Governance & Compliance - Manager

Wasl Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Wasl Group is seeking a Governance & Compliance – Manager to lead the compliance program aligned with laws, policies, SOPs and ethical standards in Dubai. The role drives digital adoption and sets strategic direction for enterprise risk management.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, you will define policy frameworks, implement governance structures, and collaborate with heads of departments to institutionalize controls, monitor risks, and improve operational efficiency across Wasl’s real estate

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field (essential).
• Master’s degree preferred for advanced governance roles.
• 5+ years of progressive excellence in governance, compliance, risk, or audit.
• Experience in regulated real estate or Dubai market is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Define and govern the enterprise policy framework across functions.
• Integrate risk management into core processes and drive ERM initiatives.
• Support internal audits and regulatory compliance efforts across units.
• Develop analytics dashboards for KRIs and compliance performance.

Skills

Policy definition

Risk governance

Compliance program

Regulatory frameworks

AML

Data protection

Corporate governance

GRC tools

Monitoring systems

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

GRC tools

Audit software

Job description

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Born from the vision to elevate Dubai's global prominence, Wasl was founded on May 25, 2008, with the mission to transform the city into an even more captivating destination for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Created from the union of the Dubai Development Board and Real Estate Department, Wasl embarked on a journey of seamless integration. This strategic merger not only streamlined operations but also empowered our team with enhanced expertise, enabling us to adopt dynamic, market-driven investment strategies.

Today, Wasl stands tall as a cornerstone of Dubai's real estate landscape. As one of the city's largest and most diversified real estate management companies, we proudly oversee an expansive portfolio of landmark assets, entrusted to us by DREC and other esteemed partners.

1. JOB DETAILS:

Position Title:

Governance & Compliance – Manager

Reports to:

Governance & Compliance – Senior Manager

Division:

Business Transformation & Business Excellence

Department:

Business Excellence & Risk Management

Grade:

2. POSITION SUMMARY:

The Governance & Compliance – Manager is responsible for driving the organization’s compliance program to ensure adherence to all applicable laws, regulations, internal policies, Standard Operating Procedures and ethical standards. This role provides strategic direction for compliance management and drives digital adoption across the operations.

3. JOB DIMENSIONS:

Number of Staff Supervised

Direct Reports:

Total Reports:

4. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:

Position-Specific Accountabilities

1. Policy Definition & Governance

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive enterprise policy framework across all functions.
• Ensure alignment of policies with strategic goals, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
• Establish governance structures and mechanisms to enforce policy adherence, including audits, reviews, and reporting.
• Collaborate with department heads to institutionalize policies and procedures effectively.
• Integrate risk management into core business processes, ensuring proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of operational risks.
• Develop frameworks for enterprise risk management (ERM), with clear accountability and monitoring mechanisms.
• Support internal audits and regulatory compliance efforts across business units.

3. Monitoring, Auditing & Reporting

• Design and implement compliance monitoring and internal control systems to ensure ongoing regulatory adherence.
• Prepare regular compliance reports for senior management and the board.
• Drive effective monitoring, reporting and escalation mechanisms for compliance breaches.
• Investigate and oversee resolution of compliance issues, ensuring appropriate corrective actions.

4. Process Improvement & Optimization

• Identify opportunities to improve business processes, enhance quality, reduce costs, and increase productivity.
• Design and implement process frameworks, KRIs, and performance dashboards.
• Ensure effective risk management acting as a proactive risk & compliance support function across the organisation to improve operational efficiency and organizational compliance and risk management

Performance Metrics

• % of core processes documented & measured as per Wasl’s BPM standards
• Number of policies and procedures reviewed and updated
• Number of audit findings and % of non-conformities closed within SLA
• % of core processes executed without deviation from approved SOP/policy.
• Implement risk management framework integrating site, enterprise and strategy risks.

5. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal

• CXOs
• Departmental Heads
• Information Technology department
• Other departments as required

External

• Government and Regulatory Entities
• Industry Partners and Associations
• Technology Vendors
• Consultants and Advisors
• Suppliers and Service Providers
• Other external organizations as required

6. CONTEXT, WORK ENVIRONMENT AND DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY (DELEGATIONS):

• .

7. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Not applicable

8. SELECTION CRITERIA:

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience (Essential and Desirable):

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Proven track record in policy development, risk governance and compliance.
• Strong knowledge of international quality frameworks and enterprise governance models.
• Strong knowledge of conducting effective risk assessments, review operational processes to detect control gaps and inefficiencies, providing effective solutions to close gaps if/where required to mitigate potential risks.
• Strong knowledge in control design and implementation to mitigate operational risks.
• Control monitoring & testing (design, implementation, execution) knowledge and experience.
• 5 + years of progressive business excellence, process excellence, governance, compliance, legal, audit, or risk management experience.
• Experience working in highly regulated industries (e.g., financial services, real estate, healthcare, energy, or government entities). Proven track record of regulatory engagement, policy development and compliance program implementation.
• Experience in handling compliance/risk management within Dubai's real estate sector would be considered highly advantageous.

Position-Specific Skills (Generic/Technical):

• Technical Knowledge :
  • Strong understanding of global and regional regulatory frameworks.
  • Expertise in AML, data protection, anti-bribery, sanctions, corporate governance and industry-specific compliance.
  • Familiarity with compliance technologies, GRC tools, and monitoring systems.
• Leadership & Management :
  • Ability to influence, guide, and build consensus with executive leadership and regulators.
  • Strong people management skills, with experience building and mentoring compliance teams.
  • Work as a trusted advisor to the businesses, recommending risk mitigation solutions to ensure operational efficiencies across the organisation, specifically non-financial risks, financial risks, operational risks, customer risks, and reputational risks.
• Analytical & Risk Management Skills :
  • Strong problem-solving and investigative skills.
  • Ability to identify risks proactively and design practical mitigation strategies.
  • KRI analytics & dashboards, developing new KRIs, monitoring KRIs, and KRI reporting.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills :
  • Exceptional verbal, written and presentation skills.
  • Ability to communicate complex regulatory requirements in a clear and actionable manner.
  • Skilled in engaging with regulators, auditors and stakeholders at all levels.
• Personal Attributes :
  • High ethical standards, integrity and sound judgment.
  • Resilient under pressure with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
  • Strategic thinker with attention to detail.

Our Values

At Wasl, we are more than just a real estate company. We are active contributors to Dubai's thriving economy, fostering enduring relationships with our valued stakeholders. Our customer-centric approach is rooted in trust, respect, and a relentless pursuit of innovation in every aspect of asset management.