Director Planning - Performance Excellence

ADNOC Abu Dhabi UAE; Al Ruways Industrial City; On-site; AED 52,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

ADNOC Group in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates invites a senior Director to lead Planning - Performance Excellence. The role oversees the full performance management cycle, translating corporate priorities into measurable scorecards, reliable KPIs, and improvement actions.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in planning and performance management, deep experience in strategy, governance, and risk alignment within the Oil and Energy sector, and a proven track record of driving continuous

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience in planning and performance management.
• Strong knowledge of strategic planning, KPI governance, target setting and performance monitoring.
• Experience in Oil and Energy industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and govern the corporate planning and performance cycle for the directorate.
• Develop strategic plans that support organizational goals and priorities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align departmental plans with corporate strategy.
• Ensure compliance with governance, risk, and quality management requirements.

Skills

Corporate Planning

Performance Management

Strategy/Planning

KPI Governance

Balanced Scorecard

Change Management

Job description

Director Planning - Performance Excellence Job Snapshot

Role: Director Planning - Performance Excellence

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Oil and Energy

Function: Strategy/Planning

Experience: Minimum 15 years

Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview Director Planning - Performance Excellence in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is an Oil and Energy leadership opportunity for a senior planning and performance management professional with strong experience in corporate strategy, balanced scorecard governance, KPI target setting, business planning, audit compliance, risk alignment, quality management, and corporate excellence. The role leads the full performance management cycle for the directorate, ensuring strategic objectives, operational plans, performance reporting, Integrated Management System requirements, and continuous improvement initiatives are aligned with ADNOC Group priorities.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates

City: Abu Dhabi

Industry: Oil and Energy

Function: Strategy/Planning

Salary: 52000-80000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.

Gender: Any

Candidate Nationality: Any

Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Director Planning - Performance Excellence will govern strategic planning, operational planning, corporate performance, quality culture, audit readiness, risk coordination, and business excellence across the directorate. This role is responsible for turning corporate priorities into measurable scorecards, reliable KPIs, recovery plans, governance reports, and improvement actions. The position supports transparency, disciplined performance governance, executive decision-making, risk-based assurance, and stronger alignment between ADNOC Group strategy and directorate-level execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and govern the corporate planning and performance cycle for the directorate, including long-term strategy, annual planning, scorecard design, KPI cascade, and monthly performance monitoring.
• Develop and implement strategic plans that support organizational goals, executive priorities, and corporate performance expectations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure departmental plans, performance targets, and business priorities remain aligned with overall corporate strategy.
• Own the directorate performance agenda and ensure that planning, reporting, and performance governance support ADNOC Group strategy.
• Govern function-related KPIs and ensure consistency with corporate performance management systems and integrated business planning cycles.
• Lead the target-setting process across business development initiatives by introducing new KPIs and reviewing existing KPI targets.
• Reassess KPI targets based on business priorities, strategic objectives, market conditions, benchmarking data, current trends, and historical performance.
• Monitor monthly performance results, analyze organizational metrics, identify deviations, and highlight performance gaps for timely decision-making.
• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and validity of performance data received from end users for corporate performance contracts and senior management directives.
• Govern quarterly outlook and recovery planning cycles to ensure forward-looking corrective actions are clear, measurable, and aligned with business priorities.
• Oversee implementation of performance management systems, governance processes, reporting routines, and performance improvement mechanisms.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, corporate governance requirements, regulatory obligations, and internal assurance standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, performance quality, transparency, and decision-making effectiveness.
• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of planning and performance management professionals to strengthen capability and delivery quality.
• Support the development and execution of change management initiatives linked to performance governance, planning maturity, and business excellence.
• Lead the collection, analysis, validation, and consolidation of business development performance data.
• Prepare and publish periodic corporate performance reports for senior management and key stakeholders.
• Establish a quality culture across the directorate by adopting suitable excellence models such as TQM, EFQM, and other recognized improvement frameworks.
• Ensure adherence to corporate Quality Management directives, Integrated Management System requirements, quality programs, and process governance expectations.
• Build a self-assessment culture and maintain a single audit repository for planning, performance, quality, risk, and assurance activities.
• Coordinate audit and assurance activities, ensuring compliance, timely closure of findings, and continuous strengthening of internal controls.
• Oversee internal audits, external audits, and risk-related activities across the directorate's functions.
• Serve as the main contact for audit and assurance matters with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Plan and supervise department personnel and resources to achieve divisional objectives in an efficient and cost-conscious manner.
• Ensure implementation of approved operational plans in line with divisional priorities, corporate governance, and strategic objectives.
• Develop employee knowledge, competencies, and innovation culture within the department.
• Support Personal Development Plans, succession planning, and talent pipeline development in coordination with the Human Capability Group.
• Contribute to Emiratization targets by supporting the development of UAE Nationals and strengthening internal leadership capability.
• Compile and provide input for divisional budget preparation and regularly monitor department expenditure against approved budget levels.
• Investigate, highlight, and reconcile significant budget variances to support effective cost control and performance discipline.
• Lead the implementation of approved department policies, systems, standards, procedures, and internal controls in line with company and international standards.
• Implement the company performance management system for individuals within the department and monitor department KPIs against the annual performance management contract.
• Review, develop, and recommend organization structure improvements that support efficient human capital utilization and business objectives.
• Incorporate sustainability considerations into ongoing work practices and department-level planning activities.
• Develop an overall strategy and management model for excellence and improvement across the function.
• Drive implementation, assessment, refinement, and enhancement of business excellence models and innovation activities.
• Promote innovation culture through process improvement exercises, structured assessments, and practical performance enhancement initiatives.
• Lead implementation of business excellence procedures including customer satisfaction, documented information control, legal compliance, and unified value project processes.
• Manage the implementation of change management, risk management, internal controls, and improvement programs.
• Propose improvements in internal processes against best practices and ISO standards to deliver efficient and intelligent solutions.
• Support an HSE culture and ensure compliance with HSE policies, procedures, systems, controls, legislation, sustainability guidelines, and ADNOC Code of Practices.
• Ensure adequate HSE training and induction for all department employees to meet required safety standards.
• Prepare accurate and timely MIS reports, progress reports, business updates, and management information for company leadership.
• Maintain regular communication with senior leadership, Group Companies, reporting team members, external stakeholders, consultants, and industry partners.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor degree in Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• Advanced degree such as MBA or equivalent is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in planning and performance management within a large organization.
• At least 7 years of progressive managerial experience in planning, strategy, performance governance, business excellence, or related corporate functions.
• Experience in the Oil and Energy industry is preferred, especially within a large corporate, government-linked, industrial, or multi-entity environment.
• Strong knowledge of strategic planning, operational planning, balanced scorecard development, KPI governance, target setting, and performance monitoring.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic project planning, corporate performance reporting, and business development performance analysis.
• Strong understanding of integrated business planning cycles, corporate performance contracts, scorecard cascade, and recovery planning.
• Experience managing quality systems, Integrated Management System requirements, audit repositories, compliance reviews, and internal control frameworks.
• Knowledge of excellence models such as TQM, EFQM, ISO standards, quality management programs, and continuous improvement methods.
• Ability to oversee internal and external audits, risk alignment, assurance activities, and closure of audit findings.
• Strong understanding of applicable legislation, regulations, governance standards, and policies relevant to the concerned division.
• Proven ability to manage teams, budgets, operational plans, organization structure reviews, and department performance targets.
• Strong analytical ability with the confidence to validate data, identify performance gaps, prepare executive reports, and recommend corrective actions.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage senior leaders, Group Companies, consultants, industry partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, change management, decision-making, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• PMP, Six Sigma, or other relevant professional certifications are preferred.

