Director - Strategy and PMO, Noatum Ports

AD Ports Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the international port industry seeks a Director of Strategy & PMO to develop and implement strategies that enhance competitive positioning. The role involves overseeing integration plans, managing complex projects, and collaborating with various stakeholders to drive innovation and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in a similar role.
• Project management certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to strengthen the company's position in the global port industry.
• Lead post-project and investment reviews and evaluations.
• Optimize project management and governance processes.

Skills

Project Management

Strategic Thinking

Risk Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Master’s degree

Job description

About The Role:

The Director of Strategy & PMO is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to enhance the company's competitive positioning in the international port industry. This role leads the development of integration plans for new international ports or M&A subsidiaries within Ports International Operating Company (PIOC), overseeing key initiatives to achieve strategic objectives.

Role Requirements:

• Develop and implement strategies to strengthen the company's position in the global port industry, considering market trends, customer needs, and technological advances.
• Apply project management principles to facilitate integration between business development, implementation, and operational hand-over to PIOC.
• Assess PIOC subsidiaries' strategies and provide feedback to management and the board to ensure alignment with overall corporate strategies.
• Offer strategic guidance on project plans, assumptions, targets, timelines, budgets, SOPs, and processes for consistency and clarity.
• Participate in tender evaluations to support strategic projects.
• Lead post-project and investment reviews and evaluations.
• Conduct market research to evaluate project outcomes, identify growth opportunities, and recommend improvements.
• Provide reports to PIOC management, the international office, and steering committees.
• Optimize project management and governance processes, including tracking deadlines, deliverables, resources, and timelines.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with strategic projects.
• Support project leads with strategic and international projects, ensuring objectives are met and leading workstreams as needed.
• Build and maintain relationships across teams and departments.
• Promote collaborative project execution and adopt best practices.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and guidance to teams, fostering accountability and high performance.
• Identify skill gaps and organize training to enhance team capabilities.
• Forge partnerships with stakeholders such as shipping lines, government agencies, and industry associations.
• Ensure departmental budgets, strategies, and HR initiatives align with corporate goals.
• Establish KPIs to monitor strategic initiatives and adjust strategies based on data.
• Drive innovation to optimize port operations, efficiency, and customer experience, leveraging technology.
• Implement best practices in port integration and M&A activities within POIC subsidiaries and JV portfolios.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Strategic Management, Engineering, or related fields; Master’s degree is advantageous.
• Project management certification preferred.
• Proficiency in English; Arabic language skills are an advantage.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in a similar role.

Candidate Success Criteria:

• Experience in port management, operations, logistics, and project management.
• Proven success in managing complex projects in dynamic environments.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for motivating teams.
• Strong understanding of risk management and mitigation strategies.
• Ability to collaborate across functions and departments effectively.
• Analytical and strategic thinking skills to interpret complex data for decision-making.