervision of licensed financial institutions, prudent management of reserves, robust financial infrastructure and the adoption of digital technologies.

CBUAE is currently looking to hire a motivated professional for its Strategy Division to develop the CBUAE’s strategic and operational plans in alignment with the UAE Vision, National Agenda, and other government initiatives. The role focuses on providing actionable insights through strategic analysis, ensuring department-level alignment, and driving the execution of strategic initiatives.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop CBUAE’s strategic and operational plans for each strategic cycle in alignment with the Prime Minister’s Office direction and timeline.
• Coordinate annual strategic and operational planning review processes across all departments to ensure alignment and consistency.
• Conduct comprehensive analyses of strategic, business environmental, and industry trends using tools such as PESTEL and SWOT to provide actionable insights and support strategy formulation.
• Review departmental strategic plans to ensure alignment with CBUAE’s overarching strategy and organisational goals.
• Design and implement frameworks for strategic plan execution, including overseeing corrective actions for any deviations.
• Integrate strategic plans with operational, financial, and human capital plans to ensure feasibility and optimal resource allocation in collaboration with relevant departments.
• Engage stakeholders to collect requirements, gather feedback, and ensure alignment with CBUAE’s strategic direction.
• Develop strategic risk mitigation plans and coordinate scenario planning exercises to enhance organisational readiness and resilience.
• Recommend strategic key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure and monitor progress toward achieving strategic objectives.
• Present and effectively communicate CBUAE’s mission, vision, values, and strategic plans to employees, stakeholders, and partners.
• Participate in excellence improvement initiatives and ensure CBUAE complies with and exceeds the requirements of government-sponsored excellence programs and awards.
• Develop methodologies and tools to facilitate operational planning and promote alignment across all departments.
• Engage both internal and external stakeholders to harmonise strategic efforts with broader organisational and national priorities.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure consistency, shared accountability, and the successful execution of the strategic agenda.
• Perform any other duty in the mandate of the Strategic Management Office
• Provide leadership and guidance to direct reports towards the achievement of goals and objectives.
• Guide and motivate direct reports to enhance performance and produce quality work, and ensure that they are continuously developing for higher level roles.
• Prepare performance evaluation and appraisal reports of direct reports to assess subordinates productivity and progress and identify training needs.
• Ensure that team members are acquainted with the changing situation and the developments of CBUAE.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, Management, Strategy or related field. MBA, advanced degree or specialised degree is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience, with at least 5+ years in a strategic and operational management role.
• Proven track record in strategic alignment, industry and market analysis, and scenario planning development.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, management, and execution, including integrating strategies with operational, financial, and human capital frameworks.
• Certification in Strategic Planning (e.g. Balanced Scorecard Certification) is highly advantageous.
• Experience working within or alongside international organisations, with exposure to global best practices in strategic management and operational excellence.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English.

The Central Bank of the UAE offers you the opportunity to join an interdisciplinary and multinational team spans diverse backgrounds and experiences. You will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment alongside some of the leading financial and regulatory experts in the industry.

If the above description corresponds to your profile and career interests, please apply by attaching your CV.