Skills Set

• Corporate Planning
• Performance Management
• Strategy/Planning
• Balanced Scorecard
• KPI Target Setting
• KPI Cascade
• Corporate Performance Contract
• Monthly Performance Monitoring
• Quarterly Outlook Planning
• Recovery Planning
• Strategic Planning
• Operational Planning
• Business Development Performance
• Performance Data Validation
• Executive Reporting
• MIS Reporting
• Integrated Business Planning
• Integrated Management System
• Quality Management
• TQM
• EFQM
• ISO Standards
• Audit Repository Management
• Internal Audit Coordination
• External Audit Coordination
• Risk Alignment
• Internal Controls
• Governance Compliance
• Change Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Business Excellence
• Customer Satisfaction Procedures
• Documented Information Control
• Legal Compliance
• Budget Monitoring
• Organization Structure Review
• Team Leadership
• Succession Planning
• Emiratization Support
• HSE Compliance
• Sustainability Guidelines
• Oil and Energy Corporate Governance

Why Join Us

This role offers a senior platform to influence planning discipline, corporate performance governance, quality culture, and business excellence within ADNOC Group in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is a strong opportunity for a strategic leader who can connect executive priorities with measurable outcomes, strengthen performance transparency, improve governance maturity, and support continuous improvement across a major Oil and Energy organization. The position provides broad exposure to senior leadership, Group Companies, strategic planning cycles, audit assurance, risk alignment, and enterprise-level performance transformation.

About the Company

ADNOC Group is a leading energy organization headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with operations across the Oil and Energy value chain. The company focuses on safe, reliable, and responsible energy production while advancing corporate performance, operational excellence, sustainability, governance, and long-term value creation. ADNOC Group offers experienced professionals the opportunity to contribute to strategic planning, business transformation, and the continued growth of the UAE energy sector.