Associate Director Lean Expert

Turner & Townsend; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A global professional services company in Dubai seeks an expert in Lean principles within the transport sector. The role requires leadership, cultural adaptability, and strong analytical skills. Candidates must demonstrate a track record of implementing Lean strategies to optimize processes and deliver measurable results. Exceptional communication and commitment to continuous improvement are essential. The company fosters a flexible and inclusive working environment that values work-life balance and diversity.

Qualifications

• Experience in Lean implementation projects within the transport sector.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to map and streamline work processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex organizational level Lean implementation projects.
• Inspire cooperation across functional teams and manage team dynamics.
• Drive continuous improvement and prioritize customer value in processes.

Skills

Lean expertise

Transport/Logistics Experience

Data Analysis

Process Development

Leadership and Change Management

Adaptability and Cultural Awareness

Communication Skills

Job description

Company Description

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries.

Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives.

Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success. Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.

We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

Please visit our website: www.turnerandtownsend.com

Job Description

A candidate who has deep Lean expertise, ideally with specific multi transport environment knowledge, leadership qualities, and adaptability to the local environment.

Technical Expertise & Experience

• Proven Transport/Logistics Experience: Demonstrated track record of successfully implementing Lean principles at programme level, ideally within the transport sector.
• Lean Expert: Demonstrate experience and expertise in leading complex organisational level Lean implementation projects. Experience in achieving measurable savings is part of the requirement.
• Data Analysis and Problem-Solving Mindset: The expert must demonstrate strong analytical and critical‑thinking skills, using data to identify root causes of inefficiencies (e.g., using the DMAIC process) rather than just treating symptoms.
• Process Development and Optimization Skills: In delivery, the ability to map and streamline work processes, minimise costs, eliminate waste, and utilise capacity effectively is crucial.
• Corporate Development & Organisational Capability: Experience designing organisational development or functional capability frameworks. Ability to align development programmes with business strategy. Strong documentation, framework creation, and structured thinking skills.

Qualifications

Strong Leadership and Change Management Experience: The person must be an active coach and a leader who can provide a clear vision, inspire cooperation across functional teams, manage team dynamics, and lead effectively through significant organisational change.

Adaptability and Cultural Awareness: The dynamic business environment requires an expert who is adaptable and has high cultural awareness to build positive relationships with diverse local and international teams, suppliers, and customers.

Exceptional Communication and Collaboration Skills: The role requires excellent communication skills to convey complex ideas clearly to all stakeholders, from executives to operational staff, and foster a collaborative environment.

Customer Focus and Value Systems: A strong understanding of Lean’s core principle of prioritising customer value is essential. The expert should be able to use customer insights to shape process improvements and ensure the entire programme is customer‑centric.

Commitment to Continuous Learning: A leader with the ability to continually question existing processes and encourage a culture of relentless improvement. They should view failure as a learning opportunity rather than a setback.

Additional Information

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work‑life balance.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e‑mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.

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Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/