Associate - Strategy & Planning

Mohamed Hilal Group; Sharjah; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the UAE is seeking a detail-oriented Strategy & Planning Associate to enhance operational excellence. This role involves collaborating with senior leadership to drive performance monitoring and streamline business operations, ensuring efficient execution of strategic goals.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of experience in strategy, program management, operations, or PMO roles.
• Experience in driving or supporting process improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with OKR and SLA frameworks preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support development of quarterly and annual business planning cycles.
• Collaborate with department heads to track execution against goals.
• Present data-driven insights to senior leadership.

Skills

Analytical Mindset

Problem-Solving Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

We are looking for a detail-oriented and results-driven Strategy & Planning Associate to join our Strategy team, with a dedicated focus on driving Operational Excellence across the organization. In this role, you will work closely with senior leadership and department heads to enhance performance monitoring, streamline business operations, and deliver actionable insights that enable faster, more efficient execution.

You will play a critical role in helping the organization maximize productivity, improve resource utilization, and reduce operational delays by translating strategic goals into measurable improvements in day-to-day operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic & Business Planning

• Support the development and coordination of quarterly and annual business planning cycles.

2. Operational Performance Monitoring

• Collaborate with department heads to track execution against goals, milestones, and key deliverables.
• Monitor ongoing business activities and support timely reporting of business-as-usual operations.
• Optimize resource allocation and scheduling to support efficient execution of projects and plans.

3. Data Analysis & Operational Insights

• Present data-driven insights to senior leadership to inform decision-making and process optimization.

4. Process Documentation & Improvement

• Develop and maintain detailed process maps, delivery timelines, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Establish and manage a centralized repository of operational processes, guidelines, and best practices.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying inefficiencies and contributing to scalable solutions.

5. Cross-Functional Coordination & Issue Resolution

• Identify, track, and help resolve issues impacting inter- or intra-departmental operations.
• Act as a liaison between teams to ensure alignment and smooth coordination of projects and dependencies.

What We’re Looking For

• Professional Background: 2–4 years of experience in strategy, program management, operations, or PMO roles in mid to large-scale organizations.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Operational Expertise: Experience in driving or supporting process improvement and performance enhancement initiatives.
• Analytical Mindset: Ability to analyze both structured and unstructured data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Proactive and logical thinker with strong attention to detail and execution.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create concise and impactful reports and presentations.
• Collaboration: Ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple stakeholders in a matrixed organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with OKR and SLA frameworks.
• Exposure to business operations in Interior Design, Fit-out/Construction, or Support Services.
• Understanding of continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.) is a plus.