Director - Strategy and PMO, Ports International Operating Company

AD Ports Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Director of Strategy & PMO to enhance its competitive edge in the international port industry. This pivotal role involves leading strategic initiatives, integrating new international ports, and driving innovation to optimize operations. With a focus on collaboration and relationship-building, the successful candidate will oversee project management processes, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives. The position requires a visionary leader with extensive experience in ports management, project management, and strategic planning, ready to inspire teams and foster growth. If you are passionate about shaping the future of port operations, this is the opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in Ports Management and Operations or Logistics.
• Project management certification preferred for this senior role.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of strategies for competitive positioning.
• Direct post project reviews and conduct thorough market analysis.

Skills

Project Management

Strategic Planning

Risk Management

Interpersonal Skills

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Master's degree

Project Management certification

Job description

About The Role:

Director Strategy & PMO is responsible to develop and implement comprehensive Strategies to enhance the company's competitive positioning in the International Port industry. Lead the development of Integration plans of new International Ports or M&A subsidiaries to Ports International Operating Company (PIOC), portfolios and drive key initiatives to achieve the strategic objectives in Ports.

Role Requirements:

• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies to enhance the company's competitive positioning in the international port industry, considering market trends, customer needs, and technological advancements.
• Utilize project management principles in the integration between business development/implementation and hand-over to PIOC operations.
• Evaluate PIOC Subsidiary’s strategy and provide feedback to management and subsidiaries board of directors to ensure alignment with PIOC overall strategies and objectives.
• Provide strategic advice regarding PIOC project plans, assumptions, targets, timelines, budget, SOPs and processes to ensure consistency and clarity in project management.
• Participate in external and internal tender evaluation to support strategic projects as required.
• Direct and lead post project and investment reviews and evaluation.
• Direct thorough market analysis and research to evaluate project outcomes, identify growth opportunities and recommend enhancement plans.
• Review and deliver the required reporting to PIOC Management, International Office, and steering committees.
• Facilitate optimization of project management and governance process including tracking deadlines, deliverables, resources, and timelines throughout the project process.
• Identify risks associated with strategic projects and enforce building and implementing mitigation strategies to minimize the impact of those risks.
• Provide expertise to project leads with the tasks on strategic and international projects, ensuring objectives of the projects are met and taking leadership of project workstreams or projects as agreed and directed.
• Build and expand professional relationships across teams, departments, and clusters.
• Adopt and promote the project management and collaborative approach in execution of the daily tasks.
• Provide strong and visionary leadership, supervision, and guidance to the team, setting clear expectations and creating a culture of accountability.
• Identify skill gaps and training requirements for the teams to ensure consistent high performance.
• Forge strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including shipping lines, government agencies, and industry associations, to foster collaboration and drive mutual growth.
• Ensure that departmental budgets, business strategies, and human resource projects are prepared in accordance with the corporate strategy to ensure the development of an integrated approach.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor the effectiveness of strategic initiatives, track progress, and make data-driven adjustments as necessary.
• Drive innovation initiatives to optimize port operations, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experience, leveraging technology and best practices.
• Allocate successful and world class practices in integration of new international ports and Merger and Acquisition subsidiaries to POIC subsidiaries and JV portfolios management.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Strategic Management, Engineering or a related field. Master's degree is a plus.
• Project management certification is preferred.
• Excellent English. Arabic is an added advantage.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in a similar role.

Candidate Success Criteria:

• Experience in Ports Management and Operations / Logistics, project management.
• A proven track record of successfully managing complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to motivate and inspire a team to achieve common goals.
• A solid understanding of risk management principles and experience in identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks.
• Experience in working across functions and departments to deliver projects, with a focus on building effective relationships and fostering collaboration.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, able to understand complex data and information and to use this to inform project decisions.